{"id":867867,"date":"2026-04-02T20:58:30","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T20:58:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/867867\/"},"modified":"2026-04-02T20:58:30","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T20:58:30","slug":"we-live-near-bristol-airport-parking-loophole-is-making-our-lives-a-misery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/867867\/","title":{"rendered":"‘We live near Bristol Airport – parking loophole is making our lives a misery’"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are currently 56 ongoing investigations into unofficial airport car park operatorsBristol Airport protest BAAN<\/p>\n

Council enforcers have revealed they have 56 ongoing and active investigations into rogue parking around Bristol Airport<\/a>, as neighbours speak out about the impact it is having around their homes.<\/p>\n

North Somerset<\/a> Council enforcers announced a crackdown last year <\/a>on \u2018unauthorised and problematic parking\u2019, after local residents repeatedly complained that fields, lanes and farmland around Bristol Airport were being over-run with parked cars, left by parking firms not associated with the airport itself.<\/p>\n

The council said the number of unauthorised vehicles parked outside the airport\u2019s official car parks has doubled in the last ten years, with firms using a loophole in the law that allows farmland to be used temporarily for 28 days in a year, as the unofficial car parks move around the countryside.<\/p>\n

With the Easter weekend seeing the first big getaway of the year so far, North Somerset Council<\/a> has re-issued its warning to passengers to be wary of airport parking companies. The council said many people aren\u2019t aware that their cars may well be moved while they are away instead of held in official, secure car parks.<\/p>\n

Bristol Airport bosses have backed the crackdown – the airport\u2019s biggest single income stream comes from its official car parks<\/a> – and since 2024 it has been funding an extra council enforcement officer in the team at North Somerset to tackle unauthorised parking firms.<\/p>\n

North Somerset Council said that since the start of their operation in 2024, they have issued a total of 36 enforcement notices, conducted more than 700 site visits in 2024, plus another 1,000 site visits in 2025, and begun more than 170 investigations into airport parking, of which 56 are still active.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Bristol Airport passengers warned over rogue car parking companies after string of complaints<\/a>READ MORE: Bristol Airport confirms new parking crackdown after dodgy firms caught out<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen booking unofficial airport parking, many individuals are unaware that their vehicle may be left in a field or on agricultural land,\u201d a council spokesperson said. \u201cThe issue is further compounded by a permitted development right that suggests such land may be used temporarily for up to 28 days each calendar year,\u201d they added.<\/p>\n

The unauthorised parking is a huge issue for people living nearby – with constant movement of cars in and out of fields and lanes at all hours of the day and night, and car alarms going off constantly.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is disheartening to see hundreds of cars move from field to field for five to six months of the year,\u201d said one elderly couple, who live near a much-used car park field in Barrow Gurney, near Bristol Airport.<\/p>\n

\"North<\/p>\n

North Somerset Council’s Trading Standards Team is urging people to be vigilant after numerous complaints have been received about rogue car parking companies operating in the area.(Image: North Somerset Council)<\/p>\n

\u201cOur 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. People show no consideration to those who live here.<\/p>\n

\u201cTractors pull vehicles out of the fields when they get stuck, causing mud and debris on the A38, it\u2019s very dangerous. It’s such a shame for the people who live in the area. I understand the rules around the 28 Day usage clause for farmers, and I don\u2019t blame them for leasing their land…but it\u2019s just very sad what\u2019s happening here,\u201d they added.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Bristol Airport’s new parking charges slammed as short-term cash grab<\/a>READ MORE: Travel guru Simon Calder names Bristol Airport as ‘worst-connected’ to its city<\/a><\/p>\n

Another local resident, who declined to be named, said they are left counting the days to the moment the temporary car park next to their home has to be moved. \u201cCars can park in these places because of the loophole in the law,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s frustrating that the law allows these unauthorised car parks to operate in this way. It really impacts on 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.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/p>\n

An unofficial car park around Bristol Airport(Image: North Somerset Council)<\/p>\n

\u201cWe count down the days until they are gone and hope they don’t overstay. If the planning enforcement department weren’t on it, the field parking would probably continue for longer periods,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

North Somerset Council is urging people to either park in the official Bristol Airport car park, or get the airport bus service and use the airport\u2019s new transport hub.<\/a><\/p>\n

The council is currently assessing a planning application from Bristol Airport to expand the number of flights per year <\/a>and increase the number of passengers from ten million a year now to a maximum of 15 million – with an expanded car park and terminal building.<\/p>\n

But transport to and from the airport, parking and traffic are set to be key issues for councillors assessing the application.<\/p>\n

Cllr Annemieke Waite (Green, Winford) represents the communities living around the airport, and is also North Somerset Council\u2019s cabinet member for planning and environment.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A group of local residents and campaigners from Bristol Airport Action Network (BAAN) protest about the number of night flights at Bristol Airport – in a picture taken on Felton Common. In November 2025, the airport said its expansion plans would now also include using parts of Felton Common for approach landing lights(Image: Bristol Airport Action Network)<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re committed to working with local parishes and community members to make sure that local voices are heard in matters concerning planning enforcement, rogue \u2018meet and greet\u2019 services and the associated traffic disruption,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

‘Causing misery’<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is only by working in partnership with Bristol Airport, Avon and Somerset Police and local communities that we can tackle these issues effectively. In the last 12 months, we have worked with partners to conduct several large-scale \u2018days of action\u2019, which have not only resulted in 36 enforcement notices and over 180 investigations, but informed us of additional areas of investigation, which the Home Office and British Parking Association are also involved with,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know that parking with off-site operators can be tempting for travellers, but their services and practices vary widely in quality. While there are reputable offsite operators, it is important to remember that none have ever been granted planning permission.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnethical operators cause misery for local neighbourhoods and in some cases support wider criminal activity. Thanks to our enhanced enforcement action, it\u2019s now difficult to establish these unauthorised parking sites here in North Somerset, but we\u2019re committed to putting a stop to as many of these sites as possible and preventing parking disruption for households near the airport,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Dave Lees of Bristol Airport<\/p>\n

Back in 2024, the airport agreed to fund an extra enforcement officer at North Somerset Council, and Dave Lees, the airport\u2019s chief executive, said it was \u2018encouraging\u2019 to see the crackdown get results.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s encouraging to see the results and positive impact this is having for local communities,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ve heard firsthand from some of our neighbours that this is helping and stopping some of the rogue operators in their tracks.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are continuing to work closely with North Somerset Council and intend to continue supporting their work, to prevent further operators from popping up, while deterring existing unauthorised activity.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe also welcome more joint days of action with Avon and Somerset police. The Airport will continue to work closely with the local communities and parish councils most affected,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"There are currently 56 ongoing investigations into unofficial airport car park operatorsBristol Airport protest BAAN Council enforcers have…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":867868,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8818],"tags":[381,21283,748,188,393,728,4884,956,11157,9731,1263,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-867867","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-bristol","8":"tag-bristol","9":"tag-bristol-airport","10":"tag-britain","11":"tag-crime","12":"tag-england","13":"tag-environment","14":"tag-great-britain","15":"tag-north-somerset","16":"tag-north-somerset-council","17":"tag-traffic-travel","18":"tag-transport","19":"tag-uk","20":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/116337122373529108","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/867867","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=867867"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/867867\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/867868"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=867867"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=867867"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=867867"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}