Council to target rogue airport parking firms

Manchester Airport and Manchester City Council are joining forces to clamp down on rogue parking firms during the half-term holidays.

The duo will be working with Wythenshawe Community Housing to tackle parking issues affecting the area.

The initiative will target rogue firms who claim to hold passengers’ cars in secure facilities but dump them on residential streets instead.

A dedicated truck will patrol parts of Wythenshawe and will remove vehicles that are parked illegally by blocking drives, bus stops and other areas where parking is not allowed.

A multi-agency team of officers will also be stepping up patrols to target associated anti-social behaviour such as littering, which has been of concern to local people.

Meanwhile, the Airport and the City Council will be raising awareness of a new facility set up for private hire taxis to wait in before collecting customers from the airport’s terminals.

The holding area, just off the M56, has been set up to prevent private hire cars needing to wait on residential streets, which has been a source of complaints.

Leaflets will be distributed to cars found in the area, advising them where the holding area is and encouraging them to use it.

Households will also be given leaflets to give to taxi drivers they encounter in the coming weeks, directing them to the holding area.

Signs asking airport users to refrain from leaving vehicles outside residential properties will also be put up.

Wayne Poole, landside operations director at Manchester Airport, said: “We are committed to listening to the concerns of those living near us and working with our partners to tackle the issues that matter to them the most.

“This activity will hopefully make clear that we want all airport users to respect our surrounding communities.

“Our focus on being a good neighbour will continue beyond the half-term break, as we
continue to prepare for the summer season.”

Councillor Rabnawaz Akbar, said: “This is the latest in a series of blitzes on illegal, irresponsible and dangerous parking in the Woodhouse Park neighbourhood and continues our focus on the enforcement action which is needed to protect local residents.

“In partnership with the Airport, Greater Manchester Police and Wythenshawe Community Housing Group, we’re determined to do everything in our power to crack down on these issues.”