Car clamps face axe

Parking attendants in London could be banned from clamping cars, it emerged today.

Camden council is considering dropping the controversial control and becoming one of the first UK authorities to adopt a "softly, softly" approach towards rogue motorists.

Meanwhile, wardens in Westminster have been ordered not to clamp vehicles until they have been "in penalty" for at least an hour. Previously the time limit was 15 minutes.

Camden officials are to investigate whether clamping vehicles improves traffic flow - and drivers' compliance - in the borough.

A draft report by the council's scrutiny committee says: "The panel felt that where there may be a good reason to tow away a dangerously parked car, the same argument did not extend to clamping, which would never be done in those circumstances where a removal was appropriate."

The report urges: "There should be a comprehensive study, including an assessment of stopping clamping altogether."

The move follows growing public concern over Camden's parking regime. More than 29,000 cars were clamped in the borough last year, an average of 80 a day. Only Westminster council clamped more cars in inner London. Drivers have to pay £65 to have a clamp removed and ?50 for a parking ticket, and last year paid nearly £3.4million in clamping fees. In Westminster the clamping release fee is £150. If Camden ends the practice, it will follow Manchester City Council and St Albans District Council, which have already done so. Other recommendations being considered include a review of pay and display machines sited near churches and more prosecutions of motorists who abuse parking attendants.

The scrutiny committee's final report will be published next month, but is likely to come after the results of a rival inquiry by Conserva --tive councillor Piers Wauchope are made public.

Westminster council revealed that it had run a "no clamps" trial, in which motorists get a one-hour "grace" period, since the beginning of May. However, drivers who had repeatedly failed to pay previous parking fines were still being clamped immediately if found committing an offence. Danny Chalkley, Westminster's cabinet member for transport and economic development, said: "There are any number of reasons why we might have to clamp someone who has committed a parking offence but clamping a car because the driver had overstayed by 15 minutes was disproportionate. We are trying to meet the ordinary motorist halfway."