Councillors angry over ‘aggressive’ car clampers

CORK’S “aggressive” car clamping regime is portraying a bad image of the city, politicians have said.

Fine Gael city councillors led calls yesterday for an easing of the city’s parking control policy as negotiations on a new contract with clamping operators enter the final stages.

They claimed clampers were “high-handed”, have been rude and aggressive to some motorists, and that in some parts of the city, visitors’ cars are being targeted first.

Fine Gael Cllr Dara Murphy said while clamping is needed to deter illegal parking, he said there was absolutely no need for clamping and towing in the suburbs.

Party colleague Cllr Patricia Gosch launched a stinging attack on clampers, describing their operation as a money-making enterprise.

“It’s bad PR for the city. They show no discretion. And often-times they have a high-handed attitude,” she said.

Ms Gosch said she had asked city officials to ensure clampers would show discretion while a Novena was taking place recently at St Mary’s Church and officials agreed.

But despite her request, several motorists’ cars were clamped while they prayed in the church.

Fianna Fáil Cllr Seán Martin said whatever city officials said, the facts on the ground were that clampers were overzealous.

“I was at a 7.30pm removal in O’Connor’s Funeral Home at the bottom of Shandon Street recently and I know of other people whose cars were clamped while they were inside the funeral home. That’s crazy but it’s happening,” he said.

Fine Gael Cllr Denis Cregan said he knew of a motorist who was clamped within two minutes while be bought chips in a chipper on Anglesea Street.

“Clamping after two minutes in Anglesea Street — where you could park a jumbo jet — is just not good enough. You wouldn’t come back to Cork after that,” he said.

He also said that some cars which have been parked overnight at weekends are being clamped by 9am the next morning.

“Sure the birds aren’t even up at that hour. They have spies walking around, saying ‘come over here, we have a catch’. That’s not nice for Cork.”

But Fianna Fáil’s Cllr Mary Shields said clamping was necessary in suburbs, especially around CIT and UCC, where motorists often block residents’ driveways.

City manager Joe Gavin defended the regime and said clamping and towing is only enforced in specific situations.

If everyone decides to park illegally for two minutes there would be traffic chaos in the city, he said.

“We are not clamping willy-nilly. There is 20% capacity in the city’s seven car parks. The message should be getting out you can always be guaranteed a parking space,” he said.

“Clamping staff should always be courteous. It’s specified in their terms of reference. It they are not, that is wrong.”

He also rejected suggestions clampers have to meet targets, saying they are paid a flat fee irrespective of how many cars are clamped.

Clamping generated almost €400,000 for the city last year but cost €500,000 to operate.