Newcastle Airport parking restrictions to start this month as drivers warned of £70 fines
Drivers will face penalties if they are caught parking along a new 'red route' while waiting to pick up or drop off passengers at Newcastle International Airport
by Daniel Holland · ChronicleLiveNew parking restrictions close to Newcastle International Airport will start this month, it has been confirmed.
Drivers have been warned that they face penalties of up to £70 if they are caught stopping on a new ‘red route’ near the airport, in a move that council bosses say is aimed at stopping “illegal, inconsiderate and dangerous parking”. Newcastle City Council confirmed this summer that it would go ahead with measures to prevent vehicles being parked up on roads and grass verges from the A696 roundabout along the Callerton Lane and the B6918, following complaints about motorists waiting there when they come to pick up or drop off someone at the terminal rather than paying to use one of airport’s car parks.
The only free parking available within the airport site itself is at the Short Stay 2 car park, where drivers can park without charge for only 15 minutes. It costs £4 to park in the Express Pick Up and Drop Off car park located immediately outside the terminal for just 10 minutes, £7 for half an hour, and £11 for an hour.
Since the announcement in August, concerns have been aired by residents of Ponteland, Prestwick and Woolsington about the parking problems being displaced to their areas instead. The city council has now confirmed that it will begin painting the double red lines from Tuesday, October 1, and start enforcement from October 21.
Local authority bosses say the routes will be monitored by static cameras, mobile cameras and Civil Enforcement Officers to catch drivers found to be breaching the no stopping restrictions. Offenders will receive a penalty charge notice for £70, or £35 if paid within 21 days.
Labour councillor Marion Williams, the council’s cabinet member responsible for transport, said: “We’ve had a number of safety concerns raised in relation to vehicles parking up on residential streets and roads close to the airport runway while dropping people off or picking them up. For residents this has meant putting up with noise and disturbance from vehicles stopping outside their homes to load and unload at all hours of day and night and often with engines left running.
“While there are double yellow lines in place on these roads they are quite often disregarded and therefore, following consultation, we have decided to put tougher measures in place to reduce the risk of incidents caused by illegal, inconsiderate and dangerous parking.”
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