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Saturday 26 May 2007

Haworth clampers

Over the past few years, car clampers have made quite a reputation for themselves in Haworth.


I have appeared on BBC Look North in the past (three years ago) deploring the situation, and have added my voice to many others more recently:


The activities of Carstoppers have little to do with parking control and everything to do with making an excessive profit from tourists to Haworth. The company's activities, especially its aggressive working methods, have been very damaging for both local traders and for the Brontë Parsonage Museum: quite clearly some tourists are staying away because they do not want their cars clamped for trivial or ridiculous reasons.

I would like to appeal to all those viewers who have said they will stay away from Haworth to reconsider their decision. It is possible to avoid car parks owned by Ted Evans. Please try parking in the Brontë Parsonage car park, which is owned by Bradford - or perhaps walk up from the railway station. The Brontë Parsonage Museum is at the heart of a wonderful village and is well worth visiting in spite of the antics of Carstoppers.



Richard Wilcocks
Chairman of the Brontë Society


Update (2016) - here is some police advice:

It is a criminal offence to clamp/block/tow away a vehicle on private land without lawful authority. Lawful authority to immobilise or move a vehicle is restricted to a number of organisation such as the police, DVLA and local authorities.

Privately owned land includes car parks, such as those at retail parks, whether or not there a fee is payable in order to park there (not local authority run car parks).


To commit this offence a person must intend to prevent the owner/driver from moving their vehicle. Therefore, clamping your own car to prevent theft would not be an offence. No offence would be committed where a driver was prevented from leaving a car park because the vehicle's exit was blocked by a fixed barrier. 

108 comments:

Anonymous said...

We parked in the huge council car park for only £1.30 for the whole day. There was disabled access to the main street along a short scenic route. We had an excellent time, with no worries. I would say to the Council that they need to advertise this car park more and out Car stoppers out of business! On my last visit we used Car stoppers and got clamped and it was terrifically expensive and very scary - just don't use it!

Anonymous said...

We had a very enjoyable afternoon in Haworth, which was unfoturnately spoiled by the actions of Carstoppers. We returned to our car to find that it had been clamped. The reason given for this action was that we had accepted a ticket off another (presumably well intentioned) user of the car park. It cost us £75, making it an extremely expensive day out. On contacting the clampers, we realised that they had a car positioned in the car park to watch out for any misdemeanours. Apparently 5 other people had been clamped that day - making Carstoppers at total of £450...not bad for a days work. There was no recourse to appeal, and we found the Carstoppers employee very threatening. It's such a shame that such an unethical enterprise is potentially limiting the success of the many ethically sound small businesses in Haworth.

Anonymous said...

Just to add - the incident I discussed above happened on the afternoon of Saturday 21st June. Whilst waiting for the clamp to be removed, we got chatting to someone who had also been clamped that day. He had also accepted a ticket from another car park user, and was only used the car park for approimately 5 minutes whilst he got his free parking pass from the holiday let where he was staying! Needless to say, this held no sway with Carstoppers...

Anonymous said...

Haworth will always be tarnished until Ted Evans is forced to change his ways. Our experience was very, very, very bitter. My father had a valid ticket which the agent had not seen. I also had a valid ticket - with the same date/time but there's no appeal. Another motorist was clamped even though his time had not run out. A third car was slightly over the limit (but was probably clamped just before time) and had been damaged by the clamping.

The council have to stop these car parks from being advertised and the council run car parks need to be much more evident. There should be highly visible warnings to any poor person coming to Haworth for the first (and last) time.
We're still angry about the incident and the lack of appeal. I'm not sure if I could keep my cool should I ever meet the infamous Ted Evans.

Anonymous said...

I'm afraid I became the latest victim of car stoppers in Haworth yesterday (13/09/08) having taken a ticket from another well meant driver who was leaving the car park. I never gave it a second thought! It cost me £75 to have the clamp removed and has been an expensive lesson learnt. I will never take or offer another ticket ever again! I do feel as though car stoppers are prowling on tourists in Haworth which is such a shame....I don't think I will be hurrying back there. You expect this strict behaviour in a city, not a little village like Howarth!
Perhaps a protest outside the carpark may be apt, warning tourists of the dangers..could be of little recompense in the form of revenge, at least they would lose a days clamping fees?!
Forever tarnished....

Unhappy of Manchester said...

We were victims of these cowboy clampers this weekend too.. after spending a lovely afternoon visiting Howarth and the Bronte Parsonage we returned to find our car clamped!.. reason given was it was outside a bay.. would have been impossible to see a bay (the row of cobbles apparently!) under all the mud that was on the ground under the car.. anyway, the £75 release fee was duly coughed up and whilst Mr Evans was taking off the clamp we were told it wasn't our fault we were outside the bay as the car next to us was parked incorrectly thus making us park at the wrong angle in a corner bay, I asked then why had he clamped us and was given the infamous reply "I cant do anything about it, you will have to appeal" - He took thhe clamp off our car and put it on the one next to us!
What is particularly annoying was we had returned to the car to have lunch earlier and one of the 'owners' henchmen was doing the rounds taking down car reg numbers, he saw us and never said a word that we were 'parked outside a bay' - I asked about this as he was taking the clamp off and was told 'its not his job to as he might be attacked' - attacked for warning us about a possible clamp?.. yes of course!!
Mr Evans hurried off to deal with another unhappy person who had been clamped and all discussion was ended.. we counted 4 other cars clamped was we were leaving.. a nice days earnings there!
Needless to say we wont be visiting Howarth again.. Such a shame these cowboys are spoiling a lovely area!

Anonymous said...

I tell everyone I know not to go to Haworth. I was clamped because i wasn't in a bay. But there are no bays the ground was dirty and you can't see the stones marking the bays.

Never coming to haworth again.

Anonymous said...

They're still at it !!!I unwittingly parked in this car park yesterday and after seeing the warnings in the shops I hurried back to my car when I thought the time was up. A burly man was about to put a clamp on my car even though I was there. I am a small , 56 year old woman but I was so mad that I grabbed a piece of his yellow thing and flung it waway from my car . Needless to say a massive row followed but at the end of the day I drove off without paying him his £75 and I hope that while he wasted his time with me other drivers got away and he lost more than just my £75 !!! Disgusting vultures.

Anonymous said...

THEY'RE STILL AT IT BEWARE !!! I had a run in yesterday with a burly man who was trying to clamp my car even though I was there . They say strenghth comes when you need it and it certainly did to me . I am a small 56 year old woman but I am proud to say that he did not get his contraption on my car even though he tried very, very hard. Hopefully the amount of time taken up with me meant other people who he would have clamped got away and he lost more than just my £75 !!!

Magpie I said...

Do NOt visit this town UNTIL all the shops - councils and business take responsibilty and act to tell us tourists not to park there. its al very well if you the know the area saying...park at X Y AND Z...ironically before our visit we parked in that car park for 5 mins to unload, becasue i was worried it might be the ONE> I was naive to the extent to which they go to exhort money...my partner too accpeted a ticket from someone....I cannot belive that so many people are hapening to hand out ticket - i think its a set up racket which surely must be against the law?

anyway our B and B hosts did not impress upon us in anyway the dangerous of this carpark = i saw no signs in shops - nothing in any museums or anywhere.

If i was a shop keeper or b and b owner i would be doing my damdest to put up signs - tell people not to park there....warning people and FIGHTING BACK.....

what upset me as much as hte clamping was the seeming apathy of the people i spoke to about it - as if nothing could be done...

Magpie I said...

