Residents in Elsenham, Essex, are expressing fury over an illegal park-and-ride operation near Stansted Airport that has expanded onto a local field, despite enforcement notices. The site, known as New Farm Parking, presents a professional appearance with online bookings and clear signage, charging approximately £75 per week for airport parking.
Uttlesford District Council, the planning authority, issued an enforcement notice last September ordering the site to cease trading. However, the owners have appealed the notice and have continued to expand the operation. Local authorities, including police and trading standards, have reportedly been unable to halt the activity. Huge piles of earth have been moved around the site, and residents have raised alarms about the potential for disaster due to a fuel pipeline running beneath the ground.
Aurangzaib Cheema, a developer from Barking, owns SC Parking Ltd, the company operating New Farm. Cheema has argued for the continuation of his business, citing existing bookings. Ray Gooding, a member of Uttlesford District Council, described the car park as a significant problem, noting the excavation near the fuel line and the use of unregistered drivers for airport transfers. He also mentioned instances of threatening behavior from the operators towards neighbors and vehicles speeding through the village.
"This is having a major impact on the people of Elsenham where drivers are taking people back and forth to the airport at all times and speeding through the village," Gooding stated. "The worst part of it is there's some fairly threatening behaviour meted out towards the neighbours because they're gradually encroaching on other people's land."
Leighton Bishop, who started a local opposition group, detailed the continuous expansion of the site and described the operators' behavior as outrageous. "They're driving through the village 24-7," he said. "It's a big frustration the way the authorities are handling it. They're risking lives every day."
Customers who have used the service have reported issues such as being charged additional fees for airport transfers, finding their cars have been moved or used during their absence, and experiencing missing items or dirty vehicles upon return. Some users have expressed concern about the safety and security of their cars while on holiday.
The site features professional signage, including accessibility information and claims of camera surveillance, creating an impression of legitimacy for unsuspecting customers. A temporary reception building handles key collection and drop-off for the minibus service to the airport. Despite ongoing legal processes and enforcement notices, the operation appears to be thriving, much to the consternation of the local community and officials who feel powerless to intervene effectively.