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[Richy]

We need the clampers back, the place is becoming like a uni/nightclub carpark which is resulting in more littering and more noise at night.  Surely they only clamped cars that didn't have a permit displayed so why does it seem like theres hostility towards them.

[eumelus]

the clampers were not away, they were simply waiting for the new permits to be issued to all the houses on the developement, that has happened now and they are back in force, i took particular pleasure in seeing them clamp a vehilce the other week then days later hoist it onto the back of a truck because the student owner couldnt be arsed to pay the fine while the car was still on the ground, soon as it got hoisted up they all charged out of their house in force to confront the clampers, needless to say it stayed on the lorry for a long time..

[eumelus]

Just an update but yesterday the clampers did atleast 3 cars in Horsa Gardens while the drivers were collecting their children from school, all were released only once over £120 each was paid by each driver.
Today a couple more were hit, but this time they showed some dangerous intentions, The driver of one car had ran back to his vehicle before the clamp had been placed on the wheel, while he was remonstrating with one clamper his partner held the driver back so that the clamp could be placed on the car, this time the drivers had to pay nearer to £200 because the clampers said their tow truck had been called out, but this was probably parked round the corner waiting anyway.

This new development will no doubt be denied by the clamping company but too many people saw it happen this time, can Grant please take a note of this the next time he speaks to the clamping company on any other matters.

Also does anyone know why the clampers cover all the cul-du-sac`s in the area as i remember when they first started comming round it was to keep the bus routes clear, which it doesnt as every household gets 3 permits so the whole area is like a car park at all times of the day and night.

[porkpies]

Just an update but yesterday the clampers did atleast 3 cars in Horsa Gardens while the drivers were collecting their children from school, all were released only once over £120 each was paid by each driver.
Today a couple more were hit, but this time they showed some dangerous intentions, The driver of one car had ran back to his vehicle before the clamp had been placed on the wheel, while he was remonstrating with one clamper his partner held the driver back so that the clamp could be placed on the car, this time the drivers had to pay nearer to £200 because the clampers said their tow truck had been called out, but this was probably parked round the corner waiting anyway.

This new development will no doubt be denied by the clamping company but too many people saw it happen this time, can Grant please take a note of this the next time he speaks to the clamping company on any other matters.

Also does anyone know why the clampers cover all the cul-du-sac`s in the area as i remember when they first started comming round it was to keep the bus routes clear, which it doesnt as every household gets 3 permits so the whole area is like a car park at all times of the day and night.

I witnessed the clamping at the school yesterday and it was disgraceful. The guy was clamping although the owners had returned to their cars. These people had parked in areas that they had previously been told it was ok to park in and the changes had not yet been published in the school newsletter to alert parents to the changes. There were posters up, but seriously who would look at them without being told there were going to be changes ?

I thought the whole point of the clamping was to deter students and abusers of the parking rather than parents who have to briefly drop off their kids at a school - that has very little parking ? What on earth are parents supposed to do. The new parking arrangements now only allow parking on the road outside the school where parents have to cross the road (with no formal crossing or speed restrictions). Parents are crossing between cars and its incredibly dangerous - on Tuesday there was a bad crash when a speediong car lost control on the corner. The planners need to look at the situation urgently. It was obvious when the school was built this was going to be a huge problem. I live round the corner and advise parents to park on Salisbury Hall Drive or Chipmunk Chase where there are no restrictions. I am a resident and a parent and have no issue with parents dropping their kids off.... I think some of the local residents are being incredibly mean spirited - thier pettiness at 2 short spells of parking twice a day is resulting in a highly dangerous situation for the kids. It is pathetic and needs addressing URGENTLY.

[eumelus]

Some of the blame for the current situation has to goto the Head of Howe Dell school for doing the deal with the clampers in the first place without consulting the residents of the surrounding streets, i moved into one of the first houses to be completed some 6 1/2 years ago and have had to put up with alot of things while the school was being built, they could have done alot more to help the parking problem by building more parking inside the school perimeter instead of building the community centre that truth be told gets used more for private functions than it does for community events, i also know how the residents around the school feel as i have had to spend 20 mins sitting in my car waiting to get past because of coaches/buses/4x4`s parked all over the place.
Once the roads are handed over there will have to be something done because the clampers will be done and it will become one huge carpark and a total nightmare for those of us that live close to the school.

[Richy]

If their only clamping cars that have no permit displayed then I don't see any problem.

