Dazed & Confused?

UPDATE: Clamping to be outlawed in England and Wales

Confused.com's Owe Carter offers his opinion on the proposed private-land clamping ban, and would like to hear yours.

 
Thankfully, this'll soon be a thing of the past

A few weeks ago, we pondered as to whether there should be tougher laws concerning wheel clamping on private land. And now the Home Office has announced that clamping and towing on private land is to be outlawed.

This proposal will form part of the coalition government's Freedom Bill, which is to be introduced in November.

This doesn't mean that parking on private land will become a free for all. Local councils and the police will retain power to immobilise and remove vehicles parked on private land in exceptional circumstances, such as if an important thoroughfare is blocked.

However, clampers and landowners taking the law into their own hands could face fines or even custodial sentences.

The principal rationale for the proposed ban is to round up the cowboys. Announcing these proposals, the Minister for Equalities and Criminal Information, Lynne Featherstone, declared that the government is "committed to ending the menace of rogue private sector wheel-clampers once and for all".

An upshot of the ban is likely to mean that more people park without consideration on private property. Although, let's be honest: this is a lesser evil than the systematic targeting of more vulnerable members of society by unscrupulous clampers. And it still leaves landowners with the remedy of intervention from the local authorities in the case of genuinely ridiculous parking.

In any case, it's difficult not to conclude that the government is making policy decisions based on what they read in this blog. Which should mean that there are proposals on their way to allow learner drivers to practice on the motorway, and an impending review of the national speed limit. Watch this space!

If you'd like to share your opinions on the clamping ban, feel free to comment below.

How are you spending the bank holiday weekend?

Need some inspiration for what to do over the bank holiday weekend? Confused.com's Owe Carter has a bunch of suggestions, and would like to hear yours.

The last bank holiday of the year is hurtling towards us like a lonely puppy, and you may well not be ready for the eager licking it has in store for you. If you've not already made plans, may I be so bold as to offer a few ideas? I may? Why, thank you! Let's wire in...

Feel like getting out and about? There are absolutely tons of awesomesome spots across the UK well worth seeing. Read our rundown of the best British holidays you've never taken. And for those of you that love spending time in your motor, appreciating the scenery and shamelessly belting out your favourite songs without fear of being ostracised, check out our top ten drives.

Reading, Leeds and Creamfields have sold out, but there are other festivals dotted about. Solfest in West Cumbria looks really good (if you're going, be sure to catch Alabama 3), and the South West Four Weekender on Clapham Common looks like it'll be a proper booty shaker.

But before you head off, read our indispensable guide to festival survival, and motor tips for your trip.

Fingers crossed, it'll be sunny this bank holiday weekend. So pack some suncream, a good book, your children if you have to, and head on down to the beach. Check out Confused.com's top ten beaches here for inspiration.

Of course you want to see monkeys. That's why you want to get down to Monkey World in Dorset. To find out more, read our top ten unusual days out - which also includes Pollock's Toy Museum, Diggerland and the wonderful Pitt Rivers Museum.

Whatever you get up to this bank holiday, I hope you have an excellent time. If you've got any more suggestions for brill things to do, feel free to let us know by commenting below.

Nonplussed Nation

Today Confused.com launches Confused Nation, a website charting the befuddlement of Britons. After conducting an extensive study, it turns out that:

• 47% of us feel life is more confusing than it was 10 years ago; and
• 42% of us lie awake at night trying to make decisions.

I'm not particularly surprised by this, to be honest. If I spend most of my waking life not really having the faintest notion what's going on, then why shouldn't this be common?

Anyway, feel free to get involved. You can take a quiz to find out how confused you are. And, over the course of the next few weeks and months, they aim to build up a resource of confusion-clearing articles. Why not drop them a line and let them know what's puzzling you.

Now, here's the main thing that's confusing me today:

• Why was the study conducted by Dr Bob Kelso from Scrubs? Have a quick look here if you don't know what I'm talking about. Also, why is the ghost of Tony Blair blowing on the back of his neck?

In addition to the Confused Nation website, I am going to try my hand at being a confusion clearer this week. So tell me what addles you so, and I'll do my very best to elucidate. Go on - ask me anything! Within reason, of course...