This pathetic message is all the tourist info can be bothered to say about that car park - if you over stay !!!!!!!!!! IF YOU PARK A MILLIMETER OVER A LINE, IF YOU ACCEPT A TICKET OFF ONE OF OUR MEN SET UP TO TRAP YOU - IF YOU STAY BY 1 SECOND OVER, IF YOUR TICKET FALLS OFF , IF YOU TICKET IS SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT....WE WIL CLAMP YOU!! is this all they can be boethered to say to warn pe[ple?


Parking in Haworth

There are several pay and display car parks in Haworth...

Next to the Bronte Parsonage
At the bottom of Sun Street
Opposite Edinburgh Woollen Mill

Please note that visitors to Haworth have had their visit spoiled because they overstay the time on their ticket and are subsequently clamped.

Anonymous said...

Visiting Howarth, I have just returned from a trip to Howarth on my Motor bike and parked in Change gate car park. We got clamped even on a bike a ticket was purchased but being on a bike where do you stick it, I wouldn't have put it past these people to have removed the ticket. I will not be going back to Howarth again until the council do something about these people, It turned out to be a very expensive day but in the long run it will be local shops and business that suffer. This car park is set up to look just like one of the council car parks.

Salik Rafiq, Freelance Software Developer, salik@smrfreelancing.com said...

I have also been a victim of this notorious car park. The owner - Mr Farnell - is agressive, unprofessional and clamps for little reason. This car park is there for one reason only, to clamp your car. I accepted a ticket off someone else - a routine practise in the UK and for that paid £75. The owner is constantly on site and watches all cars coming and going and checks every 10 minutes for overstayers. Whilst I was there waiting I saw him clamp 4 other cars! I was accused of "fraud" and "deception" and the man, I believe, is demented and greedy. He records and photographs your car and wants you to go to court. The Parking logo is nowhere in sight and there are not enough signs around.

The people of the area - I've been told - want the car park shutdown, as it affects business. I can only appeal to the residents and businesses in the area to put up warning signs and signs directing people to Council car parks in the area.

I will still visit Howarth - however I think I will park in Keighly and take the train to Howarth. The park is lovely and the Main Streey beautiful and elcectic. It is touristy but I still loved it. We will surely be coming back to Howarth.

Magpie I said...

so many people including ourselves were " offered" a ticket by some " kindly people" and immedialty after we were clamped and fined.

so many people from that car park fall foul of the rules in this way it really makes me wonder if it isnt part of the scam.

i bet if someone watched this carpark it would be discovered that the people handing out the tickets with time left were deliberate scammers.

lets face it, would this surpise anyone who has used this carpark to learn of underhand tactics like this?> BUt is it legal?

Anonymous said...

I visited Howarth Bronte parsonage on the 11.04.10 with my partner and we were also victims of the clamping scam. The man who took the 75.00 from us did not offer a receipt. When we asked him for a receipt he became aggressive in his tone. The man appeared unkempt and very unproffessional. My partner commented that the charge was inexcessive, at that point a man and a woman came to support the clamper and we felt we needed to drive away as the situation was becoming volitile. We enjoyed our visit to Howarth but felt very disappointed that we were vicitims of a scam that needs addressing asap. Its such a shame that this scam is effecting the traders of Howarth because we wont return until its sorted.

Anonymous said...

I visited Haworth today 23rd may 2010 with my wife and grandson for a day out.On arrival I found a carpark with empty spaces(now I know why)I purchased a ticket for £3 and asked where I was to park and was told to park anywhere there was room,I drove round and parked next to another vehicle which was in a line of other vehicles parked.After walking down towards Haworth I remembered somthing I had left in my car and returned within 15mins when I got back I found my car had a clamp fitted to the front wheel and also the car next to me was the same.The notice on the windscreen said I was not parked within a marked bay,on looking round I could not see any markings for bays due to the dust and the state of the ground On confronting the man who I presumed ran the carpark and was instructed that I would have to pay £75 to have the clamp removed or the car would be towed away.Having begrudgingly payed the money the clamp was taken off and immeadiatly fitted to another car.I am seriously considering returning to Haworth with some leaflets warning other drivers not to use this carpark(GHANGEGATE)and I will stand their all day if it saves other drivers from getting caught by these modern day Dick Turpins(the owner I believe is a local councillor)disgraceful.Dont you think its time the locals did somthing about this before they loose business and have to close.
If this get on the TV again it will give Haworth some bad publicity I would have thought.COUNCILLORS DO SOMTHING BEFORE IT'S TO LATE.these people are making a fortune.

Anonymous said...

We are visistors from Australia and got caught today too. 2 cars 75 pounds per car. This is utterly disgraceful behaviour and I think that the UK needs to deal with this situation immediately. DISGUSTING DISGUSTING DISGUSTING
This is just totally rip off behaviour.
Bev

Richard said...

It's sad and a bit embarrassing that tourists to Yorkshire will take this memory of the county away with them.

We were fined today too - my own fault I appreciate. Never the less I won't be returning to Howarth again and that is a shame as I had had a very nice visit.

I add this to the list of complaints in the hope that the Village/council may act at some point in the future. People staying away because of this company will in the long run damage the economy of your village!

Anonymous said...

Just another fool to use the carpark. Still at it and making thousands. I might sneak up and put my spare caravan clamp on his car and see what he thinks.

Anonymous said...

phew I cannot believe how lucky I was - I got clamped too (saturday 14/08/10) - accused wrongly of taking an all day ticket from someone else because we had left the car park and returned. It was only after much ranting by myself and coming up with some evidence we had been there earlier that miraculously the clamp was removed. The men were like bull dogs in a big black 4x4 and not to be messed with - we were soooo lucky ! £75 is an outrageous charge. How come the police have no power over this? Madness !!

Anonymous said...

HOORAY!!! Ted Evans can stick his clamps where the sun don't shine.
Him and many others!!!
Sanity at last.
What goes around comes around!!!

Anonymous said...

I wholeheartedly agree, finally the law has seen sense.
Ted Evans and his cronies,will no longer intimidate the visitors to this beautiful part of yorkshire.
I may even return myself, if only to banish the bad memories of my last visit!
If only the law could make him refund all his victims, now that would be justice!!

Anonymous said...

The law will not stop the clampers... it will stop wheel clamping yes but it will not stop them issuing fixed penalty tickets with clauses on how quick you pay! Now it will be tickets that clearly state pay now for 75 or pay within 7 days at 100 and slowly but surely rising! if you don't pay Mr Magistrate himself Ted Evans will take you to court for your money!

Anonymous said...

The B*******s are still at it (26th Sept 10). Clamped today even though i returned with 30 mins to run on my Ticket and was well between the parallel rows of cobbled stones. I was informed it was because one row of cobbles did not have the white line on it !!! No where does it state that they bays are not marked by the parallel rows of inset cobbled stones and only the ones with white paint(very sparing) sprayed on them. Other people that had been clamped on the car park at a similar time had been handed a ticket by a 'friendly' person leaving the car park. It appears that 100's and 100's of people are handed tickets with hours and hours left on them only to be clamped minutes after they place them inside their vehicles and so obviously being set up by the clampers and car park owner. Another scam they seem to be running is to leave one of their own cars, in this case a red honda S2000 parked in such a position that the user of the next bay has no posibility of fitting correctly within the adjacent Bay and you guessed it . . they get clamped. Strangely the Red Honda is not within a bay but remains un-clamped !!!!

Anonymous said...

www.seesaw.com/TV/Factual/s-11177-The-Yorkshire-Clamper

Anonymous said...

