Motorist pays for error on visitor parking sign (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Motorist pays for error on visitor parking sign

9:38am Tuesday 4th December 2007 in Local By Chris Gregory

A STUDENT has blamed a misleading sign for being caught out by clampers.

Steve Roberts, from Winterthur Way, Basingstoke, had to pay a £100 clamping fee when he parked by the Victory Hill flats.

Mr Roberts said he parked his car in a visitor's space for lunch at 12.45pm because a parking sign said restrictions lasted from 8am to 12pm.

But when he returned at 1.45pm, the car was clamped.

When he contacted clamping firm Security International Group they told him the sign was wrong - but he was still liable to pay the release fee because the sign stated that return within 48 hours was prohibited, and Mr Roberts had previously parked in the area within that timescale.

The parking sign has now been changed to 8am to 12am, to fall in line with the signs at other visitor spaces in Victory Hill, which were correct.

When The Gazette contacted the company, a female employee who did not wish to give her name, said: "The sign that has been changed is irrelevant. The sign clearly states there is no return within 48 hours."

Mr Roberts said: "That is true, but, in my opinion, I was outside the stipulated times. I am annoyed I had to pay for their mistake."

Pam Bartlett, from Warren Way, South Ham, Basingstoke, whose son lives in Victory Hill, contacted The Gazette after having to pay £100 to free her daughter's car when it was clamped on November 14.

Her daughter parked in a visitor's spot at 9.25am for the maximum four hours, before parking in another visitor's spot while she collected her children from school. She said her daughter believed the restriction sign at each visitor space referred to that space.

A Security International Group employee said the no-return within 48 hours rule applied to the whole of the Victory Hill site.