I'm taking on the clampers (From Swindon Advertiser)

I'm taking on the clampers

3:21pm Thursday 13th March 2008 in News

AN EXASPERATED disabled man is attempting to recover £125 from a company which he claims broke the law by clamping him.

Tony Brown suffers from a muscle disease called fibromyalgia.

And he says he was targeted by a clamper who waited until he entered a shop in the Transfer Bridge Industrial Estate, to get to work on his car.

Now Mr Brown has written to the company and says that unless he receives a reply within seven days he will take the company, Premier Parking Services, to court.

"I have been told it is illegal to clamp a disabled person and I can assure you they will not get away with this," he said: "I went into a shop to get a quote for some car parts for four minutes.

"The clamper must have been watching me, because when I got back he had just finished, and he said You've been clamped'.

"He threatened to take my car unless I paid so I had no choice but to pay it.

"My drugs were in the car and without them and the vehicle I would have been stranded.

"I tried to explain to him that my disabled badge was visible and that I had only been in the shop for four minutes but he didn't want to hear it.

"He said I was misusing the disabled badge - but I wasn't.

"I am quite careful about that and it was entirely visible.

"He just said £125 or I take your vehicle now'.

"I am just thankful I had my credit card at the time. I had no cash or phone on me.

"Both the police and the council told me that it is illegal to clamp a disabled person.

"I was extremely angry when it happened and I still am.

"Parking in that area is just ludicrous. This was for four minutes in the middle of the day."

A Premier Parking spokeswoman said: "Premier Parking does not invent the rules, all sites are privately owned.

"These people send out tenders and in this case Premier won that tender, and now enforce the rules set out.

"I am going to investigate this and if our operator broke the law, then we would do something about this. If this man has been wronged then he will be refunded."

The Adver has been reporting on clamping cases over the past few weeks including at the England Under 18 football match at the County Ground.

The fans parked on the road leading into the Transfer Bridges Industrial Estate and were furious to discover their cars immobilised after the match.

Signs around the car park say it is private property but also states the parking is pay and display', which confused motorists.