30 cars clamped during musical evening
CONCERT-GOERS returning to their cars after a night out were shocked to discover that up to 30 vehicles had been clamped in one city centre car park in a single evening.
The unlucky drivers — who had to pay £100 each to free their vehicles — had left their cars behind the old Dean Clarke House in Southernhay.
Many were attending an Exeter School concert at the nearby cathedral, leaving their cars at around 7.15pm and returning to the car park, run by Sapphire Security, at about 10.30pm.
Among those caught out was Devon county councillor Christine Channon.
"When I first arrived at the car park I saw a sign saying pay and display but there was no machine to take the money and there were no lights in the car park at all," she said.
"When I returned after what was a wonderful concert I saw that a car had been clamped. It was as well I noticed because I wouldn't have looked at my own car.
"It was clamped too. In fact, around 20 to 30 cars must have been clamped.
"It was terrible. There were a lot of very angry and shocked people there, many parents with children, and it had completely ruined their evening.
"We all had no option but to pay £100 to have the clamps removed.
"The company must have made around £3,000 in that one evening.
"We all gathered round the man in the van who had put on the clamps and he said we would have to speak to his line manager."
Mrs Channing said a Pay Here sign was later discovered in a dark corner beside the old hospital — but again there was no machine to take money.
She said: "I think it is appalling and I think people should be warned that this is the most expensive car park in Exeter."
A number of individuals, including visitors to the city from Oxford and York, have complained to the Echo in recent weeks about being clamped at the car park and suggesting it was diminishing the city's welcoming reputation.
Sapphire Security has had previous confrontations with drivers over clamping. It oversaw the parking outside Exeter Central Station during which time a car used to transport a blind woman was clamped, as was a Royal Mail van. It also ran a car park at Sydenham House, off Blackboy Road, where another blind woman and her disabled friend were clamped.
Sapphire Security, also known as WJ Parking, was set up in 1999 by former Royal Marine William Ideson. It is based on the Sowton Industrial Estate. Last year it announced it was undergoing a period of expansion after an increase in demand for its services. It has declined to comment on the latest issue.
Were you clamped? Contact Mike Byrne on 01392 442238 or at mbyrne@expressandecho.co.uk.
20 Comments
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by Meg Compton, Exeter
Tuesday, September 29 2009, 5:10PM
“I am still in shock having been clamped outside Central Station last night at 8.15. I accept that I had broken the rules by overstaying my ticket by half an hour, but feel it is not well signed that clamping is in operation. Immobilisation is the word in small print on the meter, I now know. £100 is totally disproportionate to the 'crime' I committed and I would like to warn others of this aggressive activity. Any campaign for me to join?”
by Spongebob, Exeter
Monday, March 30 2009, 12:18PM
“Just a thought, have any of you thought about not driving into town?
Residents of rural areas with shocking public transport have some excuse, but the reset of you? How about the bus, taxis or even, horror of horrors, walking?”
by Helen, exeter, dean clarke house
Sunday, March 29 2009, 9:09AM
“I was clamped yesterday 28 th March in Dean Clarke House car park I was 12 minutes late back to my car. In the short space of time i was there several others recieved clamps. I would have paid a fine, as you do in a council car park , but this is exploitation and greed at its very worst.I want to make a stand on this matter and would like to start a saturday vigil with placards outside the car park to warn people and also lose the 'fat cat' company their unscrupulous revenue. WE DONT HAVE TO PUT UP WITH IT, LETS TAKE ACTION.”
by Jane Tompson, Exeter
Thursday, March 26 2009, 12:43PM
“well ive had a run in with the ECC before and if there anything to go by im sure the fact will remain. also Tommy i think your job is silly your just trying to benefit from parked cars. why dont you get a hobby..”
by Peter, lapford
Wednesday, March 25 2009, 8:08PM
“reading the comments i guess the car park belongs to ECC
this being so why not mention it to the city councillors when the next come grovelling at your door canvassing for votes
the are always fast enough saying that they are there to help .. so ask them how they will help with this little problem?”
by Nigel M, Cullompton
Wednesday, March 25 2009, 6:38PM
“Well Tommy you can TRY to notify ECC at 7:15 in the evening but - as it clearly states in the article - there was no machine and the sign was unlit.”
by non-car-user, Exeter
Wednesday, March 25 2009, 4:08PM
“You can't clamp a bus...or a train for that matter. Groupsave!”
by Tommy, Exeter
Wednesday, March 25 2009, 2:59PM
“I was working that night and as a clamper i take my job very seriously. At the end of the day you are breaking the law by parking a vehicle on this property without an official ECC parking ticket. If there was a faulty meter, then the ECC should have been notified.”
by Lily, Exeter
Wednesday, March 25 2009, 1:57PM
“So, is there a machine or not? If so, the argument is mute. I find it hard to believe that this company would run a lot without having a machine--or did all the concert goers think this was their lucky day?”
by Jane Tompson, Exeter
Wednesday, March 25 2009, 12:46PM
“i think clamping shoudl be illegal anyone caught clamping should be fined £30! whats the point in making a car not move its designed to be driven not to be sat with a tasty clamp attached to it.”