Council Officer:
Environmental Health Department, Paul speaking.
Mrs Shefford:
Oh, hello. Erm, wanted to report a vehicle that's been left parked near where I live - I think it’s been abandoned, I wondered if the council could arrange to get it towed away Have I got through to the right department?
Council Officer:
Yes. you have. If I could just take a few details . your name, please?
Mrs Shefford:
Mrs Shefford.
Council Officer:
Thank you
Mrs Shefford:
It's not my vehicle, though .. I just thought someone ought to report it
Council Officer:
No. that’s fine. What I need to do is take some details first, then we can decide what to do about the problem.
Council Officer:
So the next thing l need to know is your address
Mrs Shefford:
Right It’s 41 Lower Green Street.
Mrs Shefford:
Barrowdale. And the post code's WH4 5JP.
Council Officer:
Fine And if I could just ask for a telephone number ?
Mrs Shefford:
It's 01778 552387 I’m out quite a lot, but you can just leave a message on the answer phone if you need to or I could give you my mobile number?
Council Officer:
That’s all right, don’t worry Now. could you tell me a little more about this vehicle You say it’s been abandoned?
Mrs Shefford:
Well, it certainly looks like it.
Council Officer:
Can you give me an idea of where it is?
Mrs Shefford:
Yes. It's near the main road that goes through Barrowdale.
Council Officer:
Is that the A69?
Mrs Shefford:
Yes. That's right Now. there's the primary school just towards the end of the village, and then next to that, next to the children's playground, there’s a field, and it’s in there.
Council Officer:
Aah ... I wonder how it got in there?
Mrs Shefford:
There's a gate to allow farm machinery in and out l thought something ought to be done about it - the children from the school might start playing in the vehicle and lock themselves in or something
Council Officer:
Yes, you were quite right to report it. And what type of vehicle are we talking about here?
Mrs Shefford:
It's a van actually. You know, the sort with just a couple of little windows at the back.
Council Officer:
Right You don't happen to know the make and model, do you?
Mrs Shefford:
Oh. yes I went and had a look and got all the details. I thought you might need them I’m surprised the school hasn’t contacted you about it Anyway. I wrote the details down Er. right, it's a Catala, and the model’s a Flyer 2000.
Council Officer:
Is that F-L-Y-E-R?
Mrs Shefford:
That’s right.
Council Officer:
Very good. And the colour?
Mrs Shefford:
Well, it’s not all that easy to see because it’s absolutely filthy. And actually, it looks as if it’s had a paint job at some stage .. it’s blue, but you can just see white underneath where it’s been scratched.
Council Officer:
Right Well, I'll just make a note of the present colour. And if you could just tell me the vehicle number. Did you make a note of that?
Mrs Shefford:
Oh, yes. It’s S 322 GEC.
Council Officer:
And it sounds as if the general condition of the vehicle isn’t too good, from what you say.
Mrs Shefford:
No, it’s pretty poor. It wouldn’t be drivable. It’s got a flat tyre, and there's a crack in the windscreen I reckon someone just wanted to get rid of it.
Council Officer:
That's usually the way.
Mrs Shefford:
It's been there for nearly a week . no. it must be eight days. I remember it was a Sunday morning when l noticed it. It wasn't there the day before. I walk past it most days on the way to the shops I'd have thought the school would have reported it.
Council Officer:
Does the field actually belong to the school?
Mrs Shefford:
No, it’s part of Hill Farm Estate.
Council Officer:
Right! It just make a note of that. And I don't suppose you have any information about who might own the vehicle?
Mrs Shefford:
No, I’ve no idea. So what will you do now?
Council Officer:
Well, we’ll come and have a look, and see if we can trace the owner. And if we can't, the vehicle will be removed as rapidly as the law permits. It could be anything up to 20 days.
Mrs Shefford:
One thing I should say, I'm quite sure this doesn't belong to anyone round here I'd definitely recognise it if it was from someone who lived here.
Council Officer:
So you don't think it was anyone local. Right, I'd say at a guess we're looking at a stolen vehicle here.
Mrs Shefford:
I did wonder if it might have been. You hear such a lot about car thieves nowadays.
Council Officer:
Well, we certain!y will be looking into that possibility. Anyway, thank you for contacting us, Mrs Shefford, and we'll keep you informed of what happens.
Mrs Shefford:
Right. Thank you very much.
Council Officer:
Goodbye.
