Airport bosses have been accused of turning parts of South Bristol into a “giant unregulated car park” with holidaymakers leaving vehicles outside residents’ homes for weeks on end. Tory Cllr Richard Eddy, who recently slammed Bristol Airport for scrapping free travel on the Airport Flyer bus for most OAP concessionary passholders, has hit out again, saying that decision to “rat” on the deal is fuelling ill-feeling about inconsiderate parking in Bedminster Down.
The fact that aeroplane passengers are leaving vehicles in neighbourhood streets to catch that same A1 Flyer bus service for £8 per journey and avoid expensive on-site parking is only compounding the frustration. Bristol Airport says it would be happy to work with Cllr Eddy to resolve the car parking issue but that any new on-street restrictions would be down to the local authority.
In April, the Bishopsworth ward councillor accused the airport of “discriminating against the elderly and infirm” with its decision to stop allowing Diamond Card holders to make local trips on the route while still accepting paying customers. He said that although the service between the airport, Bristol bus station and Temple Meads was intended primarily for people jetting off on flights, it had become a “lifeline” for many in western Bedminster Down and Highridge which have poor public transport.
