A man at the centre of a row over wheelclamping in one of the country's top tourist destinations, says he has no fear about tough new rules to be slapped down by the Government.

Home Office minister Paul Boateng has revealed that Home Secretary Jack Straw plans to bring forward proposals on regulating private clampers.

He has written to Keighley MP Ann Cryer, who is calling for stricter rules, especially to cover cowboy clampers who strike at motorists on the street.

Ted Evans, who has been criticised by local councillors and tourists bosses for his wheelclamping policy on his Rawden Road and Changegate car parks in Haworth, said he would welcome countrywide regulations.

"We have no fear of regulations - I believe there should be some form of licence or regulation.

"It would be better because it might on the one hand stop people moaning and on the other stop people charging extortionate fees. We only charge £25 - some people are charging up to £100.

"We are not saying we are perfect but we try to be reasonable with people. People are clamped because they don't pay or because they overstay."

His company had a policy to give motorists a grace period and people were given at least half an hour over their time before being wheelclamped, he said. He added wheelclamping was used as a deterrent by many organisations, including health trusts like Airedale NHS Trust at Airedale General Hospital, Steeton.

A trust spokesman said motorists were clamped but only in exceptional circumstances. The fee for release was £10.

Mr Boateng said the Government's White Paper, A New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone, intended to introduce regulation of wheelclamping as part of a package of statutory measures to regulate the private security industry.

The Home Office intends to bring forward proposals on regulating the industry later this year.

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