Clamping down on rogue firms
Plans to outlaw "cowboy clampers" operating on private land have been widely celebrated, but Northampton clampers have insisted they are not all "rogues".
Home Office minister Lynne Featherstone announced the plans yesterday saying previous efforts to curb unscrupulous clampers had failed to stop rogue operators exploiting drivers by charging "exorbitant fees".
Michael-Israel Jarvis, aged 20, a student who lives in The Mounts, Northampton, has celebrated the news after his Skoda was clamped last week.
He said: "A week ago we were clamped for parking in our own parking space because our residents parking notice wasn't visible.
"We were about to go shopping, as we had just been on holiday, and I saw this note written in pencil saying we had to pay 100.
"To get the car released I had no option but to go and get cash and pay up. It is daylight robbery.
"At least if you get a ticket you can have some discussion and time. I felt I had to pay up straight away and the whole thing was very unpleasant."
But those working in the trade claim not all clampers are "cowboys" and that scrapping clamping could lead to soaring levels of irresponsible parking.
Mick Sharpe from Northants Parking Management has worked in the clamping industry for about 12 years. He said: "We are doing a service for people with private car parks and when it comes to it, you have some car drivers who will park anywhere. If you can't penalise those drivers it is ridiculous.
"There is no doubt that clamping is a deterrent. These days all clampers have to be licensed. The days of cowboy clampers have gone and now you have to be CRB checked and pay 350 to do a clamping course and pay 500 before you start work.
"At the end of the day a lot of clamping businesses are going to suffer if this goes ahead and more people will be unemployed.
"I personally think the Government should fix the prices clampers are allowed to charge, rather than abolishing it altogether."
But some Northampton businesses have already found other ways to deal with problem parking on their land.
Rob Harnett-Williams, doorman at Beacon Bingo, in Weedon Road, Northampton, said: "We have had problems with people using our carparks in the past, especially when there has been a (rugby] match on. But we don't use clampers. We have a warden and gated entry where customers are asked to show their membership and that works very well."
The Government has announced plans to curb clamping companies
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Friday 25 May 2012
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