I have also just been a victime of the outrageous practices of Ted 'fat cat' Evans who is exploiting the visitors of beautiful Howarth. WHY do the residents and local businesses ALLOW the destruction of their trade and income by allowing this 'person' to line his pockets from their customers.
Is there nobody in the village who cares enough about the heritage of Howarth to allow this brutish treatment of its visitors.
Why cannot the council display warnings on entry to this car park, that 'you will be watched by Car Stoppers and penalised for the smallest deviation from the 'so called' rules,' which are designed to extort as much money as possible from decent, unsuspecting people. This is a money making racket with no concience.
You can be old, ill or dying it seems, and still have to pay up.
I do not have a problem with a punishment fitting the crime. But £75 for 5 minutes overtime, whilst someone is obviously standing over your vehicle whilst the clock is ticking waiting to slap on a clamp is the action of a greedy, stubborn, selfrighteous, unfeeling, disfunctional, pathetic and sad person. In this instance I am almost glad I am the person 'paying' and NOT the person being paid. Who would want to be that type of person or indeed a person who endorces this type of action by being employed by such a man.
If 'Howarth' chooses to allow him to operate, then they must face the consequences of such acceptance.
It is time for HOWARTH to UNITE and OUST this blot on your landscape.

Anonymous said...

COMING OUT OF CHURCH AFTER A FUNERAL SERVICE AND HEADING FOR THE CREMATORIUM I WAS HEARTBROKEN TO FIND MY CAR CLAMPPED WHICH HAD NOT GONE OVER TIME 32 MINUTES I WAS IN THE CHURCH. THE JOBSWORTHS HAD NO COMPASSION FOR MY PLIGHT AND CHARGED ME£75 SAYING THE TICKET WASNT DISPLAYED PROPERLY WHICH WAS A LIE, AGRESSIVE YOBS PLAYING ON PEOPLES GRIEF CHANGEGATE CAR PARK HOWARTH WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND .

Anonymous said...

Visited Haworth today October 31st 2010 a busy day on the Haworth calender. Having being aware of the so called "Yorkshire Clamper" we decided to visit the carpark and within ten minutes watched no less that 4 cars being clamped.

Richard Wilcocks said...

Clamped? Outraged? Want to find out what you can do legally? Know your rights! Look at this website:
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/private-parking-tickets

Anonymous said...

I was clamped on 23rd December 2010 after staying in a lovely hotel retreat with my partner. We then wanted to explore more of Howarth and pulled into the car park to get our bearings. The Car was never left and remained running whilst we worked out how to get to the Parsonage. Then a 4X4 pickup pulled up across the rear of the car to block us in. Another passenger jumped out of the pickup and proceeded to clamp our car. I attempted to ask why this was the case when we had not yet parked or stopped the engine, he was not interested another male jumped out of the pickup and attempted to clamp the other side of my car scratching the paintwork in the process. The two thugs were rude and determined to clamp my car and started to push both me and my partner about. Another couple came to our rescue his wife phoned the Police and the husband waited with me. However all of this stress and pushing around led my partner to grab her purse and pay off these thieves to end the distress and criminal damage, which all played a part in spoiling the rest of our day and evening even after leaving Howarth.
The Police arrived after we left the car park and told us there was nothing he could do and even he would be clamped if he remained on the car park.
All of the residents, hotel, restaurant staff and Police we met were all very nice and a pleasure to speak to, but I feel that responsibility for this illegal practice that helps so many people take a dimmed final view of their visit to your beautiful village lies with you!!
This is your village, your Tourism and your reputation that these thieves are removing with your permission. I have been driving for 23 years and have never been clamped before or been muscled into handing over £75.00 for being allowed to leave a car park.
Only you can change this practice, you elect councillors and MP’s and they work for you!!

Anonymous said...

I too unfortunately can share a similar story except he wouldn't go below £90. I fear he is going to make things worse for the villagers and traders of Haworth. A beautiful place with a murky underworld of thugs and bullies that can only cause irreparable damage. I urge the traders to put up better signage to council carparks and warnings of what visitors should expect.

Anonymous said...

AS VICE CHAIR OF THE HAWORTH VILLAGE ASSOCIATION AND I RUN A BED AND BREAKFAST ,I GET REALLY FRUSTRATED WHEN THERE ARE REPORTS ABOUT THE CLAMPING.EVERYTIME THEY ARE REPORTED THERE IS NEVER A MENTION THAT THERE ARE FIVE YES FIVE!! OTHER CAR PARKS WHICH DO NOT CLAMP.AT THE STATION (RUN BY THE K&WVR) ALSO NEAR THERE GAS STREET CAR PARK (RUN BY THE COUNCIL).THERE IS WEAVERS HILL CAR PARK BEHIND MAIN STREET,AGAIN COUNCIL,WITH WALKING ROUTES ON TO MAIN ST AND TO THE PARSONAGE AND THE CHURCH.THE PARSONAGE CAR PARK ITSELF(COUNCIL) ALSO ON SATURDAY AFTERNOONS AND SUNDAYS THE LOCAL SURGERY CAR PARK(COUNCIL).MANY OF THE BUSINESSES HAVE NOTICES WARNING ABOUT THE CLAMPING ON CHANGEGATE CAR PARK.UNFORTUNATELY THIS CAR PARK,ALL BE IT BEING SMALL HAS CAUSED THE PROBLEM BUT IF PEOPLE DO NOT ABIDE BY THEIR RULES THEN THEY CAN CLAMP,AGAIN SOMETIMES VERY TIGHT ON THESES RULES!IT LOOKS LIKE THIS PRACTICE OF CLAMPING MAY SOON FINISH,HURRAY BUT I SAY TO PEOPLE DON'T LET THESE CLAMPERS WIN! OUR VILLAGE IS BEAUTIFUL AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS ARE STUNNING,LOADS TO DO ,ESPECIALLY ON OUR SPECIALIST W/E'S ,1940'S.1960'S,YORKSHIRE W/E,HALLOWEEN,OUR 6 VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS W/E'S ,SCROGGLING THE HOLLY,MARKET,PIPES BOWS AND BELLS ,PANTO,TORCHLIGHT,NATIVITY/MARKET LEADING UP TO CHRISTMAS.WHAT I SAY IS IF YOU PARK ON THEIR CAR PARK ABIDE BY THEIR RULES AND HOPEFULLY YOU WON'T GET CLAMPED OR JUST PARK IN A DIFFERENT CAR PARK!PLEASE COME AND ENJOY OUR VILLAGE,I CAME FOR THE THE DAY -AND STAYED!CHEERS MIKE HUTCHINSON VICE CHAIR HVA

Anonymous said...

Please be aware that the penalty is now £90. I too was clamped last week at the end of the day with only 3 cars left in the car park and 3 minutes over. It is legalised mugging and the operators nothing less than gangsters. I find it astonishing that the Local authorites have not been able to stop this scam over the years . The problem is the car park is so obviously accessible and appears to be a bona fide operation. It would not happen in France: imagine the mayor of say, Azay-le-Rideau putting up with this outfit in the Loire Valley. The West Yorkshire Police play the role of Pontius Pilate ( see their appalling and insulting website on this issue). I am afraid until all the local stakeholders come together on this and shut this operation down (or at least warn visitors) Howarth should be avoided especially for overseas visitors.
One final plea to the Parsonage: if you had given me a leaflet/warning on entry similar to the note you have on your website I would have been back to Changegate like a flash and moved my car. You have a duty of care to your clients.

Please stakeholders stop being so apathetic

Cheshireman

Martin R said...

Perhaps there should be some kind of demonstration at or near the Changegate car park. Peaceful of course - but expressing the anger and irritation of people inside and outside Haworth. What goes on is appalling and unacceptably exploitative. Why don't the local traders wave a few placards at least - or have someone standing around on busy tourist days to warn people off? A few extra signs from Bradford Council would help as well - because plenty of visitors do not know about the other car parks in the village.

