Congestion plagues Belfast parking :: 31/03/2008 :: Airport Parking News

The new drop off area appears to have been ill designed

A recent letter written to the Belfast Telegraph added the voice of a taxi driver to the growing number of people complaining about the new short stay parking facility at Belfast City Airport.

The Airport changed its parking policy last June, following an attempted terrorist attack by a driver at the entrance of Glasgow Airport. Since the attempted attack, Glasgow Airport ceased allowing those dropping off passengers to stop their cars in front of the airport. Instead, drivers must use a short stay car park, which allows them 15 minutes of parking for free.

There are several problems with the system. The first is that the free parking is being taken advantage of by frugal drivers who circle around for more free parking every 15 minutes.

The first problem is compounding a second, larger problem. Although there seems to be plenty of free space inside the car park, congestion is occurring as cars line up to enter the parking space, particularly from the Holywood direction.

According to the cab driver who voiced his concerns in the Telegraph, as he cued to enter the short stay parking, cars were “dangerously queuing behind me,” even as far as the outer lane of the Sydenham bypass. The queue was affecting other traffic trying to move into the airport.

On other occasions, the driver said, he has had to wait up to 20 minutes just to exit the car park.