The Park Garage Group have asked ‘LPS Parking Solutions’, the clampers they employ at the Total Garage on Benfleet High Road, to leave the premises after local MP Rebecca Harris wrote to the Managing Director of the company, Mr Sunil Tandon, to support resident’s complaints about disproportionate clamping fees.

Rebecca wrote to Mr Tandon arguing that the charges faced by many residents of almost £300 were totally unreasonable and wholly disproportionate. She also expressed her concern that the whole issue was damaging the reputation of Benfleet High Road amongst local shoppers.

The government are due to ban clamping on private land in the Autumn.

Rebecca Harris Said: “I am very pleased that The Park Garage Group have asked the clampers to vacate their forecourt.  To charge people almost £300 to remove a clamp that has been on for a number of minutes is totally unreasonable.

Last year I lobbied Ministers to change the law to deal with rogue private clampers charging disproportionate fines. I am delighted that the government is bringing in a ban on clamping on private land precisely to protect the public from exactly this sort of heavy handed action by clamping firms.

Not only did the issue generate a large amount of bad publicity for Total locally, but I was also very concerned that it was damaging the reputation of Benfleet High Road at a time when more than ever we need to encourage people to support their local traders.”