Clampers create trouble at Mill

It follows Dukes Mill owner Michael Royde's decision to bring in a company to clamp unauthorised vehicles parked at the rear of the precinct.

The firm is charging £120 to release clamped vehicles. Some of the car park is now out of bounds to everyone, including people living and working at Dukes Mill, as building work is due to start.

Clamping firm, Security International Group, started clamping cars on June 8, three days before the new restrictions were due to come into force. About 20 cars were clamped but all the victims were freed without a fine after Mr Royde got in touch with the firm.

Furious Gary Onslow, who owns Avalon Crystals, was one victim. He said: "I have a permit to park there but I still got clamped. Although it says no parking where I parked, I thought traders were exempt. How do they justify £120 for removing the clamp? It's disgusting. I have now put up a notice on the shop door to warn people the car park is private and wheel clamping is in operation."

The shop owner said he had not received a letter about the new parking restrictions that came into force on Monday, June 11.

"The first I knew about it was when a customer came into the shop and said you have been clamped. I had a real row and refused to pay the money. When the clampers first started nearly everyone at Dukes Mill got clamped," added Gary, who jumped on a clamper's patrol vehicle bonnet to prevent him driving off after he clamped one victim.

A saleswoman visiting Avalon Crystals was also clamped. "I simply did not see the new notices placed high up on the wall under the stairs," she said. "The clamper' man was adamant that no leniency was possible and was quite unmoved by my distress."

Another irate businessman is Paolo Bagnulo, owner of Paolo Donatello's Italian restaurant, who claims customers have been clamped.

"One of my customers who came in last Thursday had a permit. He was clamped. He paid £120 to get it removed. I said to the clamper, the customer was parked on my land and I am entitled to 10 parking spaces. I think the signs are very misleading in the car park. There is a big sign on the building saying Dukes Mill Shopping Centre and then people come into the car park and see private parking signs. I am losing custom because of this."

A Dukes Mill resident who did not want to be named said: "I bought my flat last year and on the original Dukes Mill plan it shows all the parking spaces and mine's on it. Mine's been given to the Co-op. I was assured I had a parking space but I have now been told I haven't got one. They are taking money from me for the refurbishment of the car park but I am not allowed to park in it under any circumstances. It's disgusting."

A woman who came to visit two friends at Dukes Mill came out on Monday afternoon to find her car had been clamped.

"I am really, really mad about this. My car is not worth £120 but I have got to pay it to get the car back. I didn't see the sign on the wall. It is far too high up. My friends gave me permission to park here. I have used this car park lots and lots of times," said the woman.

Explaining the reasons behind the changes at Dukes Mill, Mr Royde said the measures taken were to stop illegal parking at the site and were also in connection with building work due to get under way next month.

"A lot of people parked there illegally. The council raised the charges in the public car parks so people came into Dukes Mill to park free. The public should park in council car parks.

Each shop and tenants have been given allocated spaces and the restaurant has been given four extra spaces and will get a couple more. We don't want shopkeepers to suffer. It's not in our best interest. I spoke to all the shopkeepers before the clamping started to let them know about it," said Mr Royde.

He said the car park needed to be kept clear while building work is being done for safety reasons.

"There will be an extra 3,000 square feet of retail building go up and 10 new flats. We are trying to improve the area," said Mr Royd.