This Is Guernsey

By Nigel Baudains

Clifton Lane residents Don and Daphne Leech are unhappy that cars abandoned in the street by a neighbour could be removed under the States’ bulk refuse scheme. They say Ondrej Faborsky, who is claiming ownership of the parking spaces, should pay. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0632284)

A LANDLORD who dumped cars in Clifton Lane should pay for their removal himself, according to a resident.

Don Leech said Ondrej Faborsky, who is claiming ownership rights to parking spaces in the area, was planning to have cars he put there removed via the States’ bulk refuse scheme.

‘My wife and I are disgusted that people like us, as taxpayers, will be paying for it in a roundabout way,’ he said. ‘The cars were not dumped there by anyone else and he [Mr Faborsky] should pay to have them moved.’

The St Peter Port thoroughfare is currently the subject of an ownership dispute.

Mr Faborsky claims to own at least one-twelfth of the lane, which he said gives him the right to make the parking spaces terres a l’amende. An application to that effect is currently before the Royal Court and the case has been adjourned.

At a preliminary hearing and via Advocate Mark Ferbrache, Mr Faborsky admitted having put some of the cars in the lane. Lt-Bailiff Sir de Vic Carey advised that they should be removed.

Mr Leech has had a letter from Mr Faborsky saying the cars will be moved but Mr Leech believes that will be done through the bulk refuse service.

‘His letter says the cars have served their purpose,’ said Mr Leech.

‘Serving their purpose probably means annoying us over the years and stopping us from selling our property because of the dispute.’

Mr Leech said when one of the cars caught fire, he had had to clear up the mess only for Mr Faborsky to replace it with another vehicle.

Mr Faborsky declined to comment on the matter.

The bulk refuse scheme is run through Public Services.

Department deputy chief officer Colette Brown said she was unable to comment on specific cases but the scheme, as far as cars were concerned, was self-funding.

‘When road tax was required, every vehicle owner paid £10 annually on top of the tax to fund the eventual disposal of the vehicle,’ she said. ‘Consequently the cost of the scheme is not funded by the taxpayer.’

Since road tax was abolished, an equivalent sum has been recovered via duty on fuel.

End-of-life vehicles could be removed and disposed of as part of the bulk refuse scheme.

The registered keeper of the vehicle has to complete a form authorising the removal and disposal. Once the department has verified that the person making the request is the registered keeper, it either arranges removal of the vehicle or issues a letter to the owner confirming it may be disposed of under the scheme.

There is no limit on the number of vehicles that may be disposed of by any one person.

Article posted on 8th September, 2008 - 2.29pm