Licensee leaves pub over safety fears

A licensee is being forced to leave his pub after locals threatened to burn down the premises.

Jason Wicks, manager of the Royal Hart in Ashford, Middlesex, now fears for his family's safety after locals reacted badly to car-clamping measures he imposed in his car park.

The threats began when he hired private company All Counties Parking Control to enforce a customers-only parking rule to prevent lunchtime trade from suffering.

Local residents who parked there were clamped as soon as they walked off the premises and fined £300 for clamping and storage.

Jason said: "We are totally within our rights to do it, but it [All Counties Parking Control] wasn¹t as professional as we'd like. It's all legal.

"People have threatened to burn the pub down and I¹ve had no support from my pub company, Orchid. I¹ve got a little girl who lives upstairs at the weekends, and a fiancée, and I got no support." The pub has terminated its contract with the clamping company, which will finish at the end of the notice period this month.

However, when contacted by The Publican and asked for a response to the allegations, All Counties Parking Control refused to comment.

Gary Hunniset, regional operations manager of Orchid, said: "The employment of the clamping company, All Counties Parking Control, was a decision made by general manager Jason Wicks with no authorisation whatsoever.

"However, Orchid has been fully involved in trying to resolve the problems this has caused as the interests of the local community are of utmost importance. The area manager and operations team have been dealing with the situation and are in regular contact with local businesses and residents."