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10
Sept
Raised from the river! Ford Fiesta finally recovered after 247 days
The sunken Ford Fiesta that has been in the River Ure, near Ripon, since Christmas Eve last year has been recovered, it was revealed this week.
The car had become a hot political potato, with the Environment Agency, North Yorkshire Council and North Yorkshire Police all saying it was someone else’s responsibility.
But Ripon City Council made a nuisance of itself by constantly demanding action.
At Monday’s (September 7) full council meeting, deputy clerk Mark Williamson announced its campaign had ended successfully with the car’s removal.
Mr Williamson also thanked the Stray Ferret, saying our news coverage had helped to “make a difference”.
His comments highlighted the importance of local media in holding people in power to account on behalf of local communities.
£8,000 recovery
North Yorkshire Council and the Environment Agency each paid £4,000 towards the cost of recovery.
A council spokesperson said:
The vehicle was removed from the river by North Yorkshire Council’s environmental enforcement team on August 27 and placed on the riverbank. It was removed from the riverbank on August 28 and subsequently destroyed.
While this was ultimately an issue for the landowner and the Environment Agency, North Yorkshire Council acted to prevent the car being swept down the river and becoming a flood risk.
The operation cost around £8,000 and was shared between the council and the Environment Agency.
The Environment Agency previously said the car was not a flood or pollution risk and therefore it was up to the riparian owner to remove it.
Ripon City Council said it failed to understand how a car bobbing around in the River at Sharow could not be classed a pollution hazard.
Although the Fiesta has gone, the mystery of its owner remains unsolved.
An Environment Agency spokesperson said they understood the car had fake number plates and its vehicle identification number was illegible when it emerged from the river so the owner was untraceable.
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