I REFER to Mr Suter's letter (May 11) about cars parked on grass areas in the Haydon Wick/ Green-meadow area.

Residents have contacted me about this and I have worked hard to find a solution to the problem.

If residents are parking on private land, the council can only take action if there is evidence that the owner is operating a business from the property, otherwise, the owners are entitled to park their cars on their land however unsightly.

If the vehicles are parked on grass verges adjacent to the public highway and are in the ownership of the council, then action can be taken if there are traffic regulations (yellow lines) in place. However, in residential areas this is rarely the case and many householders would not want them introduced.

If the cars do not have a valid tax disk, then the council may remove them if they establish that they have been abandoned and try to recover the costs from the last known owner.

In the case of cars causing an obstruction or posing a danger on the public highway, then the police have powers to take action and the matter should be referred to them.

In the last few years, I have got the council to remove a number of cars from the Haydon Wick/Greenmeadow area but this is not always possible. Of the cases I am aware of at present, the council does not have the powers under current legislation to take action, as unpalatable as that is to residents and ward councillors.

D RENARD

Councillor, Haydon Wick