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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Charlotte Hadfield & Graeme Murray

'Nightmare' road close to airport where travellers dump cars for weeks to avoid fees

A road close to an airport has become a "nightmare", as travellers dump their cars there for weeks.

People in the area claimed it was being used as a "back door" for holidaymakers trying to avoid parking charges.

Motorists and "illegal taxis" pull up at all hours of the day, and residents' driveways were being used as toilets.

Cars also park across people's driveways, and block the central reservation area.

The Liverpool Echo reports vehicles are left for weeks while people jet off on holiday, and their cars are left causing an obstruction.

Ryanair stewardess Cinzia Ceravolo, 36, died after being hit by a Ford Focus on the street at the junction with Liverpool John Lennon Airport on August 22.

Cars parked on Hale Road opposite Liverpool John Lennon Airport (Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)

Kevin Vaughan, 44, who has lived on the street for the last eight years, said it's not the first time a serious crash has happened there.

He said: "It's a major problem road. It needs policing properly.

"They all park outside here and walk across to the airport. It's a black spot. They shouldn't allow people to be parking on here.

"I actually had to be cut out of a car once because someone turned in front of me after they'd picked up from the airport."

Car parking at the airport costs £4 for someone to park directly opposite the terminal for up to 10 minutes. It rises to £10 for 20 minutes and £25 for up to an hour.

Vehicles are left for weeks as people jet off on holiday form John Lennon Airport (LIVERPOOL ECHO)

Liverpool Airport bosses, however, said there was also a free drop-off point which is "closer to the terminal than where cars are currently parking on Hale Road and other surrounding roads".

The drop-off point is free for up to 40 minutes, increasing to £8 for an hour.

Alan Brown, 73, who has lived in the area for the last 31 years, said: "It's a back door into the airport and it's very dangerous. We have complained to the council saying there's going to be an accident here.

"It's like a race track with cars whizzing along here."

Alan said: "The police have said they can't do anything and when you contact the council they say it's a police matter."

Liverpool City Council said there will be a site visit to the affected area with Merseyside Police after the crash to determine whether improvements were needed.

A car with a parking ticket opposite Liverpool John Lennon Airport (Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)

A council spokesperson said: "There are extensive sections of road in the area where waiting restrictions prohibit parking which the council regularly enforces, similarly enforcement regularly takes place around taxis parking."

Pam, 61, has lived on the street for the past 29 years.

She said: "This road is a nightmare. If you go out you're lucky to get your car back on your drive.

"The music, you hear 'bang, bang' - this will be at 11pm or midnight. They've got no respect at all. The rubbish they throw out of cars, they wee in bottles. We live a nightmare here."

People living near Liverpool John Lennon Airport say they are living a nightmare (Liverpool Echo)

Josephine Hesketh, 76, said: "We get no peace here. They come with their music blasting, it's 1.20am sometimes. Nobody is doing anything."

A spokesperson for Liverpool City Council said: “ We can confirm that there will be a site visit with Merseyside Police to determine whether highways improvements are needed and the last three years of collision data for the area will also be reviewed.

"We also run action as part of Operation Jet where compliance checks on taxis are conducted to ensure that they have a booking and that they are carrying the number of allowed passengers.

“However, if vehicles are parked, not causing an obstruction or contravening any waiting restrictions and are taxed, MOT’d and insured this would not be classed as an offence, but we will engage with the airport on the issues that have been raised.”

Those living near the airport say they get no peace with people arriving early in the morning (Liverpool Echo)

A spokesman for Liverpool John Lennon Airport said: “We were naturally saddened to hear of the accident that occurred close to the airport earlier this week and no doubt there will be an investigation into the causes.

"The airport is also concerned about vehicles parking outside local residents’ homes on roads close to the airport and have previously discussed this issue with the City Council and local councillors to explore ways to improve the situation.

"Unfortunately as these are public roads outside of the airport, we have no control over such parking issues.

"However we continue to provide a parking facility with up to 40 minutes free parking, which is closer to the terminal than where cars are currently parking on Hale Road and other surrounding roads.”

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