West Auckland supermarket bans wheel clamping

Both tickets and towing were listed above clamping in a hierarchy of parking enforcement measures in a proposed code of conduct which the Herald revealed on Friday.

Code to tackle heavy-handed parking practice.

Clamping is out at the Titirangi supermarket where shoppers threatened a boycott over the parking enforcement strategy.

But owner Pranil Ranchhod says other options - such as tickets - will be used to keep the disability parking spaces clear for the use of those with mobility passes.

The supermarket was facing a social media backlash over the activities of Elite Parking Services, which has the contract to clamp and issue "breach notices" - tickets - to those abusing the carpark.

Shoppers were claiming they were clamped in parks other than the disability park, were vocal over the $200 clamping fee and even reported outbreaks of violence. It led to some claiming they had shifted their business to other places - and calling for others to boycott the store.

Mr Ranchhod said there was already a halt to clamping when the Herald highlighted the frustrations last week and it had since been decided to do away with the parking enforcement method. Instead, he said he would be looking to others methods such as tickets and towing.

Both tickets and towing were listed above clamping in a hierarchy of parking enforcement measures in a proposed code of conduct which the Herald revealed on Friday.

It was predicted the new code would almost stamp out clamping, which is banned in the United Kingdom.

Mr Ranchhod told the Herald the decision on which type of enforcement to use was not discussed when the contract was signed about nine months ago.

"We will not be clamping again. Ticketing might be the option that we go to. In regard to the mobility car parks, it is important we have them monitored one way or another."

He said clamping had led to a drop in abuse of the parks. With just a handful of mobility parks in Titirangi village, Mr Ranchhod said he was aware of the need for those in the supermarket car park to be available - whether they shopped at his business or not.

Along with backlash, he said he had received many messages of community support.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, Mr Ranchhod reinforced his family connection to West Auckland, where he had lived and owned businesses for more than 20 years.

"In the last three years, we have donated over $100,000 to local schools, food banks, sports clubs and various other individuals and organisations.

"As retailers who serve thousands of customers every week, we understand that we may not get it right every single time. We have never backed away from our responsibility of making things right on any occasion that we have got things wrong."

Mr Ward told the Herald Elite Parking Services was "set up primarily as a ticketing company using parking violation notices".

"However some sites require clamping or towing or a mix, the enforcement is based on the client's needs."

He said he had no comment on the new Code of Conduct because he had not read it.
He has not responded to questions about the management of his business.

He was director and owner of NZ Wheel Clamping Co Ltd - which owes $434,000 - and Comprise Group, another parking enforcement company.

Both are in liquidation - a factor Mr Ward told the Herald was due to it being "debt laden because of back taxes".

The new business - Elite Parking Services - operates from the same address as Mr Ward's previous companies.

It also looks for business in the same places and - until Mr Ward was recently bankrupted - had him listed as the sole director.

Since his bankruptcy in July, Wayne Wilson has been listed as director since but has Mr Ward's home address listed as his residential address.

The liquidator for NZ Wheel Clamping Co Ltd, Deloitte's David Levin, has also not responded to questions.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment - which administers the Companies Act - said it was not considering any action against Mr Ward in relation to the collapse of the two liquidated companies.

"Inquiries are either self-initiated by registry staff or commenced as a result of receipt of a complaint. The Registrar is, however, reliant upon the cooperation of liquidators or other insolvency practitioners to provide the information required to make a determination regarding prohibition."