28/07/2010

The parking and clamping regulations outside a community hall in Kingston have been upheld, after local people who were fighting against them conceded defeat.

The Shiraz Mirza Community Hall in Norbiton has strict parking regulations over its shared spaces with the adjacent Kingston Hospital building. Some people who had ignored them and had their cars clamped as a result, however, tried to get them overturned.

They claimed the signs put up by the parking enforcement and wheel clamping company, Parking Control Services, were unclear. The company has maintained that they are perfectly adequate, however, and have refused to engage further with the drivers.

The group have been told if they want to take the matter further they must seek legal advice, but Kingston mum Katie Glen – who was given a £75 fine and £125 release fee in November 2009 – said it was too costly to take the company to court.

She said, “We’re just getting on with our lives now, which is disappointing because we still believe we have been treated really unfairly.”

In a letter to Mrs Glen, a PCS spokesman said, “The responsibility to observe and obey parking restrictions is yours and we operated correctly in this instance due to the vehicle being incorrectly parked.

“We will not be entering into any more communication regarding this matter. Should you be unhappy with the decision, please seek legal advice.”