Wheel clampers defend £200 fees

Bosses of a wheel clamping firm have defended charges of up to £200 for shoppers parking on a Shropshire pub car park.

Mark Smith, of Simplex Parking Services, admitted other companies charged "a lot less" to remove a clamp but insisted his firm's charging policy was in line with national guidelines.

It comes as more people contacted the Shropshire Star to complain about the charges on the Severn Gorge car park in Telford.

Non-customers caught parking there are asked to pay £150 and a further £50 to have the clamp removed.

They are warned charges will go up to £450 if it is not paid within two hours.

A nine-strong group is considering taking its case to BBC's Watchdog.

Mr Smith said: "There is legislation set out which governs maximum charges.

"There are companies out there who charge a lot less but we are well in line with national guidelines and the legislation that is in place."

Wendy Pitchford said her son-in-law Howard Hughes, 38, was clamped after parking at the pub for 10 minutes to go to the Jobcentre. She claimed eight other people were also clamped at about the same time on Friday and have got together in a bid to take action.

Mrs Pitchford said: "People know they should not be parking there and pretty much all of the people in that group have put their hands up and said they are guilty.

"We want to take this further and there is talk of Watchdog, so we will see what happens."

Severn Gorge pub manager Ben Minor said the company had been brought in to stop non-customers using the car park.

By Wayne Beese