25.2.2011

Bob,

Thanks for your reply and please feel free to quote from my email on your website.

The situation was actually worse in the past when the premises across the courtyard were occupied by a tapas bar whose customers used the whole area as their car park until midnight every night. The manager could see the clamping van arrive and his customers would rush out and drive away until the clamper left then they would come back and park again.

The clamping company charged the residents a £75 call-out fee each time so it was a costly exercise. The tapas bar went bust nearly two years ago and the premises remain empty.

The landlord installed barriers (at a cost of £100,000 which was passed on to us via the service charge!) to control access to the estate but the landlord of the commercial premises obtained an injunction requiring them to be left open so that his tenants could exercise their right of access. The landlord intends to pass on the costs of defending the case (£40,000 the last time I asked) on to us as well. It’s a mess.

I’ll get back in touch with my MP as you suggest.

Kind regards

11.2.2011

Copy of letter to MP

Dear ...

I am concerned that all the news I’ve seen on the above subject seems to be biased in favour of motorists. However, there is another side to the story: that of residents whose peaceful enjoyment of their homes is disturbed by thoughtless and often aggressive motorists parking in no parking zones.

I live on the first floor of a block of flats. It overlooks a courtyard and the area underneath my flat is clearly marked as a no parking zone. I believe this is to allow emergency vehicle access and/or to protect the amenity of residents.

However, the tenants of the office premises on the ground floor constantly use this area as their car park. They have plenty of designated parking spaces in the underground car park but they find it more convenient to park directly outside their offices. I wrote a polite letter to the MD of the company some two years ago, pointing out that the area is clearly marked as a no parking zone and asking him to comply with the parking regulations, as required in his lease.

His response was to increase his use of this area as a car park and to make as much noise as possible by revving engines, slamming car doors etc. He even began a campaign of dumping his company’s rubbish under my windows, where it was disturbed by foxes on several occasions, causing a health hazard. At least I was able to contact the council about that and they investigated and imposed a fine, which stopped them dumping their rubbish.

They continued to park their cars under my flat and on two occasions the MD swore at me, once when I was with one of my neighbours. I asked the managing agents to take steps to enforce the parking regulations and they managed to clamp cars belonging to the MD at least once. The situation has improved recently but, if clamping on private property is banned, I fear there will be no realistic sanction and things may once again deteriorate.

When the proposal to ban clamping on private land is debated by MPs, I hope you will give due consideration to the rights of residents and not be swayed by the powerful motoring lobby.

Kind regards

9.2.2011

Dear Bob

Congratulations on your excellent letter to the Telegraph on the above subject.

My wife and I are not residents of a flat but share your concern. With another family, we own a block of 7 flats with a small private car park just off a main road almost in the centre of Taunton . The lay out is such that it would not be possible to provide a barrier and the threat of wheel-clamping has kept likely offenders at bay. Without this, I am sure that the tenants would have some difficulty in preserving their spaces.

I note that there is further time available for objections and I would appreciate a note of the best way to go about this.

Thanks.