Cart it away - for £1,000

By Greg Truscott, South London Press


NEGOTIATORS are trying to secure the release of a kidnapped road sweeper's cart which is being held to ransom.

The cart's kidnapper has demanded more than £1,000 to release the two-wheeled rubbish cart - but council officers say the ransom is too high.

The road sweeper's cart was seized in November after being left in the drive of a home in Lambeth.

Its kidnapper clamped the cart to a tree in his front garden because it had been placed on his private land by a council employee without permission.

The anonymous resident, who claims to have been a victim of overzealous Lambeth traffic wardens, is demanding a £50 release fee, and £50 for each day the cart has been held at his Tulse Hill home.

He told the South London Press: "The council can clamp cars and demand payment to unclamp them when they have been ticketed by overzealous wardens.

"A street sweeper left his cart in my drive without permission so I clamped it and I'm asking for a release fee just as the council does.

"I have had several visits from council officials but so far they have not paid for the cart's release.

"I know there is a funny side to this story, but there is also a principle.

"If overzealous wardens acting for the council can demand hundreds of pounds when a car is clamped or towed away, then I can make a charge when someone leaves a cart on my property without permission."

The council confirmed its officers had attempted to negotiate the release of the cart without success.

A spokeswoman said: "It is regrettable that this dispute has not been resolved.

"We have done all we can to try to bring it to a close.

"We will not be intimidated or bullied into paying the ransom fee."

----------------------------------------

Take THAT!

Oops - for the doubting Thomas brigade, the above is from:

http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/