Hartpury mum in clamping misery
A MUM has spoken of her anger after she was clamped while she was at her son's birthday party.
Dr Kate Todd, of Broad Street, Hartpury, was clamped at The Peel Centre while her son William and his pals enjoyed a party for his 10th birthday at JDR Karting on Bristol Road.
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ANGUISH: Dr Kate Todd.
The mum-of-two, who works as a GP in Tewkesbury accepts that she was parking illegally.
"I hold my hands up. I was in the wrong and I understand I should pay," she said.
But she claimed the behaviour of the clamping operatives – Premier Parking Services – left a lot to be desired.
She said: "I hadn't realised if I left the vicinity of the car park. I could be clamped.
"When my husband arrived, he found them looking at my car.
"He said he had keys and offered to move it, but they told him only I could move it. He tried to get to the car but they stood in his way."
Kate's husband Howard was then told by the operatives that her car would be towed away, as she was not there and had 'no method of payment'."
Meanwhile, Howard had called Kate on her mobile at JDR Karting.
She said: "I was in charge of 12 kids and had to make arrangements for someone to keep an eye on them.
"I was crying my eyes out, and someone was videoing me coming up the road crying. It was just appalling.
"Another woman came out of Toys R Us with her three-year-old. She'd been in the shop and still got clamped.
"She was crying, her child was crying and I was crying."
Kate paid £130 for the release of her car.
She said: "It's just appalling. They seem to relish in other people's misfortune.
"I asked for his name and the name of the guy who had the video camera and he told me the cameraman didn't work for the company, and had just come along.
"It's not fair. I'll never go down to the Peel Centre again. I just don't want the hassle."
Kate says she will be sending a letter of complaint to the company in the near future.
A spokesman for Premier Parking Services said: "With regards to Dr Todd, I am unable to comment as we have not yet received a formal complaint through our appeals procedure whereby all details can be investigated."
18 Comments
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by Premier Parking Services, Swindon
Monday, September 21 2009, 4:21PM
“Welcome to our website.
It is well known and accepted that areas providing space for public parking demands constant management in order to maintain a trouble free and non-congested parking environment.
We recognise each sector as a unique challenge. The diverse problems demand a flexible approach and a fundamental understanding of safety and security issues.
We understand the complexities of the industry's wide-ranging needs and we offer a committed professional approach to the criteria surrounding parking management.
Noticeable signage holding clear instruction and warning displays are essential so that individuals are in no doubt as to what is expected of them within the designated area.
This is equally important in the retail service areas for loading and unloading purposes where such operations need to be smooth and trouble free for all parties concerned.
We are aware that interruptions can often mean a delivery is delayed or re-scheduled, in turn instigating problems with general logistics resulting in spoilt goods or incurred costs where vehicles have been unable to meet delivery/collection schedules.
Quite often parking areas are more problematic when the public and retailers both share the same perimeters. We are aware that extra vigilance is called for to avoid possible confusion or confrontation between parties.
Premier Parking Enforcement Officers and drivers are trained to associate with the general public and are able to cope with any crisis situations or unforeseen events thereby minimising the risks of disturbance to Land Owners and Property Managers.
Follow the link above for a detailed description of what our services will provide and guarantee you.
Premier Parking Services UK Ltd are pleased to offer the Complete Solution to Controlled Parking Management for all clients in the commercial, retail and residential sectors.”
by libby knight, Tetbury
Wednesday, April 22 2009, 2:33PM
“I went to toy'r'us, spent £180.00, walked my son to JDKarting for a party , and back to my car within 5 minutes to continue shoppping for his present to find my car had been clamped. They recoreded it all on video and camera which is sick. I am also registered disabled and have a blue badge which they said made no difference as it is private land. I felt vulnerable and will never ever go there again. I will be appealing against this and will also be writing to Mps, councils etc as we cannot allow this bullish behaviour to continue..I think a protest would be a good idea.”
by andy lloyd, Gloucester
Sunday, February 22 2009, 8:31AM
“After my wife fell foul of the draconian parking restriction now reinforced to the letter at the Peel Centre (she left the site for just 15 minutes, for which she was fined a total of £130) I contacted Gloucestershire Police. The police officer I spoke with expressed concern about the behaviour taking place at the Peel Centre by the employees of Premier Parking, but the police are powerless to act because it is within the letter of the law.
We plan to take the matter further with the local council, MP etc. This practice stands to blight the shops in the area.
To be honest, though, the only effective way of raising poeple's awareness of what is going on down there is to stage a public, legal demonstration on a Saturday morning on the pavement outside the pedestrian exit onto Bristol Road.
That would enable demonstrators to raise the awareness of motorists as to the risk they take by parking at the Peel Centre and then walking off site for even 30 seconds (these guys are just lying in wait, as has been reported here). Secondly, it would enable peaceful demonstrators to politely inform people about to leave the site that they stand the considerable risk of having their car clamped and/or towed away. Thirdly, it would upset the shops there, perhaps forcing them to re-think their presumed agreement to bring these people in.
To be honest, I regret having to even recommend this course of action, because it potentially harms Gloucester's already difficult position as a retail centre.
It is clear that the political leaders in the city need to take action here. For instance, bringing up the issue with the Peel Centre's landlords,who could just as easily brought in a supermarket-style policy of 2 hours free parking. That seems to work generally well, and there is a good argument to be made that it frees up people to visit shops in the town centre for a short while, enabling trade there to take place too.
Action is needed, because this draconian and predatory practice is taking place under the noses of our political leaders and law enforcement agencies with impunity.”
by dave, Gloucester
Saturday, February 14 2009, 8:45PM
“I parked there the other week to go to college. When I got back my car had been towed all the way to weston. It cost me £380 to get it back. It's disgraceful. Hardly anyone parks there during the day so I wasn't stopping people from parking who were using the facilities. I am to scared to park there now even if I am using the cinema or whatever. Its ridiculous. There just a bunch of crooks. Something needs to be done quickly!”
by RUTH, GLOS
Wednesday, February 11 2009, 10:23AM
“Anon of Glos seems to be on the payroll of Premier Parking
with his / her short and uninformed comments I think you need to check out the prices at JDR Karting (more like £10 ahead) why would ones ability to pay a fine(ransom) have anything to do with it! Are children unable to have birthday treats these days?
The Peel centre have an agenda to Teach the people of Gloucester a lesson about parking on their property and use this company to do their dirty work.
So i and plenty of my friends will be voting with our feet and will stop visiting the Peel centre until this practise stops!!”