WARRINGTON South MP David Mowat has welcomed the Coalition Government’s announcement that the clamping of vehicles on private land is to be banned.
He said the ban was promised in the formal Coalition Agreement and will be introduced in the new Freedom Bill in November.
It will stop wheel clamping firms in England and Wales from being able to clamp vehicles parked on private land. 
Once the ban is in place, anyone who clamps a vehicle or tows it away on private land will face tough penalties.
Mr Mowat (pictured) said: “I welcome this Government’s decision to end the menace of rogue clampers.
” Some of these more unscrupulous companies were using this scheme purely to make money and would trick unsuspecting motorists into parking illegally before clobbering them with heavy fines.
“This is one industry that certainly won’t be missed!”
Currently, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, private companies which are licensed by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) are able to clamp or otherwise immobilise vehicles on private land under the terms of the Private Security Industry Act 2001.
Clamping on private land in Scotland was banned in 1992 following a court case.
Home Office Figures show that 2,150 individuals are licensed by the SIA to clamp vehicles.
There will be very limited circumstances in which legal authority to remove vehicles will remain.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) will retain the legal authority to clamp or tow away vehicles as part of its work in combating evasion of Vehicle Excise Duty. The Vehicle and Operator Services Authority has similar powers to prevent the use of un-roadworthy vehicles on the road.
Private car parks will still be allowed to charge motorists a fee, using ticket machines, but they will have to sign up to a strict code of conduct agreed by the British Parking Association (BPA): all signs about charges must be clear, with any fees for over-staying required to be reasonable. There will also be a right of appeal to an independent tribunal with the power to quash unfair charges.
MP welcomes clamping ban
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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.
