Bristol Airport Launches Joint Action Plan to Combat Illegal Off-Site Parking
Bristol Airport has announced a comprehensive joint Parking Action Plan in collaboration with North Somerset Council and Avon and Somerset Police. This initiative aims to tackle the persistent issues of illegal off-site parking and "rogue" meet-and-greet operators that have been causing nuisance in the surrounding areas.
Key Measures to Address Parking Concerns
The plan includes a series of targeted actions developed following a parking surgery held in January, where local parish and district councillors met with police and council officials. Over 40 actions were agreed upon, focusing on enforcement and community consideration.
Proposed measures include:
- Doubling the funding provided by Bristol Airport to support North Somerset Council's planning enforcement team.
- Conducting further joint days of action with Avon and Somerset Police and North Somerset Council to target unaccredited parking operators.
- Installing new signs to enforce no stopping or waiting in the lane directly off the airport roundabout.
- Implementing parking restrictions for the Bridle Cottage layby on the A38 near the Fox and Goose, limiting waiting to a maximum of two hours.
- Contacting local taxi firms to remind them about the free one-hour waiting zone to discourage parking outside residential properties.
- Expanding the capacity of the airport's one-hour free waiting zone and improving its signage.
Encouraging Public Transport and Community Consideration
Rob Henley, transport planning manager at Bristol Airport, emphasized the importance of a joined-up approach to resolve parking issues. He urged travelers to consider using public transport when possible and highlighted the availability of a complimentary bus service from the free waiting area to the terminal.
"We encourage those customers who can use public transport to consider travelling to the airport this way," said Mr. Henley. "We recommend using our free waiting area rather than dropping off outside of people's houses and in laybys. Please be more considerate to the local community."
Enforcement Efforts and Public Awareness
Last year, North Somerset Council conducted over 1,000 monitoring visits and issued 24 enforcement notices against sites operating off-site car parks without planning permission. Some operators were found parking more than 1,000 cars in fields during peak summer periods.
Councillor Annemieke Waite, cabinet member for planning and environment for North Somerset Council, advised the public to verify the reputation of parking companies. "Look for a parking accreditation, check terms and conditions and reviews, and avoid companies with a mobile only number," she said. "If it looks too good to be true, it probably is."
Inspector Christian Gresswell of Avon and Somerset Police expressed hope that the new measures would alleviate recent issues and pledged continued support for enforcement actions. He urged residents and visitors to report nuisance parking and unaccredited operators to help assess the scale of the problem.
Collaboration with Industry Bodies
The British Parking Association (BPA) has been working with Bristol Airport and North Somerset Council since last year to share knowledge on airport parking issues nationwide. Anne Bevis, technical compliance manager at the BPA, stated, "We look forward to playing an integral role and assisting with further improvements to benefit everyone into the future."
Additionally, a 'Parking Reporting Guide' has been produced and is available on the airport's website to clarify which organization handles specific parking issues.
Broader Environmental Initiatives
In related news, Bristol Airport announced in December that it will replace its bus fleet with all-electric vehicles as part of its commitment to achieve net-zero operations by 2030, underscoring its broader efforts towards sustainability and improved transport infrastructure.
