I don't know LR.  I actually thought that the permits were issued to the traders, offices etc. but I don't know perhaps they are let to people who are out at work. So couldn't any empty spaces be used with the parking tariff paid when they are empty?  Perhaps, I am just a bit naive.

I had been to Billifest every year until last year, Birdman. I believe the men who were talking outside Adversane Hall were from outside Billingshurst and their visiting family members had been clamped in Jengers Mead. So they could be forgiven for feeling that a deal was being made with the owner of Jengers Mead and the clampers to host a yearly event on the misfortune of others.

I am certain that in the past all the shops have participated in the festivities. However, our shops need more than one day's golden opportunity, surely, what they need is steady day to day footfall and with the clamping regime in situ that is what they are not getting.

You only have to read the previous posts from P&B!!! Not a complaining post but they clearly have been adversely affected by the clampers and the lack of proper signage.

Who are the complainer's you refer to; those who have written to the newspapers? Those who have leases due to be renewed in two years? These people are our community, the clampers most definitely are not!!

Is there anything wrong in going to PC meetings, Birdman? Not many of the community actually go, most of the time I am there on my own; when did you last attend one and keep your finger on the pulse?

Perhaps, you could frequent the vintage shop when it opens, I am sure Mrs Bird would be more than happy with some of the Victoriana, perhaps even a nightie!! 

Traders should embrace Billifest and ask themselves how they could use it and other such events to improve their trade.  Clamping cannot help trade, I can see that, it’s a bad thing but I still say that not enough is being done to advertise the ample parking spaces that do exist for those who wish to shop in Billingshurst. Just a thought, but maybe all the publicity about the clamping, often instigated by traders, has not helped. By pubicising the problem so much its like saying "don't come here- you'll get clamped!"

This is unsubstantiated, but I was told the Car Park was bought for around £350K.

The clampers at their peak were clamping around 30 people per week.  30 x £120 x 52 gives an income from clamping of around £187k.
 
The Chamber of Commerce carried out a survey of the number of cars parking shortly after the clampers moved in and it was reckoned that £72k was being taken in parking fees.  This must have substantially reduced now as you often find just 10 cars in the car park.

The clampers charges may not be that unreasonable for people who deliberately try to get away without paying. However people in the following circumstances have been clamped:

•      Whilst getting change from the shops.  The clampers see you going into a shop having not bought a ticket and clamp you.  You do not get even 2 minutes.  People visiting the village, for the first time, do not know that they need to bring the correct money.
•      People have been clamped for having their wheel a centimetre over the car-park lines.  With the amount of cars in the car park you aren’t exactly stopping other people parking.
•      Clamps have been dispensed to people who have a ticket and have not displayed it correctly.  Eg displaying it on the left hand side of the windscreen.
•      One lady had a ticket and it blew onto the seat when closing the door.  She was not let off the fee even though she had a ticket.

Yes these people may have technically breached the rules.  But in these cases the full £120 penalty is UNREASONABLE. 
I now have to interrogate my clients as to where they have parked and how they have displayed their ticket for fear of them being clamped.  It does not give a good impression of the village centre or my business

Park and Brown wrote on Jul 28^th, 2010 at 10:52am:


I didn't know you could be clamped for that - diabolical ! 

Not getting 5 minites grace is a bit off, though that's the problem when you deal with private land I guess.

Not displaying in the right area of the screen, I've been done for that. Croydon Council state that resident permits must be clearly displayed on the nearside of the front windscreen. Due to the very small screen on the car I had, I stuck it on the centre in front of the rear view mirror to help with the restricted vision. Croydon council decided it was against their rules and took my car to the pound where it ended up costing me £180 to get it back, the charges would have kept going up £50 for each day it stayed there. Very annoyed at that.

As for the ticket blown off the screen, been there and done that as well, you live and learn to check. as has been said, it's not displayed so it's not their fault you didn't check. Annoying, but nothing much you can argue as they do say you have to clearly display it.


I still think more work need to be done to get the owner of the land to help the villagers. If he agreed to increase the size of signs and it's not been done still, is anyone still chacing it up or have they just taken it that he wont increase the size? It's keeping in constant contact whilst not pestering that will ultimately get him to help out.