Clamping on Thatcham Avenue
Created by TonyGHi all,
anyone know what’s going on with the wheel clamping in Kingsway?
I rang the Project Manager some time ago to ask what was happening, as clamping had started on Thatcham Avenue (around 12 months ago). He told me that TA was not part of the clampers remit and got them to remove all the signs etc…
This morning I woke up to find a car outside being clamped by CPS (those of crimewatch fame) and when I asked the chap what was going on he said they’d been asked to start clamping on the street again a couple of weeks back and he pointed to 1 sign on the first lampost on Thatcham Avenue (I haven’t seen any more anywhere else… ‘though there may be, in my opinion it’s not clear but hey ho)!
Tried to ring the Kingsway Village people but couldn’t get through.
I’m a bit concerned about this occuring again. Is this still because the road hasn’t been taken on by the Council and thus these cowboys are free to do what they want?
Can anyone fill me in?
Many Thanks,
T
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May 7th, 2010 at 3:01 pm
Hi TonyG,
One of my neighbours spoke to me about this yesterday. (She was wrongly clamped on a previous occasion and the QUVL agreed to ask CPS to refund her money; but sadly – after numerous ‘phone calls without any meaningful response – she gave up)!
She had similar concerns when a visitor’s car was clamped yesterday (also parked in the “safe zone”); fortunately the guy removed the clamp on request and put my neighbour in touch with the new boss of CPS (the previous guy is now gone).
The new boss (sorry I didn’t get her name) is – apparently much more understanding and approachable and my neighbour spoke to her about the fact that the parking on Thatcham Avenue is now a complete mess and it’s unclear where the “safe spots” are (construction traffic and lack of road surfacing having conspired to wear away the lines and – in some places – the black paint which was applied over the lines in order to allow some parking areas… following intervention from the Residents Association and agreement from the former QUVL representative, and many of the CPS signs have also disappeared)…
Anyway… she (the new manager) said that the QUVL have asked them to start clamping again on a regular basis and specifically on Thatcham Avenue!
But she also added that she would like to speak to somebody about the area in order to try to ensure that it was done as fairly as possible (she was told some of the history and the fact that signs and lines etc were unclear and that clamping was including areas which are not hazardous and were – in fact – previously designated as free parking areas).
I gave her Barry Kirby’s telephone number (sorry Baz – lol) so that he – as the chairman of the Residents Association – (and perhaps also as the new local Councillor… I haven’t yet had time to look at the local election results) could liaise on our behalf and try to strike a happy medium between stopping thoughtless and obstructive parking, whilst allowing people who live in and/or visit Kingsway some way of parking in the area without the constant worry of getting clamped.
Hopefully, between Barry, CPS and the QUVL, we can find some reasonable solution(s)!
See also Sam’s Post Thatcham Avenue – Parking and my comment there.
May 7th, 2010 at 7:13 pm
The clamping issue was raised to me yesterday and during the day I had a few phone calls with CPS and QUVL who agreed to remove all clamps placed, except in a couple of cases.
What happened was unacceptable and I am working with QUVL to sort it out in the short term, and am hopefully going to work with City and County Council about a longer term solution.
May 7th, 2010 at 7:14 pm
I will discuss this issue at the public meeting on Friday, so please come along.
May 10th, 2010 at 11:50 am
I live at the bottom of Thatcham Avenue by the mini roundabout.
What plans are there to sort out the double yellow lines?
Surely the ones in place at the moment are not legal?
Further to this the black paint that was painted over the ones outside our house has now worn off; can we park outside our houses or not?
Some clarification is required as I don’t want my visitors getting clamped which seems to be the latest issue we have to deal with!
May 10th, 2010 at 11:53 am
Hi soundaim,
I moved your post to here; I believe you’ll find most of the answers above.
If you have any further questions on the subject, feel free to ask and – if you can make it – come along to the Residents Meeting on Friday (8pm at the Community Centre on Woodvale – just past the blockade on the left); that way you can ask the QUVL representative yourself
May 10th, 2010 at 11:59 am
Parking in Kingsway
Hi Kingsway Villagers,
I’ve been watching with interest recent post with reference to parking on Kingsway.
After witnessing these car clampers in action, I sent the following message to the company in question:
Dear Sirs,
I am writing to comment on your clamping of vehicles on Valley Gardens and Thatcham Avenue on the Kingsway estate, Gloucester.
With regards to your policy of clamping vehicles parked on double yellow lines, may I point out to you that you are not able to clamp (as your signs state) a vehicle parked here as they are not parked on legal yellow lines, as these yellow lines are broken lines and are not capped so these lines are not legal and can not be used to enforce parking restrictions in these areas.
Also we as an estate would like to know who has instructed you to clamp vehicles on this estate as The Council have not yet adopted this estate, and therefore it is private land. So in short your signs and clamping procedures are not enforceable and would not stand in a court of law.
I’m awaiting a reply from this mail and I will keep you informed.
May 10th, 2010 at 12:05 pm
Hi Kevgee,
Apologies for converting your post to a comment but we already have 2 discussions running on the subject so I added it to the most relevant one.
It will be interesting to hear any reply you receive.
Don’t forget that the QUVL Project Manager Andy Smith will be at the forthcoming Residents Association meeting this Friday… could be a good opportunity for you to get your answer from "the horses mouth"
May 10th, 2010 at 12:21 pm
KevGee,
When the incident happened, I immediately rang the enforcement company and QUVL to sort it out (hence they all disappeared by the end of the day).
The clamping company is invited by QUVL to enforce the yellow lines (but it is not a contractual arrangement). The double yellow lines are not enforcable by criminal law as the lines are on private land. However by the same token, it is private land and therefore it is enforcable by Civil Action. They have signs up and therefore notice is given.
I did point out to the company that the yellow lines do not exist and that they could not clamp.
Andy Smith, QUVL Project manager, has had a meeting with the clampers on Friday to discuss the issue and I will be pushing the Council to look at this problem in greater detail as the situation can not stand as it is.
As Clive has said, please come along to the meeting on Friday and we can talk more about it there.
Barry
May 12th, 2010 at 6:03 pm
Hi Clive & Barry,
I’m hoping to come on Friday as I’d like to hear what’s going on with these parking issues, and to find out what you have planned for the coming year.
Look forward to meeting you.
Kev
May 15th, 2010 at 9:47 am
Hi guys,
Thanks for the comments.
Unfortunately I couldn’t make Friday’s meeting but would like to know if any action is going to be taken?
Thanks
T