by Jim Palmer

COUNCIL enforcement officers are threatening to tow away cars put up for sale outside homes – even if they are parked legally.

Trainee plumber Pete Dolling fell foul of the little-known rule when he stuck no more than a sheet of paper inside his windscreen advertising his R-reg Ford Escort outside his mum's house in Hempstead.

Soon after, he got a notice slapped on the window from the council's Environment Enforcement Team telling him he had to get their permission to sell his car and then shift it within week four weeks, or risk having it forcibly removed.

The notice said: "The vehicle to which this notice is attached is being offered for sale without consent from Medway Council."

The notice demanded Pete, 32, wrote to the council to prove ownership of the car, that he was not a trader and that it was not causing a nuisance where it was parked, otherwise it would be removed and he would be charged for the cost.

Pete, of Cowper Road, Gillingham, said: "I find it very, very aggressive and bolshy. A notice to the owner threatening to remove it at first contact is a bit much."

Pete, who has had the car for nine months, believes that ownership could have been easily traced through his council parking permit, adding: "It is ridiculousness after ridiculousness. It is not legal to sell my car because they can't be bothered to check if I own it.

"Fair enough slapping this thing on my car if I had three in the space of two months but I'm only selling it because my mum is giving me her old one."

On Friday Pete was informed that he needed to fill in a form for permission to sell his car – and would need to renew it after four weeks.

He would also only be able to advertise outside his property, meaning he has to remove the ad if he visits his mum, or even pops to the shops.

To compound his woes, Pete is rarely able to park outside his house – a fact that pushed him to contact the News in October 2009.

"It is making it next to impossible to sell your own vehicle," he added.

A council form, which anyone selling their car on the roadside needs to fill in, contains a list of over 30 streets where selling your car is not allowed under any circumstances. It warns: "Your vehicle will be subject to seizure without warning if it is found to be displayed for sale on a prohibited street."

A Medway Council spokesman said: "Anyone who wants to sell a vehicle on the public highway requires permission from the council. This ensures the council knows who the vehicle's registered owner is.

"A permit is issued free of charge and helps prevent nuisance parking as the permit is only valid while the vehicle is parked outside the owner's home. On-street commercial sales have blighted some residents' lives before the Medway Act came into force.

"Environmental Enforcement officers will always work closely with motorists to resolve the matter informally wherever possible."

Anyone who wants to find out more about a vehicle sale permit should call Medway Council on 01634 333333.