Published: 02/09/2010 09:00 - Updated: 01/09/2010 16:12

UTTLESFORD District Council has defended its decision not to crack down on an unauthorised car park at Stansted Airport.

 

This week, the authority came under fire after it emerged that nationwide meet-and-greet service Meteor is operating at the terminal without planning permission – and with the council’s full knowledge.

 

Although the council became aware of the situation following a complaint, it has said it will not be taking enforcement action because it would “not be expedient” to do so.

 

Steve Harwood, who raised concerns earlier this year, said: “They’ve got at least 1,000 cars parked across two fields there, so I approached Uttlesford – but they basically turned a blind eye and told me categorically that they aren’t going to investigate it.

 

“I phoned the enforcement office on two occasions and they said it’s ‘not worthwhile’ because the company would probably win, but the law is the law and they should put in for planning permission.

 

“I’m a big supporter of Bishop’s Stortford Football Club, and the district council [East Herts, which is a separate authority] came down hard on their owner for running a car park without planning permission – yet in this case the company seems to just do whatever it wants and the council does absolutely nothing.”