COPS have issued urgent warnings over off-site parking operators near Bristol Airport.
The crackdown on rogue firms comes after customers’ cars were abandoned in muddy, unsecured fields and their keys left in a rundown caravan.
Avon and Somerset Police has been working alongside the airport’s security unit, immigration officials, North Somerset Council and the British Parking Association – with the operation identifying three unauthorised parking sites.
Inspectors discovered deserted premises with no personnel on hand; makeshift offices amounted to nothing more than unsecured cars and a solitary caravan holding what seemed to be dozens of clients’ car keys.
A contractor for one of these unlicensed outfits was intercepted while operating a patron’s vehicle and has been cited for lacking proper insurance coverage.
The raid exposed distressing accounts from affected travellers, who recounted being deserted at the terminal with flimsy justifications from the companies.
In one instance, a family was directed to hail a cab to a rural farm, enduring a one-hour delay before being rerouted to a second farm.
There, they languished for an additional two hours until their car was finally delivered back to them.
Another group, including two upset youngsters, was left in limbo until compassionate airport personnel arranged transport to a local hotel for shelter.
Numerous reports highlighted vehicles returning with mysterious extra miles on the odometer and signs of mishandling or harm.
This enforcement drive, timed ahead of the festive travel surge over Christmas and New Year, echoes a productive intervention from June.
Police assisted patrons struggling to reach their stored cars, while some were promised refunds for taxi fares by the operators.
Sergeant Danielle Hardaway, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: “People would be horrified if they understood how their vehicles are used and stored, and some have complained about unexplained additional mileage.
“The last thing anyone wants is the worry over whether their car will be returned to them when they return from holiday.
“This crackdown follows a similar, successful operation in June as we continue to receive complaints from people over unaccredited parking operators in the area, and we will keep working with our partners to tackle them.”
She urged people to check the full terms and conditions of any parking operator, to look at review sites and for the British Parking Association’s police-backed Park Mark Safer Parking scheme.
Councillor Annemieke Waite, cabinet member for planning and environment at North Somerset Council, said: “None of the off-site operators have ever been granted planning permission, and many have never been assessed against planning policy.
“It’s really important for travellers to take a moment to check exactly who they’re booking with and read the terms and conditions carefully.
“When deals look too good to be true – they usually are.
“If anyone experiences a problem with a parking operator, please report it to the Police or North Somerset Council.”
Dave Lees, the chief executive of Bristol Airport, said: “We welcome this latest operation to target rogue operators who cause distress to customers who trust them with their vehicles – many of which are left insecure in fields, roads and laybys to the annoyance of local residents.
“Nuisance parking is a key area of concern for our local communities, so we hope this partnership operation by the police and council to deal with illegal parking operators, helps make a difference and deters this activity.
“Meanwhile, we’d urge customers to respect our neighbours and not park outside houses or drop people off, which causes disturbance, particularly during the early hours of the morning.”
He added that all of the airport car parks have CCTV and are manned or patrolled at all times.
Police said those looking to book parking at Bristol Airport should use the airport’s official website, or ensure they use a bona fide company with accreditation.
For more details, visit the Avon and Somerset Police website.
