Housing firm unlawfully removed cars
Deniz HuseyinA social housing firm has admitted that vehicles on its estates were unlawfully towed away. Ascham Homes, an arms length management organisation working (ALMO)?for Waltham Forest council, had vehicles lifted after 1 October 2012 when clamping and removals on private land was banned under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012.
Vehicles parked on the estates without residents, visitors or exemption permits were towed away, with owners having to pay a £160 release fee, plus a £15 a day storage fee.
Parking campaign group the NoToMob discovered that Ascham Homes’ enforcement contractor Tilbury Garage was continuing to remove vehicles despite the ban.
It wrote to Waltham Forest council, which responded that Ascham Homes had mistakenly believed that housing estates were public land, and so were exempt from the ban.
The London borough said that 72 vehicles were removed between 1 October 2012 and 9 January 2013, when the unlawful towing was brought to its attention by the NoToMob. Ascham Homes has now agreed to write to the owners of all vehicles that were unlawfully removed to offer to refund the release fees. The council estimates the total refund will cost about £12,000.
A Waltham Forest spokesman said: “Ascham Homes is exploring the position with its lawyers and will seek to recover sums that the contractor [Tilbury Garage] is liable to repay.”
Tilbury Garage is not a member of the British Parking Association’s Approved Operator Scheme[/i]
ENDS
https://www.transportxtra.com/magazines/parking_review/news/?id=36463
