A CONTROVERSIAL car clamping company has been axed by Essex University after a campaign by students and staff.

Earlier this year, campaigners held a series of demonstrations to oppose the employment of private car clamping firm, Woodlund Services, on the Wivenhoe Park campus, in Colchester.

They claimed the firm, which was first used by the university last September, was unfairly penalising drivers for minor infringements of the rules and was “too heavy-handed”.

As a result of the protests, a group was set up to look at the issue.

Jenny Grinter, a spokeswoman for the university, said: “More flexible arrangements for managing car parking at the university’s Colchester campus are due to be introduced this autumn.

“Following concerns raised by staff and students, the university established a group to develop proposals for a fair and reasonable system which meets the needs of the university and users.

“The university has accepted the group’s recommendations not to renew the current service providers’ agreement for the 2009-10 academic year.”

Two transport attendants will now be employed by the university to manage car parking, and a civil penalty system will replace the current arrangements.

A first warning policy will be introduced, followed by a £50 fine for a second breach of the system.

A third offence will lead to the vehicle being clamped, as well as a civil penalty notice.

University student Elizabeth Mantzari headed the anti-clamping campaign.

She said she was “delighted” with the decision.

Miss Mantzari said: “It has been a long journey and we often thought it would have no results and bureaucracy would win. It was more difficult than we thought.

“However, we are pleased our voice was heard and the university did not ignore the opinions of more than 2,000 students and members of staff.

“We are happy they decided not to renew their contract with the private company and change the current car parking system.”

Miss Mantzari said she hoped there would be more involvement of students and staff in the university’s decision-making process in the future.