[eumelus]

The school did a deal with the clampers that at certain times of the day people could park without risk of being clamped, but when the new school year started the clamping area had been changed, a number of posters have been put up around the school fence saying this has happened adn what areas are involved but how many people look at poster son fences when their rushing in to drop their kids off.
The clampers sit in wait for these people to get out of their cars then clamp them and hit the poor sods with demands of over £100 to release the cars.
What went on this week though went beyond what they are allowed to do and could be classed as a form of assault as the were physically blocking people from getting to their cars so the clamps could be fitted.
The clampers are acting like bullies now and something has to done before someone gets physically hurt.

[porkpies]

Some of the blame for the current situation has to goto the Head of Howe Dell school for doing the deal with the clampers in the first place without consulting the residents of the surrounding streets, i moved into one of the first houses to be completed some 6 1/2 years ago and have had to put up with alot of things while the school was being built, they could have done alot more to help the parking problem by building more parking inside the school perimeter instead of building the community centre that truth be told gets used more for private functions than it does for community events, i also know how the residents around the school feel as i have had to spend 20 mins sitting in my car waiting to get past because of coaches/buses/4x4`s parked all over the place.
Once the roads are handed over there will have to be something done because the clampers will be done and it will become one huge carpark and a total nightmare for those of us that live close to the school.

This is really the fault of the planners and not the school, you can't blame them. It was obvious from the plans that the parking system was woefully inadequate, even before the school was built.... It really does need revisiting asap. Many parents I speak to wont let their kids walk to the school because of the dangerous situation around the school with students speeding all over the place and no crossings. It's not the parents fault that the parking situation is so bad and they are getting penalised.

BTW 4x4's parked all over the place...?? Are you sure ?

[Lid]

Today a couple more were hit, but this time they showed some dangerous intentions, The driver of one car had ran back to his vehicle before the clamp had been placed on the wheel, while he was remonstrating with one clamper his partner held the driver back so that the clamp could be placed on the car, ..............

If this is true then the number to call immediately is 999! No ifs, no buts. ABH is a crime.

[eumelus]

Some of the blame for the current situation has to goto the Head of Howe Dell school for doing the deal with the clampers in the first place without consulting the residents of the surrounding streets, i moved into one of the first houses to be completed some 6 1/2 years ago and have had to put up with alot of things while the school was being built, they could have done alot more to help the parking problem by building more parking inside the school perimeter instead of building the community centre that truth be told gets used more for private functions than it does for community events, i also know how the residents around the school feel as i have had to spend 20 mins sitting in my car waiting to get past because of coaches/buses/4x4`s parked all over the place.
Once the roads are handed over there will have to be something done because the clampers will be done and it will become one huge carpark and a total nightmare for those of us that live close to the school.

This is really the fault of the planners and not the school, you can't blame them. It was obvious from the plans that the parking system was woefully inadequate, even before the school was built.... It really does need revisiting asap. Many parents I speak to wont let their kids walk to the school because of the dangerous situation around the school with students speeding all over the place and no crossings. It's not the parents fault that the parking situation is so bad and they are getting penalised.

BTW 4x4's parked all over the place...?? Are you sure ?

There is more issues with the school planning than just the parking issues, but it is a fact that the school went behind the backs of the residents with the parking deal that has now cost many people alot of money, i also understand parents wont let their choldren walk to school because of the speeding students, but if you live local you will see that it is so conjested at times no one can speed.

There was supposed to be an area in the school top car park for coaches to turn and drop off, this im told is not big enough for the job so coaches park on the verge aswell with the driver and his assistants smoking and dropping fag butts on the pavement all the time.

We will also have to wait a good few years before the roads have been handed to highways because so many problems are their, this has been brought up in another thread on this forum.

And you can blame the parents for some of the, i have had a number of close calls while driving to work in the morning because parents have parked cars on corners and along roads making visibility of oncoming traffic allmost nothing, i have been screamed at and sweared at by them even though i was in the right simply because they think a bigger car gives them right of way.

I also agree something needs doing, but Grant has investigated the road situation and basically nothing can be done with it for along time, maybe if the school was more supportive of the walking bus and didnt put so many restrictions on it then more kids would walk to work thus easing the traffic congestion, but when they cant even get the teachers to car pool or even the couple that live on sight to walk how can they help the parents..

Maybe the head will have more ideas about it all when she gets back from her trip to the microsoft awards in Brazil this monday.

[porkpies]

No doubt something will only be done when the flowers start appearing on the fence post a fatal accident.

[eumelus]

Saw you quoted in the WHT, well done on getting them involved again, maybe we should see more publicity on this issue and the clampers will think twice about some of their more illegal behaviour.

Just to let you know but it isnt the first time the clamps have been cut off, they used to clamp the service vehicles of the housing workman, after a few times the workman used their tools on the clamps, and seeing as its a civil offense i bet they didnt get prosecuted either