Birmingham 'abandoned' Porsche wrangle as residents plead for 'eyesores' to be towed away
A Porsche 944 and a Ford Transit camper van have been parked in Kings Heath since May - but council says they are taxed and MoT exempt
by birminghammail.co.uk · Birmingham LiveResidents have pleaded with Birmingham City Council to remove two "eyesore" vehicles they claimed had been 'dumped' for six months on their leafy road. A bronze Porsche 944 and a white Ford Transit camper van - both more than 40-years-old - have been parked on Brandwood Road in Kings Heath since the beginning of May.
Fed-up locals said the cars obstructed the flow of traffic along the road and were a safety hazard. They said they also blocked windows, shut out daylight, were an environmental hazard and caused distress.
The council has investigated their complaints but said it was hampered by the cars being taxed and exempt from MoT, meaning they would not be considered abandoned. A petition has been launched to have the cars removed. A sign saying ' Abandoned vehicle, this vehicle has been stationary since May 2024' with a code has been left in front of the vehicles.
But when Birmingham Live visited the site, a note was taped to the Porsche which read: "This car is legally parked. It is not abandoned."
Councillors David Barker and Lisa Trcikett, for Kings Heath and Brandwood, have backed the locals. Coun Barker said: "Residents are understandably fed-up when they look out of their front door and see cars in a bad state that appear to have been abandoned. It's only fair that everyone treats public spaces with respect.
"Lisa Trickett and I have been challenging the council for months to address these eyesores on Brandwood Road. There has been a lot of back and forth, but new officers in the parking department have been responsive and helpful.
To view the petition, click here
"I'm hopeful the council will soon resolve this complaint and we can use this incident to put in place processes to deal with other abandoned cars, even if they are taxed or covered by an MoT."
A Birmingham City Council spokesman said: "The council is aware of this issue and has been working to resolve it. Ultimately, as both vehicles have valid tax and are MoT exempt, they are not considered to be abandoned by the DVLA and we must ensure any action we take to remove them is in line with the law.
"We continue to consult with our legal team on a suitable resolution.”