Burnt out Mini abandoned in Edinburgh park is finally removed - five months after it was set on fire

A burnt out Mini left abandoned in a city park has been finally been removed – five months after it was set on fire.
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The vehicle was dumped in St Mark’s Park, between Powderhall ad Warriston, late on November 20th and pictures at the time showed it still smouldering the next day. Police said the car had been stolen on October 22nd and that the owner had been made aware.

Officers appealed for information at the time but nothing came of it and, bizarrely, another Mini vehicle was stolen in an unconnected incident in Edinburgh the same evening the other car was set alight.

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Burnt out Mini left in Edinburgh park for nearly 7 weeks posing 'health hazard' ...
The burnt out Mini car has finally been removed.The burnt out Mini car has finally been removed.
The burnt out Mini car has finally been removed.
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But locals voiced their concerns within weeks that the wreckage, lying in woods in the north-east corner of the park, posed an environmental hazard and created an eyesore and should have been removed.

One dog walker, Shiv Das, also pointed out that broken glass had been left lying there, presenting a danger to children playing in the area and to animals.

Edinburgh City Council’s environmental wardens were initially dealing with the burnt out Mini but, when police became involved, the process of uplifting was pushed back.

The wet weather in February also meant the ground was waterlogged due to heavy and persistent rain, and the recovery was further delayed over fears the 10-tonne recovery vehicle would get stuck.

Locals raised concerns about the wreckage posing an environmental hazard.Locals raised concerns about the wreckage posing an environmental hazard.
Locals raised concerns about the wreckage posing an environmental hazard.
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However, after the recent spell of dry weather the council contacted the recovery company again and arranged for removal of the vehicle as soon as possible.

The wreckage was removed early on Thursday afternoon.

Speaking today, Mr Das said: “Finally the council has come to its senses. They appear to have done a good job with clearing up the mess and I’m very happy this environmental hazard has gone.”

The Edinburgh Evening News contacted the local authority about the wreckage in St Mark’s Park on Wednesday after pictures emerged of other burnt out vehicles left lying abandoned in Hunter’s Hall Park, Niddrie.

One local dog walker said the van has been there for about five weeks and that the wreckage of two other cars has been dumped in nearby woods, with one thought to have been there for about two years