An abandoned car that was thought to have been pushed over a cliff in Withernsea has been finally recovered after more than a week.
East Riding Council contractors winched the wrecked Peugeot 107 from the cliff near Waxholme Road on Saturday, April 18, following concerns over safety and the potential impact on the environment.
The recovery came after concerns were raised by residents and first reported in the Gazette, with the issue later attracting TV coverage and prompting South East Holderness ward councillors Sean McMaster and Lyn Healing to press senior council officers for action.
The car had originally been spotted upside down on the cliff on Wednesday, April 8. It later fell further down the cliff, prompting further concerns from passers-by about the risk of pollution from oil and fuel, as well as the danger to anyone walking on the beach below.
East Riding Council said the car was not originally on council land and had come from private land at the top of the cliff. However, as it slipped further down the cliff, the council said it carried out a detailed assessment and arranged for its recovery.
The car was lifted on to a recovery lorry and will now be investigated by streetscene enforcement officers as an abandoned vehicle.
At present, the council has been unable to trace the owner.
The car is believed to be linked to an illegal encampment that had been at the top of the cliff.
Councillor Paul West, the council’s cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “We arranged for our contractors to remove the vehicle from the cliff on Saturday.
“As much debris from the car was removed as possible, but we urge people to be cautious around the area where the vehicle was, in case of broken glass and other objects.
“Warning signs have been placed at the site.”
At the weekend, Cllr McMaster said he and Cllr Healing had been “dismayed” by the apparent lack of responsibility being taken by the authorities after seeing the Gazette’s coverage of the abandoned car.
He said they had written to the chief executive of the council and relevant senior officers asking them to take immediate action.
Cllr McMaster said: “I do think there has been a collaborative effort here, with your persistent reporting, community concern, input from other media outlets and of course mine and Cllr Healing’s intervention definitely helping in getting the local authority to take action.
“We have also had input from the leader of the council, who was very disappointed in the approach, or lack thereof, to get the car shifted and also intervened.
“So a great effort made all round.”