Is there anything further we can do to prevent the Protection of Freedoms bill being passed?

Further to your recent columns regarding the relationship between the BPA and the DVLA, and the Protection of Freedoms Bill, I have received the attached letter from Norman Baker via my local MP (Gregory Barker), which you may find of interest. I have yet to respond and would be interested in any ideas you may have as to how to finger the weaknesses in the Coalition's case. I have already requested that DVLA make a much higher charge for access to its records to discourage trivial cases but it seems that the ban on clamping on private land has come at the price of a serious erosion of privacy.

Asked on 18 February 2012 by CW, Haslemere

Answered by Honest John

It's all irrelevant now. The Bill passed its report stage on 8 November with Clause 56 unamended so there are absolutely no statutory safeguards in place, merely the trust our MPs have in the former clamping gangs who now operate parking enforcement to appoint a regulator. They intend to set up an independent appeals process by October 2012 and you can find the BPA Code of Practice at: www.britishparking.co.uk/Approved-Operator-Scheme-...e. Meanwhile, send any complaint to: www.britishparking.co.uk/AOS-Enquiries

Tags: protection of freedoms bill car parking disputing parking tickets

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