Clamping scheme on road to controversy

The Daily Echo reported that Sleepers Hill residents have clubbed together and introduced clamping in a bid to end rogue parking.

One University College Winchester student, Oliver Abrahams, was hit with a £400 bill after his car was clamped on the first day of the new enforcements.

However, a Winchester city councillor has questioned whether residents are allowed to place warning signs on lamp posts because they are council property.

Councillor Patrick Davies, a retired council solicitor, said: "I just wonder what the status of those lamp posts is. If they are owned by the council they shouldn't have notices stuck on them - it's trespass against the owner."

A city council spokesman confirmed it owns the lamp posts on Sleepers Hill, which are maintained by the county council.

This means people should approach either council for permission before putting signs up.

"There hasn't been any approach to the city council from residents and I don't believe Hampshire County Council has been approached either," the spokesman said.

"If somebody wanted to complain they should come and speak to us or the county council."

She added there was likely to be confusion as Sleepers Hill is a private road, but it is also a highway through-way.

Jeremy Ouvry, chairman of Sleepers Hill Residents' Association, denied permission was needed.

He added: "We have made our position known and we consulted with people in considerable detail before we went ahead with this. I'd rather not comment any further as I don't think this is something I need to talk about."

Mr Ouvry refused to confirm or deny whether the association had contacted either the city or county for permission to put warning signs on the lamp posts.

Cllr Davies said: "We're trying to make a concerted effort to deal with fly-posting. The people doing this include a significant number of lawyers and others who ought to know better. They would be the first to complain about fly-posting."