Holidaymakers dump cars in village to avoid Stansted parking charge
Holidaymakers have been accused of being abusive to residents in an Essex village where they leave their cars to avoid paying for parking at Stansted airport.
Residents in Takeley claim they have been 'shouted and spat at' by motorists using the village as a free car park.
'Fly parking' has become an increasing problem in areas close to the airport and there are fears that Stansted's plans for expansion will only make the problem worse.
Barbie Wilks, who has lived in Takeley all her life, said: 'We have been screamed at, shouted at and spat at. It is getting to the stage where something bad is going to happen. We used to ask people politely, but we stopped since people started to shout abuse at us.
'One neighbour, who was pregnant, was struggling to get out of her car. She had been blocked in by someone and when her partner asked them to move the car, they threw rubbish on the road.'
Stansted airport has nine car parks. Booking online in advance for four days starts from £59.99 but it can go as high as £268 if someone pays on the day.
The airport is currently planning a significant expansion, which will increase passenger capacity to 51 million per year by the 2040s. The plans include a terminal extension, a new solar farm and improvements to road, rail and bus services.
Local councils are exploring traffic measures such as controlled parking zones, clearways and red routes on main roads, and resident parking permits to take the situation.
Bill Collinson, 77, said the increase in 'fly parking' was making driving dangerous for residents, adding: 'This has been going on for 10 years – people parking in front of driveways, blocking people in. It's disgraceful.
'Someone should come along with a flatbed, pick them up and get rid of them. It's dangerous. The front of my car was almost hit the other day when I was pulling out because I just couldn't see. You see them leaving their car behind and walking up the road with their suitcases.'
Neil Hargreaves, the deputy leader of Uttlesford district council, said as part of the parking consultation: 'We know many residents are concerned about people misusing residential streets to park for the airport.
'This summer, saw a spate of anti-social behaviour in Takeley with vehicles suspected of parking for the airport vandalised. We don't want to see residents penalised with higher insurance premiums if crimes like this continue.
'There is no easy solution. It is not possible to stop people parking in streets that do not have parking restrictions; and if parking restrictions are introduced, they will apply to everyone.'
Stansted states on its website: 'We recognise that there is off-site fly parking activity associated with the operation of Stansted airport.
'Essex county council has already introduced measures to prevent fly parking in Takeley but, in addition, the Stansted Area Transport Forum commit funding and resource to tackle the issues of off-airport car parking and fly parking in local communities.'
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