Residents in the village of Elsenham, near Stansted Airport, are expressing outrage over an illegal park-and-ride operation that has expanded onto a local field, raising significant safety concerns.
The operation, known as New Farm Parking, charges holidaymakers approximately £75 per week and appears legitimate to customers, with professional signage, online bookings, and presence on price comparison websites. However, the owners were served with an enforcement notice last September ordering them to cease trading, a directive they have appealed and subsequently ignored, continuing to expand the site. Police, trading standards, and the county council have reportedly been unable to halt the operation.
Large piles of earth now surround the expanded site, which is located about five miles from the airport. A local politician, Ray Gooding, who serves on the Uttlesford District Council planning authority, described the car park as "the bane of our life" and a "very difficult situation." He highlighted that the site is being developed near a crucial airport fuel supply line. "If that were breached we'd probably lose a couple of villages and the airport as well. It would be a major event," Gooding stated.
In addition to the safety risks, residents report that the operation employs unregistered drivers for minibuses that ferry passengers to and from the airport. There have also been complaints about drivers operating at high speeds through the village, aggressive behavior towards residents, and drivers demanding additional cash payments for airport transfers even after customers have paid upfront online. Some car park users have also reported issues upon returning from their holidays, including missing items from their vehicles, increased mileage, and dirty cars.
Leighton Bishop, an 18-year-old resident who has organized local opposition, described the operators' behavior as "outrageous." He noted the car park's continuous expansion and expressed frustration with the authorities' handling of the situation. "They're risking lives every day," he said.
The company operating New Farm, SC Parking Ltd, is owned by Aurangzaib Cheema. Cheema has argued that he should be permitted to continue operations due to existing bookings. Uttlesford District Council is awaiting a decision from the secretary of state regarding the enforcement notice. In the interim, the site continues to operate and expand, causing significant disruption and anxiety for the local community.