To most Londoner's a wheel clamping story may be seen as a minor incident, but to those people who had to fork out between £252 and £540 each to have clamps removed this experience was far from minor and its implications anything but trivial.

The fact that a private company on the instruction of an individual can without consideration of what is public and private land clamp, remove and then demand monies is something that should occupy the minds of many councillors, and government mandarins.

Barnet Council in a matter of days responded to the concerns of the London Daily News and the various businesses on Queens Parade by sending its officials to remove signs threatening clamping. No less than the leader of Barnet Council intervened in the matter to outline his own concerns on the matter.

This albeit small victory for common sense, credit is due to the leadership of Barnet Council with the highly regarded Mike Freer at the helm. Lets all move to Barnet!