A neighbouring borough is taking an active stand against clampers - and now Wokingham could follow suit.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead is starting a poster campaign to warn drivers about the dangers of wrongly parked cars.

The campaign to warn residents as well as visitors about the risk of clampers started last week, and Wokingham Borough Council say it could look into a similar drive.

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It comes after yet another person received a hefty fine for parking a vehicle without a ticket in the town’s Rose Street car park.

Maria Bristol contacted The Wokingham Times after her husband’s motorbike was clamped on Saturday, March 21, and the couple were charged £385.

Mrs Bristol is now looking at ways to retrieve her money from the company.

She said: “I’m trying to work out what I’m going to do about it.

“I’m prepared to pay whatever it takes to remove these people and I’m going to contact the Citizens Advice Bureau as well.

“People need to know about it.”

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The costs were £130 to release the clamp, £250 to stop the removal truck coming to remove the car and a £5 surcharge for paying on credit card.

This is despite there being no mention on the sign to say there would be a fee for stopping the removal truck.

This is the latest in a long line of angry complaints about clampers made to The Wokingham Times.

One victim said a poster campaign to highlight the costly consequence of parking in the private section of the car park could save people a lot of money.

Nicky Race, who managed to get compensation in June 2008 after being clamped in December 2007, said: “I think posters are a brilliant idea.

“Wheel clamping companies continue to put signs in dark car parks. I would never have parked in there had I seen the sign.

“The clampers are very threatening people and I believe they watch the car parks. People must appeal.”

Councillor Keith Baker, executive member for highways and transport, said: “Certainly, it’s an interesting idea.

“My perception is I have never seen much evidence of clamping being a major issue but that doesn’t mean it isn’t an issue.

“If it moved up from isolated incidents, getting posters is something we would consider.”

Wokingham’s victims include Alan Campbell, from Winnersh, who received a £325 fine on the eve of his wedding last June, and Jess Bradley, 18, who had to pay her life savings to free her car.

The Royal Borough council said: “The practice can give people a very negative image of local towns and villages at a time when everything possible needs to be done to attract shoppers and visitors and support the local economy.”

There is nothing legally the police or council can do to help because the clampers operate on private land.

Cllr Colin Rayner, lead member for highways and streetcare at Windsor and Maidenhead council said: “We are appalled by some of the clamping experiences we have heard of.

“They don’t give a good impression of our borough particularly to visitors from overseas and also during this difficult economic period.”

The posters in Windsor and Maidenhead will be put up on lampposts and near the car parks to alert drivers about the dangers of clampers.