NEW measures to deal with abandoned cars in Thanet towns have been demanded by Tory group leader Cllr Sandy Ezekiel. He wants to speed up the links between the police, town wardens and the highways authority so that dumped vehicles can be removed quickly.

Cllr Ezekiel, whose ward included Northdown Road, complained after an Escort car had been abandoned in a public parking bay for nearly three weeks. He stressed: “It was pretty poor that it was left there with parking tickets on it but it was in a dangerous position, sticking several feet into the main highway. It was a danger to other motorists and cyclists who had to move into the path of oncoming traffic to avoid it. I am astonished it was left in that way for so long.”

Cllr Ezekiel reported the matter to the highways department following a complaint from a businessman in Northdown Road. Cllr Ezekiel said: “We cannot let out town centres become dumps for old, unwanted or stolen cars. I was impressed with the speed at which the highways department reacted once I informed them. They promised to remove the car within 24 hours.”

Cllr Ezekiel, who has written to Cllr Ken Gregory, a cabinet member whose portfolio includes highways, is also concerned about vehicles left on private land in full view of the public.