Clamping signs at Herbrand Walk mysteriously vanish

As reported in the Observer on 8th August, a total of five clamping signs had been erected along a private stretch of beach at Herbrand Walk.

The signs, which were erected by a company called Parking Control Services (PCS), warned anyone parking on the beach that they risked fines of up to 500.

Four of the signs were sited on fencing directly opposite the beach and one was sited in the middle of a Rother Boat Lane sign.

At the time of the report, owner of PCS Mr Mario Ireland, said they had been hired by the landowners of that stretch of beach, whom he claimed had apparently been advised by Rother District council to enforce a no parking rule on the beach '“ which a spokesman for RDC denied.

Shortly after the report appeared the clamping signs mysteriously vanished, but Mr Ireland emphasised that the signs will be going back up again very soon.

He said: "I've no idea what happened to the signs, somebody must have taken them down; the plot thickens."

He added: "I don't understand why people would expect to park on the beach anyway."

For those thinking of ignoring the soon to be replaced warnings Mr Ireland has a message, he said: "It's a very simple concept, don't park on the beach and you won't get clamped."

A spokesman for Rother District Council emphasised that they have no say in what takes place on that stretch of beach: "That part of the beach is private land and we did not make any suggestions to the landowners. The council has no involvement in the situation whatsoever."