The Government has introduced into law an outright ban on clamping cars on private land. The legislation has been passed in the new Protection of Freedom Act.
In response, the Federation of Private Residents' Associations (FPRA) which represents flat owners in England and Wales has accused Home Office Minister Lynne Featherstone MP of ignoring flat owners and tenants.
Bob Smytherman, FPRA Chairman explained that they had unsuccessfully lobbied the Home Office because:
“1. Residents and leaseholders of blocks of flats may not be able to install barriers because the terms of the lease will not allow them;
2. If the lease does allow or if it is amended to allow (a very complicated and costly process) the installation of barriers, the cost of installing and maintaining them will fall on the ordinary leaseholder, which includes pensioners and the not-so-well-off. Will the government contribute to this cost?; and
3. Barriers are restrictive and inconvenient to residents, visitors and trade vehicles interfering with the free movement in and out of where they live, work or visit.”
The FPRA has now called on the Home Office to work with them to come up with robust regulation of the parking industry, and avoid the unintended consequences of this legislation.