Anonymous said...

My wife and I visited Haworth on Wednesday 23rd February. On approaching the ticket machine a man asked if I would like his ticket as he had just purchased it and said he was in the wrong car park, I paid him for the ticket attached it to the windscreen not knowing that we were being watched, when we returned found the car had been clamped. On reflection I wonder if this man was working in conjunction with the clampers! We had to pay a release fee of £90 because I purchased a non transferable ticket. During the process of paying the fine and releasing of the vehicle we were appalled by the aggressive attitude and strong smell of alcohol from both clampers! We were not alone other people had been clamped too. When the proprietors of businesses in Haworth find that their income is dramatically reducing they might wish to consider that their lack of action against Carstoppers on the Changegate car park has drastically contributed to this decline.

Anonymous said...

Sorry but it seem's to of left a nasty taste in our memories.
After being clamped on the 23rd of Dec my partner and I had the chance to return to Haworth, but decided to give it a miss and stayed in Cheshire. Shame.

Anonymous said...

This has happened to so many people, isnt this entrapment? the people handing out tickets are most certainly working for/with the clampers, shouldnt this be a police matter?

Why arnt the shops out picketing this carpark? If i had a business in hawarth I would organise a picket by all business outside that carpark, saying on big banners,cowboys, do not park here....we stayed in a b and b there, i had heard about the clampers but wasnt sure which or where, we parked outside our b and b i was so afraid wewould be clamped whilst unloading i made my husband drive to a carpark just unlaod and we took a ticket because we only intended on being there for a few minuets. of course we were clamped, the b and b said nothing and did not warn us.
that was 80 quid less we could spend in the pubs and shops of haworth and it ruined our experience.

one shop had a tiny notice on a window about the carpark, why not get huge banners, it seems to me no one in that town cares!i

Anonymous said...

My husband and I visited Howarth today and were clamped by the car park bully boys while we went accross the road for change , we were subjected to threatening behaviour and racist comments , and told if we had a good job like them we would be driving a good car like theirs instead of a "poxy KA " its about time for the local council to wake up , we will not return to Howarth until these thugs without a conscience are gone.

Terri Brand said...

My friend and i visited the Parsonage -paid the car park fee and had a lovely few hours -We then drove down to the car park opposite The Edinburgh woollen mill where we were the victims of a scam!
On reflection the 'kind ' young men who offered us there ticket were employees of the rogue who runs this car park! We were set up and I feel the victims of entrapment.
We had to pay the £90 in order to be 'released'
This has left us with an awful impression of Haworth and that it is a town populated by rogues. We will not be returning and will be warning all friends and family not to bother going there. So sad that the local council and traders don't get their act together and force these pariahs out of their beautiful town!!

Anonymous said...

The Changegate car Park is a shame for Haworth. Last year we have paid 75 pounds to this highwaymens, for nothing ! Last week we where again in Haworth and the bad cowboys where in a car,quiet, wainting a prey. We have saved a family of this thiefs.The right place for this "mens" is in prison.A shame for the town.

Anonymous said...

I am amazed the good people of Haworth do not do something to eradicate the extortionist Carstoppers who are sullying the reputation of their lovely village.

After being unfairly clamped for being minutes overtime I decided to tell other motorists arriving that they should buy a ticket leaving them plenty of time so as not to be punitively clamped.

The two clampers did not like this at all and threatened to tow our cars unless I shut up. Needless to say the vehicles were swiftly unclamped and their threats were empty ones!

Haworth please advertise the actions of this car park - you are well within your rights to tell the truth and your visitors would thank you for the warning. A ten minute trip back to change car parks is better than a hefty fine.

Help put an end to this horribleness...

natural justice said...

If you want to let Mr Evans, owner of Carstoppers and operator the aforementioned Haworth car park know what you think if his firm you can contact him via his web site.

There you will see his rather proudly displays of his works of fiction - funded no doubt from fellow book lovers paying to have their car unclamped after visiting the Bronte museum - the irony of it.

Visit him at http://www.edward-evans.com/contact.html

Glassprimitif said...

We are now warning visitors to our Handmade at Haworth event on 30 April NOT to park in Changegate car park a it could seriously ruin your day. This blog post was originally published in 2007 but Ted Evans is still clamping people and driving trade from Haworth. Most shops and tea rooms now have signs to warn their customers.

Anonymous said...

Just adding to this list to let readers know this is still happening...
Visited the car park on 27.4.11 and on discovering I had no change I asked the owner whether it would be ok just to nip across the road and get some change. Thats fine he said, no problem. On returning to the car with change for the machine I discovered it was clamped.

£90 fine.

Pathetic, cynical and a disgrace.

Anonymous said...

I had a run in with these goons today. 2nd May 2011.

I brought it all on myself, obviously.
Thankfully I was quick enough to only be £3-00 out of pocket.

We had paid for a parking ticket and left it on the dash, left our vehicle and headed off walking into Haworth. After a short time we realised it was colder outside than we had thought and headed back to our vehicle to put on some warmer clothes.

As we were leaving the vehicle again, another carpark user advised us not to park there as we would get clamped. I asked why, as we had paid and displayed. She said that she had also paid and displayed but her ticket had blown off in the wind and has been upside down on her dash so she had been clamped.

We thought this was obviously a load of rubbish but checked on our ticket and it was still on the dash facing up as we had originally left it. Happy with this we headed off again on foot in search of some much-needed food.

Once we had found somewhere to eat and were seated and had ordered I took the opportunity to use my mobile phone to Google 'Haworth clamp' to which this thread/forum was one of the first of many links. I saw then that other people had been clamped previously for failing to stick their parking ticket to the windscreen among other minor things. I left my friend in the Cafe and jogged back to the car park in hope of getting there before the clampers had noticed my horrific crime of not sticking the ticket to the window. Luckily for me my car had not been clamped in the 10 minutes since I had left it, so I stuck the ticket to the windscreen and exited my car.

As I did so I noticed the car next to me had a clamp on it and documentation underneath the wipers. I had a look at the paperwork and it stated 'Reason for Clamping- parked incorrectly in bay' or something along those lines. The car was parked well within the bay in my opinion, so I decided I was in Cowboy country and it was too risky and drove away from the car park to find somewhere else.

I parked on a road around 10 minutes walk away (possibly illegally- not recommended) where there were other vehicles parked and I jogged/walked back to Haworth where my food was waiting for me, getting cold. I took a short cut back across the Changegate car park where two chaps in a black 4x4/pick up truck were parked looking at me, I mouthed 'W*nkers' as I passed, and as I continued walking across the car park, I heard an engine speeding up behind me. The black vehicle pulled up alongside me and the gentleman in the passenger seat, a chap of around 50, said to me "Did you say something?" to which I replied "No", then the driver, a younger man possibly late 20s/early 30s with yellow teeth said "if you are going to say something to us, don't be a p*ssy about it" so I said "I called you w*nkers". When I said this the younger man said to me "If you are such a hard man how about 5 minutes in our shed?" and he got out of his vehicle, the other side to where I was stood, and hurried around the front. By this time I was on my toes and out of reach.

He hurled a few obsceneties at me, but I made it back to the Cafe unscathed and only £3-00 out of pocket, wolfed down my meal and walked back to our car and left Haworth never to return again.

I have no idea what would've happened if he had me for 5 minutes in his shed, but I would probably have wound up beaten up and/or B*ggered.

Moral of the story; don't go to Haworth, and if you do don't park at Changegate and if you DO, don't call the nice chaps any naughty names for clamping people for no reason.

Anonymous said...

