Now private land parkers get the boot

Residents say it's just another chapter in the town's parking nightmare.

The firms say they had to do it because some residents were abusing their goodwill and taking day-time places allotted to staff.

Solicitors Coole & Haddock, of Steyne Gardens, bought land in Bedford Row, along with partners at Bennett Griffin, of Warwick Street and Stagecoach, so staff could park during the day. At night, local residents used the 60-odd spaces.

But, in early October, the companies hired Worthing-based clampers Allied Parking Management to "police" the spaces 24-hours a day, because staff could not get into their own spaces in the mornings.

Now, residents have to fight for 14 spots along Bedford Row or walk five minutes from the nearest on-street parking in Portland Road. Resident Caroline Goodchild, 21, said it was "never a problem" when she left her car in one of the spaces after work.

"I used to park opposite my flat at 11pm and leave by 7am," she said. "But one day I came back and saw a warden clamping cars and haven't parked there since. They have become really strict.

"This road is usually packed and there is very rarely a spot. The nearest spaces for permit holders are in Portland Road and, as a girl, I don't want to walk all the way down from there." Miss Goodchild, who works part-time at the Dome cinema, added: "Quite a few people who watch films, eat out and shop park here but I came back one night and at least four cars had been clamped."

Thirty-five signs line the 50-metre stretch of road to warn drivers they face an 85 wheel clamp release fee.

The signs add: "Allied reserve the right to remove your vehicle at a further charge of 85 and 10 per day storage."

But Terry Goldsmith, who owns Kiwis restaurant in Bedford Row, warned that wheel clamping and new night time NCP car park charges would force away Worthing's evening visitors.Mr Goldsmith, 45, said: "This could become a major issue. The knock-on effect is that the town centre is going to become a no go area in the evening."According to Mr Goldsmith, three weeks ago he pleaded with a warden not to clamp a car belonging to one of his waitresses.

He said the warden told him: "I don't come with a warning. If you are not by your car then I will clamp it. Last week I got 70 cars in Worthing. You don't have to be a mathematician to work out how much that is."

Caroline Webb, spokeswoman for Coole & Haddock, blamed residents and shoppers for blocking staff in during the day.She told the Herald: "It has always been private property. Firms along here have bought land for their staff. Public parking has always been prohibited."The fact that the clampers we had before weren't as diligent as the one we've got now doesn't detract from the fact that it's still private land.

"Under the old system, in the morning, we just couldn't get in because people still parked there. We didn't object to them parking in the evening.

"There are hundreds of signs saying that you are going to be clamped, so, if people are silly enough to park there, they can't say they didn't notice them. Where in the country can you park in the town centre for nothing?

"If you had a driveway at home you wouldn't want people parking there during the day."

Mark Lynch, Allied operations director, added: "Since Worthing Council has turned its car parks to NCP it has caused a large parking problem for land owners. It has pushed drivers on to private land because they don't want to pay. They think these places are unmanaged so they park there and it has caused a lot of inconvenience."