A WOMAN in charge of a residential management company which used LBS clampers says they were hired because they were “a little bit more aggressive”.

Carol Sullivan, a partner in Essex Properties, told the Echo it got rid of its previous parking enforcement firm because it was not doing the job.

Essex Properties turned to LBS Enforcement to police the car park at Priory Mews flats, in Station Avenue, Southend.

But LBS has now been suspended from the job since residents started complaining they were being targeted by the notorious firm.

Rebecca Duff, 20, from Hockley, was clamped and had her car towed away by LBS after she helped her pregnant friend, who lives in the flats, up the stairs. She parked in her friend’s space with permission but no permit.

Miss Duff had to pay £928 to the Southend and Wickford-based company.

Three other residents have also complained to Essex Properties about being clamped and having to fork out hundreds of pounds to LBS.

Carol Sullivan said: “The previous clamping company was not very proactive, and there were complaints from residents that they came home from work and found their parking spaces taken.

“The gates to the car park were continually broken.

“The last company was very nice and friendly, but we kept getting complaints.

“We had to look for something a little bit more aggressive.”

She added: “We’ve been made aware recently that some residents are unhappy their appeals haven’t been dealt with by LBS.

“That’s why we’ve suspended their account.

“We are looking into three incidents on behalf of residents.”

She also said Essex Properties had been shown video footage of the incident with Miss Duff, in which other residents tried to prevent LBS from towing away her car by locking the car park gates. She said her company was pleased residents had not been intimidated or faced aggressive behaviour.

Ms Sullivan admitted she had not heard of LBS before it was taken on and was not aware of its track record – which was exposed in numerous Echo articles before making national headlines and being featured on BBC TV’s Watchdog.

Ms Sullivan said people were able to appeal to LBS if they were unhappy.

She also added her company hired LBS for free on a 12-month contract, and neither Essex Properties nor the freeholder took any of the money LBS receives in fines.

She said: “There was a resident who was clamped before and we managed to get their money back for them.”

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RESIDENT: I WILL TAKE THIS TO COURT

A RESIDENT of Priory Mews is threatening legal action against those who hired LBS Enforcement.

John Charville, 55, is trying to pursue legal action against Essex Properties for allowing LBS to manage a car park at the flats.

Mr Charville said he is acting after two neighbours were clamped and had to pay hundreds of pounds, as well as the case of Rebecca Duff, who was fined £928.

He believes LBS’s actions amount to theft and extortion – which LBS denies and Essex Police say is not the case.

Mr Charville has issued a pre-action protocol letter of complaint, and plans to take the matter further at the County Court in Chelmsford or the Royal Courts of Justice, in London.

Mr Charville, a carer, said: “I think Essex Properties’ handling of the whole situation has been absolutely atrocious.

“All the charges applied to residents are unlawful.

“I agree Essex Properties has to prevent unauthorised parking, but it doesn’t justify LBS taking action against people parking in their own parking spaces.

“A £50 slap on the wrist I can understand, but I’m totally against people abusing their obligations to rip off people to the tune of £1,000.”

Carol Sullivan, a partner at Essex Properties, said she was unable to comment about Mr Charville’s threat of court action, but said none had yet been taken against the company.