We were victims of the clamper last week (28.4.11)- our crime was to park outside the marked bay.
The car park was only 1/3 full - plenty of space - and we parked in an area that had no bay markings. We not obstructing any other vehicle or causing a nuisance.
We paid for 2 hours but returned after 1hour. The attendants who clamped the car and issued the ticket were rude and threatening. When I said that hopefully the Government would pass legislation outlawing this practice the attendants said that it was their "human right" to operated the business!!!!!!
And the 'fine' £90 and the result - a return trip to Haworth is EXTREMELY unlikely

Anonymous said...

Another innocent victim of the hillbilly carstopper goons. We arrived back at our car just on time,to find that one of the pair had already attached a clamp to our car. I asked why he was doing this as I was on time and he claimed I was late. I looked at my watch and asked to see his proof of time,he pointed to the clock tower in the background [this was faster than the ticket machine]. He would remove the clamp for a mere £90 and when I expressed my refusal to pay along with other comments the second of the two knuckle scrapers got involved and was very confrontational. We was left with no option but to pay if we wanted to get home. I have done some research and a clamper has to be SIA registered,in this case he was. However his empoyer - this states on the receipt it is a G Evans - should also be SIA registered as non frontline, there were non currently active on the register. I would urge others to look into this as a possible refund case.

Anonymous said...

We are Australian tourists and were also clamped on 6 June for parking outside the bay, which I might add, weren't clearly marked. We were intiminated by these thugs and racially abused having comments like "all you Australians are convicts".

We plan to take this matter further.

WHY dont't the business owners, council, police and the local MP put a stop to this criminal extortion.

As an Australian tourist, we will definitely not be returning to Howarth and certainly warn our travelling friends.

Anonymous said...

Like all the above we too were the victims of the Carstopper thugs. We unintentionally had parked not even a tyre width over the white line and returned to find our car clamped. We had obviously been watched much to the delight of the guys in parked at the top of the car park who could only see another £90 in their pockets.

It is the first time we have used this carpark, usually parking near the parsonage, if only we had driven past this carpark last week. I can't say we will be more vigilant next time as I too don't think there will be another visit to Haworth.

This ugly practice has I understand been ongoing for too long, I am amazed that Haworth councillors continue to allow this carpark to operate, who issues them a licence? and why do they not display a larger notice by the pay machine advising the public to park elsewhere and play this despicalbe company at their own game.

Once again sorry to Haworth who will be losing yet another visitor to their beautiful town.

Anonymous said...

June 27th 2011 we were ten minutes late back. It was blisteringly hot, my friend has fibromyalgia and tood a couple of turns where we had to stop climbing the hill, and I have a knee replacement and waiting for another, OK we were late, but onl a little, and we were too hot and exhausted to argue, cost £90 and £3 for paying by card - these bastards obviously prefer cash! Howarth is beautiful, such a shame.

Anonymous said...

We got scammed yesterday. An author called Edward Evans (Is he the well known Ted Evans?) was selling his books at the entrance distracting us at the entrance so we did not read the parking notices carefully enough. 5 minutes late - £90. Why are the town not doing more to warn people about this well known con man.

Anonymous said...

We got scammed today, £90 fine to get clamp off. I also got distracted by the man selling books at ticket machine and didn't read the notice!! Will never visit Haworth again with such a bad experience in memory.
I just wondered if I had bought a book if they would still have clamped me as the man selling them said you get free parking with book or would I then have got clamped for having no ticket!!!
I am trying not to let this ruin my holiday but do feel upset and have lost a chunk of my holiday money. I am so grateful that I am not that sort of person and that I can sleep happily at night knowing I have not spent the day robbing people.
Can't believe the shop owners don't do something about it.
Looked into all sites and don't see any way of getting money back

Anonymous said...

Re: the clampers. This is what I witnessed yesterday: i) a lady was about to pay at the machine of this car park when a car was exiting which had male passengers in it. I heard them advise the lady not to pay because the machine was broken. ii) returning to the car park, I noticed the lady's car had been clamped *and* the guy who had advised her not to pay was sitting in pick up truck with the rest of the clampers, whom I've come to recognise over the years. This is a massive scam. Surely, something must be done to capture these guys doing this?

Dawn said...

Unfortunatly this is the same as everyone else. We had our day out today ruined by having our car clamped and having to pay £90 to get it released. We were told that we had to get the cash ourselves, obviously not an easy task for a tourist, and that if we weren't back within 15 minutes we would have car towed away and charged £150.
An elderly french couple were also in the same situation, their visa wouldnt work in the pub atm that had took them 20 minutes to find,so they were told to go near the station and back before the charge increased. I felt ashamed to be English and I actually apologised to them and said that please do not think we are all 'thugs and criminal extortionists in the UK
Like everyone else, if your a visitor to the parsonage/town you do not realise what you are letting yourself in for with that car park. I didn't even realised it wasn't a council one to be honest. Not many people read the small print contracts of a car park do they?
I am currently putting in a claim against carstoppers for damage to the front wheel arch and for not upholding the code of practice or a 'reasonable' charge to have the clamp removed.
I will also NOT be returning to Howarth again, this has ruined what was a lovely romantic holiday.

Anonymous said...

Unfortnately I also will not be returning to Howarth ever again. I refuse to believe that a council can not put a stop to these robbers or at least supply them with masks and pistols so we can recognise them. I felt like I had been mugged! £90 to remove a clamp for a very dodgy reason. There were only two cars in the car park and the thug robbing us claimed we had blocked other bays! Disgusting that these kind of thieves (and that is what they are) can be allowed to trade at all.
We had a lovely time in Howarth but will sadly NEVER return! Your loss Howarth. Grow a pair and get rid of these scum.
I will not be appealing because I realise it would be a waste of my time.
I believe in karma Mr Evans. I am sure one day (when you are old and feeble) you will too!!!

Kate said...

Well, another one here victim to these thugs today. The car park was full as it was August Bank Holiday - when we returned at least ten other people were in the same position as us. The problem is that as an infrequent visitor to Haworth there is little way to know about this problem until it's too late - how many people google a car park before they head out somewhere? i dread to think the impact this will have on Haworth tourism long term and I don't understand why Haworth puts up with it. I won't be returning in a rush, however many council parking spaces are available.

verity said...

Please check your pay and display tickets before going for your day out. Today we were fined £90. We put £1.60 for 2 hours stay but without us knowing the machine only registered £1.10 (bearing in mind its 80p for 1 hour). therefore our ticket ran out. We returned to the car with 2 scruffy men in a jeep sat next to the car waiting for the £90 release fine.
It spoils the village completely
I wonder if the machine had been tampered with.
4 other cars were also clamped at the same time as me!

Timothy Fox said...

Dear Dawn,
Only after sending a very indignant post on this Parsonage blog site (which has yet to be approved for posting), I found your post and wish to thank you for your sympathetic and unfortunately entirely accurate account. It corroborates what I wrote in my post. The only "nice" bit about getting clamped was meeting you and your husband while you were trying to phone the police for help. I was sorry that you were extorted too and that you had already left by the time I actually returned from a distant ATM matchine that would accept my foreign credit card. The thug who runs the scam was "kind enough" to unclamp the wheel to let me take the car to drive all the way back down the hill to the ATM machine, only after leaving my French passport as security. A crook is mistrustful of everyone else because he knows what he is doing is bent. He was lucky he was dealing with someone honest, for I could simply have left and reported the passport as lost. I will not let this drop and intend writing the Bradford District Council and the local MP.
No apologies necessary for people in the UK, whose overall gentility only makes this kind of scam all the more shocking.
Yours sincerely,
The "Elderly French couple"

Cristina Pagan said...

