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The moment furious drivers turned the tables on wheel clampers by trapping them in a car park
Last updated at 00:07am on 20.02.08Furious drivers turned the tables on clampers when they trapped them in a car park for three hours until they released eight cars which had been clamped.
Residents on a complex of newly built flats woke up to find two men busily putting wheel clamps on any cars which did not have a parking permit.
Angry drivers phoned family and friends to drive over and block the entrance to the car park - so the clampers were stuck inside.
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Revenge: Car owners trapped the clampers in a car park after they targeted eight of their vehicles outside flats in Southend-on-Sea, Essex
Vincent Martin 36, a taxi driver who lives in the exclusive complex in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, said: "I woke up at 8.30am and I heard a commotion going on so I threw some clothes on and went outside.
"I saw there were two men dressed in black in a van. They were really big, bald-headed guys and looked really intimidating.
"They had clamped about seven or eight cars and the drivers were out there shouting and crying.
"Luckily I'd got my permit and already put it on but some people were saying they had not received theirs.
"People missed work and hospital appointments."
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Blocked: Residents take action after they see their vehicles being clamped and call their friends for help to block the clampers
Signs dotted around the car park warn residents they face an £80 parking ticket or £125 clamp release fee if they do not display a permit while in an allocated residents' space.
Mr Martin said he had got several letters warning that enforcement action was starting but some residents claimed they had not received them.
The problem appears to have started when Ringley, the flats' managing agents, sent out letters to the residents' old addresses, who were then unaware when the scheme would begin.
He added: "When I went off to work, there were cars blocking the entrance. They were determined not to let the clampers out.
"They were trapped there for three hours until they eventually took the wheel clamps off.
"The people certainly turned the tables on the clampers - it's one in the eye for the clampers."
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Annoyed residents: Some claimed they had not received letters from managing agent, Ringley, about the start date of the clamping scheme
Workers from London Parking Control clamped eight cars in an area for allocated residents' parking which is controlled by Ringley.
Some residents paid to have their cars released but others refused to hand over the £125 and drafted in help from their family and friends.
Five cars blockaded the arched entrance to the flats. After a tense five-hour stand-off, the management company backed down and called off the clampers.
A spokeswoman for the London Parking Control said: "We are still looking into the incident and liaising with our client, Ringley."
Lisa Stiles, 29, said she was forced to pay the fine to get her four-month-old daughter Ella to Southend Hospital for a check-up for eczema.
She said: "It was very upsetting to pay all that money. I'm on my own and can't afford it."
In a letter to some residents, Ringley said it decided to introduce the clamping measures because of "problems with car parking" on the estate, which was opened in May last year.
Scott O'Brien, 20, who was clamped said: "I'm disgusted. I was parked in my designated space and I didn't receive a letter or permit or anything.
A cheer went up among the parking protesters and the barrier of cars were moved to let the clampers out.
Reader views (19)
Fortunately, where I'm from we can drive and park without such nonsense. How pathetic. I respect the Brits, but Yanks have it good.
- Ted, Bensalem, PA USA
They'll have to watch themselves - vigilantes always start off with the very best of good intentions, and invariably become more radical as they see success and/or failures as history has shown. That's one big can of worms to be messing around with!
There is a logarithmic decline in intellect, the larger a crowd gets, so the individuals involved will have to think hard about their actions, no matter how justified it might have been this time. Don't forget also that there's always people ready to hijack legitimate complaints as an excuse to get some adrenaline flowing.
Best of luck to them on a one-time, non-physical victory, though.
- Rogan, DFW Texas
Quick! March down to Parliament and take back your country!
- Trunk, US
At last the British public is getting control of these stupid rules and regulations. Freedom is what us old Brits fought for. This generation is always backing down. Eventually you will never get a Brit down. Eventually.
- Mick Read, Peachland. Canada.
I love this, for once the driver has some redress!
Well done residents!
- Wendy K, London
Blimey - imagine being trapped by that rabble. I would have run for my life.
- Longpod, London
Chaz, You need to get yourself down there and see the live council estates - you'll see how scarily off the mark your comment is.
- Claire, London, UK
I don't agree with what happened in this article but give me the name of the clamping company please... We live on a private complex and are continually getting people come in and park who have no right to just so they don't have to pay a parking fee.
- Minime, South East England
I actually wish clampers would clamp more cars at my flats. We are in the centre of town and you get lots of freeloaders parking there and taking our visitors spaces because they're too cheap to pay £5 for the car park across the road. How else do you stop people?
- Huw Morgan, London, UK
The British people are subject to more draconian laws, invasions of privacy and legal violations of civil rights than any citizen of a communist or fascist dictatorship. Mostly in the name of making money or appeasing some minority religion or race. Well done guys at Southend!
- Nick, London
Bravo - Just goes to show there is still some fighting spirit left out there and it does not take a lot to present a united front against bullies - more action please against clampers, traffic wardens and their ilk!
- Vij, London
In my experience, bailiffs, clampers and dept collectors are very quick to call the police if they feel threatened or can gain an advantage. It is interesting these two did not. I suspect they did not want the police anywhere near them. I bet there are warrants out for one or both.
- Steve, London
I think this will happen more and more. The public is taking the matters in their own hands. Also the police is absent so people have to stand up for themselves. Nu Labour policies are obviously not working. Taxes are too high!
- Steveo, London
Clampers are mindless bullies. Serves them right.
- Marianne, SW France
Fantastic. Peaceful non-cooperation can defeat fascism.
- Neil, london uk
As annoying for the residents as it must have been, I can't see that the clampers have actually done anything wrong in this instance. In fact, why didn't they call the police due to being unlawfully detained?
- Jonathan, Osaka, Japan
"the exclusive complex in Southend-on-Sea"- Judging by the look of the residents "exclusivity" is a pseudonym for "council estate" in Southend.
- Chaz Teety, Knightsbridge
Nothing like a bit of anarchy to start the day. Next they'll be laying siege to the offices of energy utilities, council offices, and the Inland Revenue Service.
- Vic, Weybridge, Surrey
Well done to all of the residents.
If only the rest of the country had this bulldog spirit!
- Jimbob, Kensington
