Issue - meetings

To receive the report setting out the position relating to passenger car parking associated with Stansted Airport.  Presented by Jeremy Pine (Planning Policy / Development Management Liaison Officer)

The Planning Policy/Development Management Liaison Officer took the Panel through the Airport Car Parking Update.

Councillor Jones said that there had been a marked improvement now that NEPP were monitoring the area more closely.

Councillor Fairhurst raised concerns about moving the problem elsewhere. He said that there were already huge pressures on people trying to get to the airport. As a result the residents in the local areas suffer.

The Panel discussed what is done around other international airports abroad.  Councillor Fairhurst said that alternatives that actually work needed to be discussed.

Councillor Jones said that the problem of local opportunist carparks was rife. Unlicensed agents parked cars elsewhere in places like Priors Green generating local traffic movement. Councillor Lemon said that this was starting to happen in Hatfield Heath too, mentioning Pond Lane in particular.

The Chairman said that there needed to be a simpler way of controlling on-street parking that distinguished airport related parking from residents parking. He suggested using an automatic number plate recognition system.

Councillor Fairhurst asked if systems could be deployed on an experimental basis.  He specifically mentioned off-airport licensed car parking using shuttle busses.

The Chairman said the Panel could recommend that the Cabinet explore alternatives for controlling airport parking, and that the new Local Plan Policy SP11 had been amended to allow for this in appropriate circumstances. 

Councillor Jones also said that there were large areas suitable for parking within the airport boundary which were not being used.

The Chairman said that the Panel could make a recommendation to Cabinet that Stansted Airport consider opening these areas.

The Panel said that the airport needs to take responsibility and provide solutions to the local issues that arise from airport parking.

The Planning Policy/Development Management Liaison Officer and members discussed the actions currently being taken as set out in paragraph 26 of the report.

Action

•       The Panel propose ideas for alternative airport parking ideas and ask MAG about the potential for additional parking within the airport site.