COUNCIL officials and police have launched a scheme to rid local streets of dumped cars.

The 12-month partnership trial, aiming to cut the time taken to remove abandoned vehicles from around 15 days to four working days, was launched at Holmfirth.

Police have taken on sole responsibility for removing cars, and storing them while they check out ownership details. Kirklees Council will pay a fee for cars that are subsequently scrapped.

Previously the responsibility for moving abandoned cars off the streets was shared between the council and the police.

The two organisations deal with a total of about 3,000 vehicles a year.

About half of those handled by the council had been claimed by the owners before costly final action was taken.

Across the county, West Yorkshire Police remove about 25,000 vehicles a year of which 4,000 are actually abandoned.

It used to take 15 days to get a car moved.

Often the vehicle remained where it had been abandoned while ownership details were obtained and the relevant notices were served.

Abandoned cars in Kirklees cost the police £49,000 a year.

The council spends around £35,000 on scrapping fees.

On top of this scrapping fee are costs of administration.

Clr David Payne, Kirklees Council's Cabinet member for Environment and Transportation, said:

"Cutting the time cars and other vehicles are left abandoned will achieve environmental improvements, crime reduction and community safety.

"With the police taking over the job of inspecting and removing abandoned vehicles, the council's own enforcement team will be able to concentrate more on tackling fly-tipping and on other environmental crimes."

He added: "It is very difficult to predict how many vehicles will now end up being destroyed.

"While 50% of those dealt with by the council are removed by their owners or others, it is likely that this number will fall dramatically under the trial plans, leading to an increase in costs," said Clr Payne.