A NEW row has broken out over the aggressive clamping of vehicles on a private car park which serves a busy shopping centre.
Six motorists fell victim to the clampers in one afternoon enraging shoppers and shopkeepers in Lodge Drive, 
Culcheth, Warrington.
One driver, Andy Crompton, left his car for only three minutes to buy a sandwich from a nearby shop – but was forced to pay £80 to have his car released.
Main focus of motorists’ anger was that the clampers appeared to be sitting in a van waiting to clamp drivers as soon as they left their vehicles.
One shopkeeper also complained that the clampers had been walking up and down the parade of shops, staring through the windows and intimidating customers.
Clamping of vehicles in Lodge Drive has been a long-running problem in the village, with shopkeepers claiming customers are being driven away by the aggressive clamping by a company contracted by landowner Valerie Lythgoe to control the car parks.
Signs on the car park indicate that the space is only for motorists shopping at the Lodge Drive shops and that people shopping elsewhere will be clamped.
But Mr Crompton, who lives at Leigh but works at Birchwood Park, said: “The signs are obscurely placed – I never saw them.
“I went to a sandwich shop only about 40 yards from Lodge Drive and was only about three minutes – but I was still clamped.
“I tackled the clamper but he was quite arrogant and said he was just doing his job.
“I had to pay the £80 fee to get released because I had an urgent appointment.
“I tried to telephone Mrs Lythgoe but was told it was not her responsibility because she had leased the car park out.
“But local shopkeepers were telling me I should not have been clamped.”
Earlier this year, Culcheth parish councillor Paul Campbell met Mrs Lythgoe to try and resolve the parking issues.
Although no agreement was reached, he described the meeting as “positive” and said Mrs Lythgoe was considering other options for controlling the car park.
Pictured…a disgruntled Andy examines the clamp on his car
Storm over aggressive car clamping
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About Author
Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
