Vehicle Clamping (Hansard, 7 February 1990)

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, successive surveys carried out by the Tranport and Road Research Laboratory have shown that wheelclamping has proved to be an effective deterrent against illegal parking in central areas of London. Benefits from clamping are improved traffic flow, more free parking spaces, less abuse of residents' parking bays and increased parking revenues.

Lord Campbell of Croy
My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply, which will be widely welcomed because it shows that improvements have been achieved. As this scheme has been in operation for three or four years, gradually expanding over an area in central London, can he confirm whether other areas in or outside London will now be considered?

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, the clamping zone was made permanent in 1986 and was extended to further parts of Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, the City of London and the southern part of Camden. In October 1989 approval was given to clamping in a large part of Hammersmith and Fulham. Tower Hamlets and Hackney wish to introduce clamping in parts of their boroughs and Camden wishes to extend its approved clamping areas. Following consultations with the Home Office and the Metropolitan Police, the department will consider their requests.

§ Lord Underhill
My Lords, does the noble Viscount agree that clamping is not always and necessarily the wisest policy? There may be instances in which clamping can be dangerous and the vehicle ought to be removed. Are criteria laid down for that situation? Do I understand from his previous reply that it is left to a local authority to decide whether it shall extend clamping to its area and then obtain approval? My own local authority has six very busy shopping areas which hardly see a warden at all and there is constant illegal parking on very busy roads.

§ Viscount Davidson
Yes, my Lords, I can confirm that it is up to the local boroughs to ask for 839 permission for the clamping areas to be approved. So far as concerns the difference between those vehicles that are clamped and those towed away, in the clamping zone any illegally parked vehicle may be clamped but those which are parked dangerously or obstructively are more likely to be towed away.

§ Lord Boyd-Carpenter
My Lords, does the noble Viscount agree that one of the difficulties of clamping is that, when a car that is obstructing traffic is clamped, that ensures that it will continue to obstruct the traffic for a considerable time?

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, that is true but, as I said, where the car is in fact obstructing traffic the tendency is to have it towed away.

§ Lord Tordoff
My Lords, I welcome the obviously deterrent effect of clamping. Following from some of the earlier questions, does the noble Viscount agree that it is foolish to clamp cars that have overstayed on parking meters, thus removing from use that parking place until the clamp is removed?

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, that is a point of view, but I can tell the noble Lord that clamping a vehicle on a parking space when it has overstayed its welcome will make sure that the driver of that car does not offend again.

§ Baroness Gardner of Parkes
My Lords, would it be possible in the case of parking meters or, alternatively, residents' car parking spaces to ensure that, following the clamping, the car is removed? I have very often seen as many as eight clamped cars in one street, half of them occupying residents' parking spaces. In those cases could the cars be removed after clamping?

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, I shall certainly draw the exchanges that we have had today to the attention of the Metropolitan Police. I can tell the House that the average declamping time is two hours.

§ Lord Shackleton
My Lords, may I make the noble Viscount aware that certainly I, and no doubt others, have been treated with great courtesy by the police at Marble Arch? Recovery was not as expensive as I expected and I was back on the road in time to get to your Lordships' House.

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, I am sure that the whole House will be delighted to hear that.

§ Lord Hailsham of Saint Marylebone
My Lords, why should London alone be privileged to enjoy this marvellous new invention?

§ Viscount Davidson
Because, my Lords, no one else has asked for it.

§ Lord Stoddart of Swindon
My Lords, does the noble Viscount agree that the real problem is the lack of enforcement of virtually every traffic restriction? Is it not about time that we in this country decided to have a separate traffic police 840 force which would have all the authority needed and leave our present police force to deal with criminal offences?

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, I suggest that that question is wide of the Question on the Order Paper. My noble friend who sits next to me will no doubt have heard it.

§ Lord Ironside
My Lords, will my noble friend confirm that owners of private car parks are now able to use clamps on cars which are illegally parked in those places? It is now legal for clamps to be used on the roads, but can he say whether it is legal to use them in private places?

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, I understand that in certain instances that is the case. I believe that British Rail are considering using them in some of their private car parks. However, I cannot give any firm details. I shall write to my noble friend.