MOTORISTS in the borough who fail to pay parking fines could soon see their vehicles seized by Thurrock Council.

The council plans to seize vehicles from people who persistently fail to pay after growing issues with unpaid penalties.

Earlier this year the council revealed less than half of the fines over the last 12 months have been paid.

The council only managed to collect 49 per cent of the money from the 4,198 notices given out in 2020/21, seven per cent less than the previous year.

The authority was unable to reveal how much revenue had been lost but now it is set to get tough.

Persistent offenders who have three unpaid fines will now have their vehicles seized. Those that cause a danger or obstruct traffic flow will also have their vehicles removed.

The Cleaner, greener, safer overview and scrutiny committee heard there are currently 2,013 outstanding penalty charge notices for 2020/21, a rise from 1,578 unpaid fines the previous years.

Chair Cllr Joycelyn Redsell, said: "The penalty notices, we are not really going to collect those are we, at all? That's just going to be lost money to us. If we lift a vehicle they are really going to pay to get it back aren't they if they leave their fine and won't pay it and they car is taken. If we are not going to get the fines we might as well lift them."

Many motorists are not registered with the DVLA making it hard to trace offenders and when it can trace owners, the council incurs costs if it attempts to start court proceedings against them.

In addition the council is receiving increasing numbers of complaints from residents concerned about nuisance parking on double yellow lines, zig-zag lines and bus stops and obstructing traffic flows. Vehicles parked over disabled dropped curbs have also caused problems and will also be removed in future.

Fines of up to £100 for nuisance parking can be issued but the charge for removing a vehicle will be £105 and £20 a day, with motorist unable to retrieve their vehicles without paying up. If the car has a value of £1,500 or more the council can send it to auction if it is not retrieved. If the vehicle is old it can be sent for scrap with the council keeping the proceeds.

The committee backed the scheme.