Wheelclamping to be banned

izzy eckerslike

izzy eckerslike

izzy eckerslike

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Wheelclamping on private land is to become outlawed in England, about time too as it's nothing but demanding money with menace

Home Secretary Theresa May and Transport Minister Norman Baker have drawn up the plan to abolish clamping on private property in England and Wales, two decades after the practice was banned in Scotland.

Private firms will only be able to clamp or tow if they are given a contract to operate by a local authority.

Emergency services will be allowed to remove cars causing problem
 
source? I know it's been up for discussion, but I can't find anything saying it's been made illegal
 
i worked at a place once where the buildings carpark "clamper" used to come in for a cup of tea and a chat. He was nothing more than a crook, i wanted to stab him, he was the slimeiest piece of work id ever spoken too. I used to just smile and nod my head the crap he sprouted.
 
Private firms will only be able to clamp or tow if they are given a contract to operate by a local authority.
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If true exactly how hard will this be? Not exactly hard to get a license for other somewhat controversial businesses (strip clubs, mini cab licenese when banned from driving etc) initial thought is that it seems to be a revenue generator for councils rather than benefitting the public.
 
D1ngd0ng said:
If true exactly how hard will this be? Not exactly hard to get a license for other somewhat controversial businesses (strip clubs, mini cab licenese when banned from driving etc) initial thought is that it seems to be a revenue generator for councils rather than benefitting the public.
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I read the OP more along the lines of companies only being able to clamp if at the behest of an authority. For example, the DVLA subcontracting out "you forgots to pay your taxz" type clamping, rather than companies simply needing a licence to clamp of their own accord.
 
It appears that something went into the statute book just before the election:

Following the election, the final steps to ban the 'stand and deliver' tactics of highwaymen clampers should be taken according to the AA. New legislation was enacted just before Parliament was dissolved and is now on the statute book.*

The AA says that wheel clamping firms should start immediately to clean up their act. As soon as the next Government is elected the AA will be calling on the new Home Secretary to make regulations for the licensing of wheel clamping businesses.

Clauses in the new Act will:

•extend wheel clamping licences to all clamping businesses
•prescribe business operating standards, and
•lead to the development of an independent appeals system
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http://www.theaa.com/public_affairs/news/wheel-clamping-new-law-calls-time.html
 
Burnsy2023 said:
Is there a source yet?
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As I said before it is in the statute book - the Crime and Security Bill 2009-10 which received Royal Assent on 8 April. The Bill is now an Act of Parliament:

•establishes a new licensing requirement for businesses carrying out vehicle immobilisation, in addition to the existing one for individuals
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Source

I presume we are now waiting in the Home Office to issue guidelines.
 
I'll tell you what else is also wrong - Council car parks that suddenly change their tariffs & times.
Last night we played at a pub in Hanley where we have played for years and the Council car park next to it is free in the evening.
My wife parked the car but a bit later somebody noticed loads of car park attendants outside to which my wife replied that it is now £1 to park.
Cue my four band mates running outside to all come back with £25 parking fines :D
When we went on stage to do the first spot I told the story and around 30 people ran out of the pub.
They collared an attendant later on and he just said it was in The Sentinel and it is on the sign by the pay machine but the problem is that hardly anybody buys the paper or reads the small print on a sign when you've parked free for 20 years.
I couldn't stop laughing.
 
Efour2 said:
i worked at a place once where the buildings carpark "clamper" used to come in for a cup of tea and a chat. He was nothing more than a crook, i wanted to stab him, he was the slimeiest piece of work id ever spoken too. I used to just smile and nod my head the crap he sprouted.
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You missed an opportunity. You should have passed him a cup of tea, then leapt forward and scooped his eyeballs out with a spoon.

I'm disappointed :(
 
I'll tell you what else is also wrong - Council car parks that suddenly change their tariffs & times.
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Stoke on Trent City Council have done this with EVERY scrap of land that they own. Every business in Stoke near to a carpark now has a sign up in the door telling people to make sure they buy a ticket as they charge 24 hours a day (got to claw back that 20m overdraft somehow :o) Perosnally I think Northwich has the right idea. Free parking 24/7 and push the business rates up that little bit more to compensate. As opposed to losing custom when business are no longer getting customers as they don't want to pay to park and closing. The area is already a ghost town as soon as the civil services vampies leave for the day.
 
Disco Boy said:
It has been like this for ages...
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No it hasn't

currently you can, with the appropriate license, clamp on private property

presumably - if the OP is correct - the new legislation will mean that the only way private companies can clamp people will be if they are acting on behalf of the council - i.e. clamping people obstructing public roads on public land etc.. not private land as they are currently able to do.

I don't think that a private citizen should have the ability to sieze the possession (vehicle) of another private citizen and extorting a fee simply because they parked inappropriately. Preventing someone from parking on your land/private parking space by means of a barrier, post etc.. is fair - using your land as a means of generating revenue via what is essentially extortion (as some individuals have done) isn't really on.
 
dowie said:
No it hasn't

currently you can, with the appropriate license, clamp on private property

presumably - if the OP is correct - the new legislation will mean that the only way private companies can clamp people will be if they are acting on behalf of the council - i.e. clamping people obstructing public roads on public land etc.. not private land as they are currently able to do.
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Where in the act does it say that?
 
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