Human barricade sees off Shooters Hill clampers

Residents formed a human barricade to stop clampers towing away their vehicles.

They stood shoulder to shoulder in privately-owned Edith Cavell Way, Shooters Hill, forcing the parking enforcers to abandon their mission.

Police were called to the scene by the clampers, who had been hemmed in by the protesters.

The neighbours claim they had been given no prior notification that parking restrictions were to be introduced and said signs that went up on lamp-posts were unclear. The cost of releasing the claims was being quoted at £375 by the clamping firm.

Marc Todd, whose Ford Ka was to be towed away until she confronted the clampers on Monday evening, said: “This was totally out of the blue.

“The community came out and barricaded the way to stop the clampers. The situation was very confused but we managed to stop them in their tracks. It was community spirit that won the day.”

Residents claim the signs that went up said restrictions would come in on July 27, while the clampers moved in on July 23. Mr Todd’s housemate Vanessa Higgins said: “It’s a victory for the small people. This was an outrageous extortion.”

A police spokeswoman said: “We were called to the scene and established that the correct signage needed to suspend parking had not been put up, so we asked the clampers to leave.”

Clamping company Park Direct said that they had no plans to return to the area. The owner of the road was not available for comment