I too have been a victim of this car park. My family and I visited Haworth on Monday 1st August. We spent a lovely afternoon visiting The Bronte Museum, the church, the old cemetery and we walked in the moors up to “Wuthering Heights”, but it was ruined since we found our car clamped in the car park. We had to pay 300,00 Euroes to get it released (£90,00 + £150,00 because it was after 8 p.m.).
The following morning we left England from Leeds airport very depressed for the suffered scam. For this reason now I’m warning all Italian tourists about this scam in Haworth in many travel websites.
I hope the law will stop the clampers soon.

Richard Wilcocks said...

Hi Christina - sorry you joined the long list of victims! Please send us your warning in Italian so that we can post it here.

Incidentally, the law is supposed to be changing from January 2012...

Cristina Pagan said...

Anche io sono stata vittima di questo parcheggio. Io e la mia famiglia abbiamo visitato Haworth lunedi 1 Agosto. Abbiamo trascorso un piacevole pomeriggio visitando il Museo delle sorelle Bronte,la chiesa,il vecchio cimitero e abbiamo fatto la passeggiata nella brughiera che porta alla presunta Cime Tempestose,ma tutto questo e stato rovinato quando abbiamo trovato la nostra macchina con le ruote bloccate nel parcheggio. Abbiamo dovuto pagare 300 euro perche venisse sbloccata( 90 sterline di multa piu 150 sterline perche erano passate le otto di sera. La mattina seguente abbiamo lasciato l Inghilterra dall aeroporto di Leeds molto depressi per la truffa subita. Per questo motivo ora sto mettendo in guardia tutti i turisti italiani in molti siti di viaggiatori riguardo questa truffa in Haworth. Spero che la legge blocchi questi truffatori il prima possibile.

Richard Wilcocks said...

Cari ospiti italiani, amerete Haworth! Eviti semplicemente il parcheggio di Changegate. Parcheggi fuori del Parsonage intorno all'angolo.

Anonymous said...

We were also unfortunately taken in by the 'ticket left on machine by kindly driver' scam today. Helped along no doubt by the watchful man in the white van. After us, a car of pensioners were also targeted.

Sad to say we will never come back to Haworth. The town harbours these extortioners and those who aid them by allowing this frightful thing to happen.

Anonymous said...

I was clamped for not showing my ticket correctly. It was on the dash board not stck to the window. Thankfully, i have a photo to prove that it was visible and will be taking him to the small claims court (i wont win and i know i will be out of pocket aother �30 on top of the �90 i had to pay but i will try anyway) there is a lady called Abilgale who pickets the carpark and tries to warn people. Unnfortunately, people being people dont listen and park there anyway. We will be boycotting Haworth from now on which is a shame as we only live in the next village. The local councilor has been informed but the law seems to be on his side. (although he has a few unlawful but difficult to prove scams on the go. Do ot accept a ticket from a woman in a red BMW who claims that the ticket still has ten hours on it. Its a plant!) This man needs stopping one way or another

sharma said...

I saw these 'gangsters' in action yesterday. They have people on site offering all day tickets, saying they have no use for them as leaving early, to unsuspecting visitors, when ticket is accepted and put into the car and they go off into town they are then clamped as soon as they left the car park. A young woman was clamped for being outside of the lines, even though she was perfectly parked, she was in tears and they showed her no remorse. Me and 2 friends who happened to park on this now I know to be 'notorious' car park were disgusted and horrifed that this criminal behaviour is allowed to continue. Something surely must be done, because everyone who parks there is duped it is illegal and immoral and gives the town a bad reputation - something must be done. The police could easily 'go under' cover for the the duping that goes on at least!
I was dismayed by the whole scenario that was going on! Charging £90!
The couple who took the al day ticket from a 'scam do-gooder' hadnt arrived back when we left but I dread to think how they felt when they did get back and their car was clamped!

Anonymous said...

I took my mother in law who is visiting from India to show her the famous Bronte Estate but what she experienced with my family has been the worst she has seen till date.
I purchased the parking ticket for one hour and clearly displayed on the windscreen, the ticket was bought at 14:41 and was valid till 15:41 we returned at 15:20 in ample time and saw the parking attendant going towards our car with clamps in his hands, so I rushed to the scene opened the car and showed him the ticket, but he refused and said he could not see it and clamped the car, despite of my convincing and requesting. My wife and young kids who started crying had no effect on the person.
The clamper was adamant and kept on saying that he is going to call a tow truck and then it would cost me £240, I called car stoppers and they told me straight away that I have to pay to get the clamp removed. The clamper also said that police cannot do anything as he experience this everyday and police come to the site on daily basis but have no power to put an end to what they do.
I called police but they said that it’s a private car park and they cannot and will not do anything, overall it was the worst experience my family had, and I am shocked to know that why these people are allowed to intimidate and threaten people even after so many complaints. I spoke to local businesses and they all said that they are notorious for their practices.
As a law abiding and taxpaying citizen I would like to know what my rights are and what could be the solutions. I would be grateful for your kind help and guidance on this matter.

Anonymous said...

I am a Haworth resident who is utterly horrified at the damage which Ted Evans and his heavies has done to the village's reputation over the years. How awful that his extortionate antics have driven away so many people, who have sworn never to return. He is a disgrace to Yorkshire as well, an utter disgrace! This blog is doing a grand job in collecting all the details of the thousands of visitors he has fleeced.

Magpie I said...

Ted Evans is deliberlty entrapping people into accpepting tickets from a couple in a red car? That surely cant be legal? Tricking people into getting a ticket so the clampers can move in?
Cant someone - the local on here perhaps approach the local police with this blog to show how many people were handed tickets by his workers?

Anonymous said...

Having recently moved to the area, I gave evidence to the police that fraud is taking place at the car park. The police refused to have anything to do with Ted Evans operations. They said they were not going to do anything with my allegation as “the man has been doing it for far too long now".

The police referred me to the SIA (Security Industry Authority), but the SIA also said it is nothing to do with them, as they only regulate the behaviour of one individual clamper called Farnell at the site - and that there powers do not include investigating involvement in what would amount to criminal allegations of a rigged car park. They told me to go to the police!!!

If you put a search in YouTube for 'Haworth' and 'Car Park', there is recent video there of the 3 men involved with the Changegate "scam". Haworth people deserve a better service from their police force.

If this systematic, organised robbery was happening in Chipping Norton or Westminster, Evans and his foot soldiers would have long since been sent packing. So what is it about Haworth and the authorities here that allows this festering wound to remain open? I don’t suppose that they all have shares .. do they?

Magpie I said...

Has anyone thougt about a petition being signed then taken to the police perhaps, and to lobby the local MP'S, approach bbc pograms about it - and dispatches etc....

The whole thing is an illegal scam, and its immoral.

I would try lobbying the local MP, getting a petition togheter for the local police station and speaking to everyone at the police station and their bosses as well, just in case you got a bad egg, get all shop keepers and b and b etc to siogn pettion and get it from people on the street.
I would also organise action within the shops of people with big signs simply walking past the entrnace to the car park saying " do not park here there is a scam here and you will be clamped, park round the corner at the council car park". i would take out news paper adverts to the same and also have this message posted clearly with PHOTOS AND A MAP on any tourism sites - b and b sites in hawarth so visitors really can be armed with teh best possible info when coming as unfortunalty its just not clear as to where this car park is and of course its right when you enter the town.

Magpie I said...

People on here dont seem to read back comments " i was passed a ticket by a " well meaning person" you were tricked!!! Read the back comments!! This is deliberate it happened to us too! My husband wasnt even sure but they were very persuasive the way they handed the ticket over!!!

