Sedgemoor District Council has this week issued advice to motorists about clamping in the Burnham-On-Sea area after a rise in complaints about clampers.
The information comes after a jump in the number of complaints to police and the council during recent months.
“Being clamped is often very distressing but private landowners are perfectly entitled to do it,” said district council spokeswoman Claire Faun. “If you park on private land without the owner’s consent, there is a strong likelihood of you being clamped.”
“Should you find yourself in this unfortunate position, always ensure the operator has a valid license, visible and in no way defaced for you to view; that the operator has issued a receipt containing the location of the offence and date; and provided their own name and signature and the license number.”
She added that there are restrictions on where clampers can operate. “There must be notices up where you can clearly see them, warning that unauthorized vehicles will be clamped.”
Licensed clampers will carry an ID card like the one pictured here. “When a release fee is collected, the vehicle immobiliser must provide their name and signature, and their 16-digit licence number.”
“Also, the landowner must not charge more than a reasonable fee to release your vehicle. Your vehicle should also be released as soon as you have said you will pay the release fee. There must also be a way for you to get in touch with the landowner (or their agent) to make arrangements to pay, for example a telephone number on the warning notice.”
Clampers are active in several locations in the Burnham area, including outside the town’s RNLI station, where vehicles get clamped and towed away if they are blocking lifeboats’ access to the station, and at local supermarkets – although there has been no suggestion that unlicensed clamping has been taking place in these locations.
