Crackdown on airport parking begins as 'rogue operators' dump cars exploiting legal loophole

Hemma Visavadia
Sun, 05 Apr 2026 05:00:01 +0000

A major crackdown on illegal parking linked to Bristol Airport has begun with officials describing enforcement levels as the highest on record.

North Somerset Council has issued 36 enforcement notices since 2024 aimed at stopping unauthorised airport parking businesses. It has also been working closely with the airport, police and local communities to tackle the issue.

The problem has grown significantly in recent years, with the number of cars being parked illegally around the airport having doubled over the past decade.

Many travellers using cheap, unofficial parking services may not realise what they are signing up for. In some cases, vehicles are not kept in secure car parks but left in open fields, often without proper supervision.

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Efforts to stop this have been made more difficult by a legal loophole. Current rules allow land to be used temporarily for up to 28 days a year without full planning permission. This has enabled some operators to move between sites and continue trading.

An elderly couple in Barrow Gurney, where an illegal parking site is under investigation, described the ongoing disruption.

They said: "It is disheartening to see hundreds of cars move from field to field for five to six months of the year.

"Our little lane gets used as an exit for vehicles; their alarms go off, and we hear swearing and shouting from their delivery/collection people and the loud music from their cars."

Another resident said the issue is affecting quality of life, pointing to constant traffic, noise and activity linked to the parking operations.

"It really impacts our living conditions, the sheer volume of traffic, the noise from the fields from operators shouting instructions to each other and the comings and goings of cars," they detailed.

Despite the challenges, the council said its enforcement work is having an impact. In total, 89 enforcement notices have now been issued, including the 36 served since 2024.

Officers have stepped up inspections, carrying out more than 1,000 site visits in 2025, compared with over 700 the year before.

Since 2024, more than 170 investigations have been launched into suspected illegal parking businesses, with 56 cases still ongoing.

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The council has also created a new Parking Action Plan, developed with local communities and parish councils.

The plan includes more than 40 measures aimed at tackling the issue and preventing new sites from opening.

Officials have urged travellers to think carefully about how they get to the airport. They are encouraging people to use public transport, including round-the-clock bus services that connect towns across North Somerset to the airport.

Councillor Annemieke Waite, who is responsible for planning and the environment, said the council is determined to work closely with residents.

She shared: "We're committed to working with local parishes and community members to make sure that local voices are heard in matters concerning planning enforcement, rogue 'meet and greet' services and the associated traffic disruption."

She also warned about the nature of some operators, adding: "Unscrupulous businesses create misery for local neighbourhoods and in some cases support wider criminal activity."

She also warned that while some off-site parking businesses operate, none currently have planning permission.

She said rogue operators are causing serious disruption and, in some cases, may be linked to wider criminal activity. According to the council, stronger enforcement is already making it harder for new illegal sites to set up.

Bristol Airport has also backed the crackdown. Chief executive Dave Lees said the airport is funding an additional planning enforcement officer for two years from 2024.

He said it is encouraging to see the positive impact on local communities, adding that some residents have already noticed improvements.

Mr Lees explained that the airport will continue working with the council and police to prevent new illegal parking operations and shut down existing ones.

He also confirmed support for further joint enforcement action and said the airport will stay in close contact with local communities as efforts continue.