They watch you, hoping you will park outside bay lines, or failing that try and get you to accpet a ticket failing that, watch the time like a hawk to try and get you on ticket ran out....once your car is in there - they will have a quota of tickets to issue and they look for ways to charge you - this is a business not of providing a place to park for tourists but how to charge you to raise money! Lobby your mps - write to the police station!!! its entrapment and criminal - someone said they did contact police and they were told " he has been doing it for so long"!!!! so what - lobby, protest fight, complain and complain and complian again - get a petition going to the police - to the mp's, shop keepers - b and b owners......fight back!

Anonymous said...

I too wish I had been aware of this sooner - clamped for not parking within a bay when my wheel was on the white line, despite the fact that there was no bay at the side of me - I offered to pay the ten pound which was the maximum they could have made from one space in four hours - the guy was intimidating rude and vulgar in his attitude and behavior towards me. I was charged ninety pounds, I was told their card machine wasn't working (most likely because they're crooks and don't have one) the local pubs cash machine was out of cash and so I had to walk over a mile to the only other machine in the village. Leaving my car in the car park in fear that they would tow it away.

They had clamped 7 cars - thats 630 quid. Two cars had been clamped because their tickets appeared to have expired. when they explained this was because the pay and display machines clock had not been adjusted the guy reset it in front of us all and laughed saying that it was right now!

I was also told by a colleague today that her mum had used the car park - asked the guy as she left if she was okay as she was 'tight' in the space, he assured her she was - then when she returned he'd clamped her anyway!

I've looked at numerous forums and this seems to be all too common, crazy reasons like tickets being displayed on dash boards instead of stuck to a window - and the complaints forms say they are allowed to charge a 'reasonable fee' for release of the clamp - i can't see how the costs incurred amount to ninety pounds.

It's bullying tactics and I'm astonished the law can allow them to act in this way - we called the local police officer who was clearly used to this happening time and time again. He was very polite and acomadating - but the upshot was there was NOTHING we could do but pay the fine!

I am now going to contact Look North and Calandar in the hope that they will cover the story and warn visitors to Haworth as the christmas weekend events approach. I love Haworth but this incident has certainly put me off visiting - as previous posts have suggested the traders and locals of the village could act against such a violation occurring so regularly within their community.

ID URGE ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS FALLEN VICTIM TO THIS TO CONTACT LOOK NORTH AND CALENDAR - THE MORE COMPLAINTS THEY GET THE MORE LIKELY THEY ARE TO COVER IT!

Anonymous said...

I am no solicter but I would say rather than just bullying tactics its robbery? Tricking people onto a piece of land to then do all they can to charge them hundreds of pounds?

I cant belive the police say there is nothing they can do?

We need a solicter to get caught and take them to court.

Anonymous said...

The Changegate Car Park is now being called a "Prison Camp" in a video; it appears to be a chilling reminder of the high levels of distress and suffering experienced by people when confronted by this awful 'crime'. I am particulalry concerned about the shock factor on elderly people caught in this trap. This is 'elder abuse'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7X-hR_UAE0&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

Thank goodness this site tells it how it is as some of the local press seem to underplay the seriousness of this situation.

Anonymous said...

In August I made my final trip to Haworth. I have tried pursuing through the courts and through the press and the Local councilors but to no avail. My family and myself will no longer be visiting Howarth (We probably have 7 or 8 day trips out here including parsonage visits, christmas shopping, ghost work etc) As we are local, it was very handy for such trips. Its Skipton this year for the christmas shopping day out! Howarths loss, Skiptons gain

Anonymous said...

We have also been to Skipton for our christmas shopping this year. After being clamped by the freaks in the landrover (I think one of them is the spawn of Evans) for having my ticket at a slight angle and not straight, we too will never visit Howarth again! Also, there are some great museums around such as Bolling hall (free to park, free entry)Shibden hall (free parking �4 entry). No need at all to go to Haworth!

Anonymous said...

Today i made a visit to the beautiful Bronte village, Howarth, i parked my car in a half empty carpark namely changegate carpark, i displayed a valid parking ticket returned to my car a couple of hrs later and was horrified when my partner advised me that my car had been clamped - shock, horror what had we done wrong !afterall i had parked in a half empty carpark and had paid and displayed!! I approached a guy in a van and asked him "had he clamped my car" he replied "No but see him in the shed", a human bulldog appeared and said my car was not parked in a car bay, i disputed this but he said "pay me £90 cash and i will remove the clamp, he offered no reasonable explanation and reminded me that if i had a problem i would need to appeal but have to pay the cash first! I have travelled in many countries throughout the world and this has to be one of the worst scams i have ever had the unfortunate pleasure of witnessing this organisation are nothing short of cowboys and tatics are bullying and extremely unprofessional in theory we were mugged but not hit over the head!!! i would never recommend anyone visiting Haworth because if the council will not take action then why should i recommend this den of inequity, it would appear even the police are powerless to assist. The so called owner Mr Evans would appear to be damaging the reputation of this beautiful countryside.The only item of clothing missing from the clampers were MASKS ! I feel so distressed and annoyed that i feel this practice has to be publicly dealt with through the appropriate channels, DONT GO TO HAWORTH.

Anonymous said...

I think its time to picket the changegate carpark the public are entitled to demonstrate their disgust in a civil manner against such an unjust practice, we must protect the heritage and not allow it to be damaged by a bunch of cowboys !!!

Anonymous said...

be warned this firm is also operating in skipton, as i pulled up in a car park to give some items to a charity shop, leaving the key in the ignition and my wife in the back seat of the car. it only took me and my son about 30 seconds to take the items to the charity shop and come back the car which had been clamped. according to my wife the man that clamped the car drove up and blocked our car in about 3 seconds after me and my son walked around the corner out of sight. I ended up paying £150 for trying to be charitable.

Anonymous said...

I was researching prior to a trip to Haworth. Guess what, what my family and I will not be going now!

Anonymous said...

We too have been the victims of these soulless creatures today. Car expired at 4:07 we got back to our car at 4:11 and the man was just walking away from our car having clamped it. £90 fine. I burst into tears having not experienced anything like this before and in shock that £90 is apparently proportionate for being 4 minutes late. My partner had to spend 10 minutes getting cash from the nearest cash machine which charges to withdraw..Meanwhile the man clamped another car. The clamping took a few minutes leading me to believe hed clamped ours before our ticket had expired. I am sickened and will not be visiting Haworth again. These people are immoral unprofessional and unintelligent thieves.

Anonymous said...

Dear Annoymous if you think they are clamping before th tickt expires you should write to the council, your MP and the police.

Aprenty the police have been given evidence in the past of clock tampering, clamping ealry and also pople working for the car park handing out tickets - then the people who took the tickets, getting clamped immedialty....but the police stance is that people who have fallen foul of the " rules" in this car park, are not worthy witnesses!

Something very odd is going on in this village.....Also Betty Boothroyd is a good one to write too...

Anonymous said...

But how are strangers to know that Changegate is a rogue operation? As others have said it has spaces when others don't (for obvious reasons)so people feel lucky to have found a place to park on a busy day. With a little imagination the Chamber of Trade could cut off his income. Why not picket the car park and tell people about to enter what's in store for them? Perfectly legal.

Anonymous said...

The Police are probably scared of them - they barely leave the security of their cars and police stations; facing up to bullying heavies is beyond their remit these days.

Anonymous said...

Nice one Magpie - some fighting talk at last!! My son was clamped there today, the 'here have my ticket' angle. I'm phoning the coppers tomorrow - if they get enough jip they'll do something just to be shut of us.

Anonymous said...

I asked the police if they investigate any claims by the clampers, ie clock fiddling, people posing as leaving and handing tickets etc.

