A CAR left close to a busy road junction in Westcliff has still not been removed, despite calls for action to be taken from motorists and residents.

The silver Citroen Saxo has been left at the bottom of Inverness Avenue, in Westcliff, since August 28 and has already racked upmore than £200 in parking fines – but neither Southend Council or the police have removed it.

The car is parked on double yellow lines at the road’s junction with Fairfax Drive, causing motorists to have to swerve out to avoid hitting it.

Southend Council does have the power tomove the vehicle, but says it needs instruction from Essex Police to do so, as it is road taxed and not classed as an abandoned vehicle.

The force argues it would have to be parked in a “very dangerous” position for them to take action.

Christine Evans, 36, of Inverness Avenue, said: “It just seems everyone wants to pass the buck with this one and I’ve just been passed from one place to another.

“It’s a real problem and it needs to be moved.

“It’s jutting right out and it means vehicles have to swerve into the other lane to get past it.

“It’s near to a set of traffic lights, so it is potentially dangerous. It is also parked on the pavement, and we are close to schools, so it could be obstructing parents.

“Basically this car has been parked dangerously for over a week, causing problems with traffic, and yet it seems there is nothing that can be done.”

Joseph Smith, 33, of Horseshoe Crescent, Shoebury, questioned why parking tickets were being issued when the car should be moved to safety. He said: “If you ask me, it’s typical of Southend Council to take the easy approach by sticking fines on the car rather than actually doing anything about it.

“It seems if it’s something that will help the council – great – but if it helps residents and takes a bit of work they’re not interested. It’s terrible.”

But a spokesman for the authority said: "As the car is taxed and registered this would not be classed as an abandoned vehicle and  we have no discretion or legal powers to act at this time."

The car is taxed until February, so cannot be classed as an abandoned vehicle. A police spokesman said: “Abandoned cars fall under the remit of the local authority.

“The only situation which would give police powers to remove the vehicle would be if it was in a highly dangerous position.”

Between 2007 and 2012, Southend Council raked in £3.2million from parking tickets.