Mitcham car park clampers told to move on (From Wimbledon Guardian)

Mitcham car park clampers told to move on

7:20am Friday 22nd January 2010 in News By Ben Thompson

Wheel-clampers accused of hiding in phone boxes and behind vans to catch out motorists have been stopped from patrolling a Mitcham car park.

Dozens of motorists were charged up to £300 to have their cars released after an change to restrictions in the Upper Green East parking lot last November.

Police were even called as tempers flared, with one couple standing in the car park for more than three hours warning other drivers of the clamper’s tactics.

But following a campaign led by Mitcham and Morden’s MP Siobhain McDonagh, the shops and businesses surrounding the car park demanded land management company Golfrate hire different parking attendants.

Ms McDonagh said: “When my office was contacted about this indiscriminate clamping I got on to the shops whose customers use the car park and they were appalled. I’m pleased to say they are now looking to reimburse their customers.

“A lot of people were treated extremely badly by clampers who were only interesting in fleecing motorists. The whole process was wrong and I’m pleased that it has been stopped.”

A spokesman for Golfrate confirmed the wheel clampers from Premier Parking Security were no longer operating after discussions with Farm Foods, Fitness First and Peacocks clothing store.

He said: “They have been removed to provide a less contentious and hostile environment for shoppers wishing to park in Mitcham. Clearly a situation that led to a mob forming and the police being called needed addressing.”

But he added that a fifth of those who were clamped were picking up their children from school and not visiting the nearby shops. Another fifth were claimed to be parking their cars before commuting to central London from Colliers Wood Tube station.

A spokesman for Premier Parking Security denied that under-hand tactics has been used to catch out drivers and said the only time one of his employees hid in a phone box was as he was being chased by a "lynch mob".

He added: "For the type of environment, our enforcement was considered a little bit excessive and considering the number of complaints we collectively reached a decision to no longer enforce the car park."