I was told that people who break the law in that car park are not going to be good witnesses.

they are all in the " pocket" OF TED, he pays alot of his " blood money " to local causes.

I would lobby MPS and contact baroness boothroyd, keep any copies of police emails to show the MP's.

Anonymous said...

We were clamped a few days ago. The family were in the car when it happened, so within a few minutes of arrival.

Sadly, we will not be visiting Howarth again. This car park is disasterous for Howarth and for tourism in Yorkshire. Clearly, we will be sharing our experiences with our friends, family and work colleagues.

The fact that the citizens of Howarth, the relevant councils, the local MP, the Police, Yorkshire Tourism and all figures with authority, like Councillors, cannot deal with this situation is both extraordinary and pitiful. The fact that this experience is unknown where we live, which is a small, but major global tourist destination, reflects very badly on Howarth and the region.

We look after our visitors, make them exceptionally welcome and don't have to apologise for rip-off experiences. I guess this is a real differentiator between our offering and that of Howarth.

You own the problem - now sort it out, rather than expecting the victims to fight your battles for you. Reading through the posts, it all looks very smelly.

We have just lost £90, young children traumatized and a very sour end to our holiday. Over to you.

Anonymous said...

Incredible! And I note that the last comment is from only a few days ago (28/02/12). We (family, two girls) have two Sri Lankan students coming to stay with us in April, and had planned a day in Haworth. Not any more though! A day in York instead, I think.

Anonymous said...

40's weekend would be good

Anonymous said...

There are Council car parks in Haworth and during the week it's easy to find a spot on the streets.Don't let the scumbags of carstoppers hinder your plans please.

Anonymous said...

EVERY ONE says the council needs to advertise their car parks more, everyo ne says they need to promote them as to the businesses in the town, and the pubs/ and b and b's, ours didnt even warn us. we only parked to un load when we got our ticket.

But they dont. No one does, no one, the police, the council, no one in that town cares one jot about that car park and what it does to people. I suggest people simply boycott the place!

Anonymous said...

A sorry tale appeared in our local newspaper this week. A mam pulled into a side street as he was not feeling very well. His son got out to get him a sandwich hoping this would make him feel a little better. Unfortunately whilst he was away the clampers struck. What followed is quite sad as the man, after an argument with the clamper, collapsed and was taken to hospital. He has sufficiently recovered to write a letter to the editor of the paper. Its content is appended below.
'I would like to place on public record my thanks to Gareth from Car Stoppers (Haworth) for his help in phoning for an ambulance while at the the same time clamping my car on Wednesday. Furthermore for only charging my son £150 cash for unclamping the said car so that my son could follow the ambulance to hospital'
The letter goes on to urge the people of the town to vote with their feet and not support businesses and individuals who encourage this venture until this is resolved. Unbfortunately if this is the case innocent businesses will be affected.

Anonymous said...

My daughter and her partner parked in this profit making carpark on their first and last visit to haworth. the bully boys clamped their vehicle ten minutes after they left the car park. they said they did'nt park within the bay. My daughter took photo's of their vehicle [clamp included] to prove they parked within the bay.£90 they paid just so they could go home.I am disgusted that these bullys can get away with it. I certainly will never visit haworth. one day nobody will visit haworth and thats the only to stop them. take note haworth you need visitors........

Anonymous said...

My daughter and partner visited haworth for the first and last time this weekend. they had to pay £90 to have the dreaded clamp removed.they have photographic evidence they were parked correctly in the parking bays. I have seen the photo's and I think it is a disgusting if these bully boys can get away with this.they did nothing wrong.........

Anonymous said...

exactly what happened to me april 08th 2012 surely this kind of entrapment is illegal on these ground why dont the sloppy yorshire police do anything about it

Magpie I said...

i contacted the police, they said - people who get tickets off others or fall foul of the " laws" of this carpark are in effect crimnals and do not make good witnesses.

Anonymous said...

A few weeks ago I advised a couple who had parked in changegate to check their ticket. There was only 30 minutes on it and they had paid for an hour. James Evans was filming me. Ted has now applied for an injunction to stop me going within 300 yards of his car park.

Anonymous said...

yes I am another victim 90 fine testerday 26th July 2012 for parking outside the bays, the bays are not clearly marked, my wheels were apprxomiamtely 6 inches over the bay border had i parked correctly in the bay i would have blocked other cars in or woould not have been able to get out myself, does anyone know of any successful small claims action against ths scam, why are the authorities not taking any action against this company?

Unknown said...

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151130365076220&set=a.195922641219.139990.728436219&type=1&theater

Upset of N Yorkshire said...

And they are still at it. - September 2012. My car was parked in a virtually empty car park in an area where the lines are non-existent or hard to see - less than 6 inches over a poorly marked line. And the £90 release fee is way over the top - is it illegal? I am writing to the firm with photographic evidence, but with not much hope of any refund. It totally spoiled an otherwise good day out.

Anonymous said...

do not go to Haworth... everyone is in it together otherwise they would put a stop to it.

Anonymous said...

we visited haworth today from bacup camera club. we parked on changegate carpark, one of my fellow members came back a couple of minutes over his time and the man clamped his car while friend tried to reason with him, but the scumbag demanded £90 to release the clamp.these poeple need running out of town or tourists will avoid coming to haworth

Anonymous said...

I hope we can say that you (Sept 16) are the last person to fall victim to this hideous scam. I too was done for ninety quid for being less than five minutes late: I protested at the disproportionate amount being demanded, but the response I got was if I wasn't back in five minutes with the cash the 'fine' would be doubled!
If handing over money wasn't bad enough, worse was being humiliated by this lowlife claiming only to be 'doing their job'. This indeed must be true, since the mastermind behind the whole disgraceful affair is this ex-magistrate Evans; he and his pathetic wife should be run out of the county.

Anonymous said...

The clampers lost a court battle and had to refund a victim of their clamping at Changegate the story is here
http://www.keighleynews.co.uk/news/news_keighley/10119809.Man_celebrates_court_victory_in_case_against_Haworth_car_clampers/
Its been suggested anyone else clamped in similar circumstances might want to claim refunds

Anonymous said...

These guys are awful and they con drivers just to gain a revenue for their business - just seen them featured on the One Show. No surprise, when the One Show interviewer tried to approach them at the Haworth carpark, they ran off, got in their car and drove away - COWARDS!!! There used to be a private car clamping company who operated in the small private carpark opposite the old front entrance to Sainsbury in High Wycombe, where I live. I parked there one day during the evening when there were hardly any cars present to pop in to Sainsbury. I was apprehended by one of these dodgy guys, but I stood my ground when he tried to tell me that my car would be clamped. The response I got back was 'abuse' and foul language, which just about says it all...!!!

Anonymous said...

I was planning a visit to Haworth next month [May 2013]. Are these rogues still at work? If so, maybe the local Haworth Community Council could get in touch with Dominic Littlewood of TV fame "Don't Get Done' Get Dom". He has been successful in the past in getting these rogue clampers stopped. He may be contacted at Flame TV - dom@flametv.co.uk - it could be worth it!

If these folk are still at it, I will not be coming to Haworth!

Jodie Steel said...

I had the same with carstopper, some kind lady offered me her ticket, when i got back to my car there was a fine for £100!!!! for this, i have emailed the person who owns there car park but have had no response, these men are just money hungry

Smet said...

I too fell victim of £60 on this carpark, this man Ted Evans and his henchman George Mcdicken and his team,need to be stopped for the good of this historic village. I feel so let down that the Police, council, the local MP can do nothing ??, even Betty Boothroyd fell foul on this car park, yet nothing is done to stop them. ! What is wrong with all these people, get off your backsides and do something before they ruin a beautiful historic village..!!.