A group of residents in Hull, East Yorkshire were relieved to hear they will once more be receiving Royal Mail parcels after a dispute between clampers and the Royal Mail has been eventually been resolved.

Residents of Queens Court in Hull recently received letters from the Royal Mail informing them that parcels could no longer be delivered to the flat because clampers operating in the grounds of the apartments had clamped a Royal Mail Van. The driver of the van was clamped by Vehicle Management Limited who imposed a £275 fine. Although the Royal Mail driver explained he was delivering mail and was licensed to do so by the government the clamping firm were unrepentant and insisted the fine be paid.

Royal Mail tried to enter into dialogue with the clamping firm but found the company difficult to negotiate with. As a result Royal Mail decided to withdraw services to the occupants of the flat until the matter was resolved. Residents of the building said the clamping firm were well known for their activities in clamping vehicles for little reason and one van driver with commercial vehicle insurance confirmed he had also fallen foul of the clampers while delivering private mail. Another resident of the flats said: “It was going over the top to stop delivering parcels. But I know the clampers charge a lot and that is why if anyone’s ever in my space I give them a chance to remove their vehicle.”

The two parties have come to some sort of agreement much to the delight of residents although no one is quite sure what the agreement is. It may well be that the Royal Mail have pointed out that clamping a van could contravene the Postal Services Act of 2000 which in that case would mean the clampers could be fined up to £500 for obstructing delivery of Her Majesty’s mail.