"Just another cash cow" as drivers face new £70 parking penalties at Newcastle Airport
Chronicle Live readers have been sharing their views on the news that Newcastle International Airport is set to introduce new parking restrictions this month. Officials have warned drivers they will face fines up to £70 for stopping on the freshly painted 'red route'.
The clampdown by Newcastle City Council aims to curb "illegal, inconsiderate and dangerous parking" and follows gripes about cars parked along roads and grass verges from the A696 roundabout to Callerton Lane and the B6918.
Motorists often park in these spots to avoid airport car park fees when picking up or dropping off passengers. The only free parking at the airport is a 15-minute slot at Short Stay 2 car park.
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For those opting for the Express Pick Up and Drop Off zone right outside the terminal, the tariff starts at £4 for a mere 10 minutes, escalating to £7 for 30 minutes and £11 for an hour's stay.
Commenter MICK53 says: “It's just pure greed.” Ginge002 replies: “If people didn't totally disregard other driver's safety none of this would have been brought in. It's got nothing to do with a tiny bit of extra revenue. It's to do with avoiding accidents, ultimately saving serious injury or even fatalities. If people were more mindful of others none of this would have to be brought in.”
Always35 disagrees: “Not really, people used to pull into a parking space, drop someone off and drive away, where are the safety issues? As for “tiny bit of extra revenue”, say, even at a minimum 500 people a day, that’s £2,000, x 7 days a week equalling £14,000 x 52, which is £728,000 a year! Not very tiny eh?”
Madie20 adds: “How many dangerous 'incidents' have occurred there in say, the last 12 months then, assuming there actually has been some? I have dropped people off there umpteen times and have never had the slightest concern of any safety issues.”
CaptainScarlett points out: “Short term 2 parking is free for 15 mins. Can you guarantee the people you’re picking up will be there on time? No you can’t, so people park elsewhere and wait. They’ve done this since they put up the price of the drop off and pick up from free to £4 so it’s a problem of their own making. Now, despite no accidents or injuries it’s a health and safety problem, when we all know it’s just a money making scam.”
Seamonkey writes: “If a person can afford to jet away for the week, then a £4 parking ticket is not the end of the world surely?”
Holidaylassie agrees: “Blooming heck, people will pay pounds to go on holiday and buy extortionate priced drinks at the departure lounge, but complain about paying to pick up?! How about passengers wait for their lift to arrive so they can use the free area?”
Always35 replies: “That’s not the point, people used to get it free, it's now £4 to pull in outside of the main building, people get out and get their cases, it takes 2 minutes maximum, absolute disgrace! Do you think that's fair?”
MarkGosforth says: “The car parking racket started when the budget airlines told airports they didn't want to pay the airport charges needed to cover airport costs. So you get cheaper flights and the airports have to cover their costs through parking revenues and retail.”
Walkerwheels says: “Just another cash cow in tandem with the airport.”
Wallsendo agrees: “Another stealth tax. Why don’t the council promote the free parking at nearby Callerton Metro car park that’s free after 5pm or in one of the industrial estates? Perhaps it’s because they won’t make money?”
Oldgit71 adds: “Nothing to do with safety or dangerous parking, purely to do with money grabbing. You can't even get a bus into the airport except from Morpeth.”
WomblingFree has the final word: “Stupid plan. This is only going to move the parking problem a little further away. If the airport truly cared about their customers they would provide a dedicated waiting area somewhere nearby.”
How do you feel about the new restrictions at the airport? Will they improve safety? Have your say in our comments section.