Official - our cars are safe

Sir,

For some time now there has been speculation that the EU would bring in legislation which would ensure that vehicles which were aged ten years or over would be made subject to a destruction order. Many believed that historic and/or classic vehicles (how do you define either?) would be exempt from such legislation. But no less a body than the RAC tended to disagree and therefore spent some time pressing the government for further information on the subject.

As an enthusiast, I decided I would voice my protests and write to my car club with a reply to Department for Trade and Industry for good measure. I am delighted toy that I have just received a reply from Mr Prescott’s department (copy attached) which I fell might be of some interest to my fellow readers:

Dear Mr Wylie,

Thank you for copying to John Prescott your letter of 23rd July to the Editor of the Rolls Royce Enthusiasts Club Bulletin. Your letter has been passed to me for reply as DTI has lead responsibility for this issue.

I am pleased to be able to confirm that the claim that the proposed End of Life Vehicles Directive will force owners to have their historic vehicles scrapped is unfounded. The proposed Directive provides for improved recycling and treatment standards for vehicles when they have become waste as defined under existing legislation, in other words, only when the owners have decided to discard them.

Owners will therefore still be able to keep vehicles, whatever their age, for continued use, restoration or storage, if they they wish to do so.

I hope that this information is helpful. Yours sincerely, Peter Cottrell, Environment Directorate

I am, yours, etc. Brian Wylie, Bicester, Oxon