Tourist driven away by clamping drama
Richard Cutcher • Published 28 Apr 2012 10:00
0 Comments
Share this
See also:
CLAMPERS accused of "bullying" drivers could be undoing the good work promoting Windsor by businesses and councillors, a visitor has claimed.
James Lewis, 35, stopped in Windsor on his way back from completing the Paris Marathon to show his wife and four children around the historic town but says he was left disillusioned when he witnessed clampers, in privately-owned Castle Car Park, acting "aggressively" towards old people and families because they had overstayed.
Mr Lewis, who lives in Manchester, was in the car park, off River Street, at 4pm on Thursday last week, when he saw two women, with two young children, who had had their car clamped. He told The Observer: "My wife and I got in our car and watched in disbelief as the clampers towered over this poor lady, swearing, pointing their fingers, flexing their muscles and smirking."
Mr Lewis said once the two men had walked away, he went over to comfort the women but this angered the clampers further.
He added: "The men asked me if I knew the women and I said no. They asked me what it had to do with me and said: 'They got what they deserved. This is Windsor!'" Mr Lewis reported the incident to police, who confirmed that they received a call but no criminal activity was reported.
He said: "It leaves a really bad taste in the mouth. I have family in Windsor so I know the town quite well and it is a really nice, friendly place.
"It is a popular tourist destination but a lot of this hard work to make it attractive is in danger of being undone by companies who act in a threatening manner."
Parking Control Management, which manages the car park, were unable to comment.
Have your say - email observersletters@berksmedia.co.uk
This article appeared in Royal Borough Observer 28 Apr 12
Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.
