A CRACKDOWN is continuing on unauthorised car parks around Bristol International Airport.

A CRACKDOWN is continuing on unauthorised car parks around Bristol International Airport.

A number of recent appeals from car park operators have been turned down by the Planning Inspectorate, following enforcement notices issued by North Somerset Council.

An enforcement notice was upheld on an unauthorised site at Gatcombe Farm Industrial Estate, West Hayes Road, Wrington and the operator now has four months to comply with the notice.

The requirements of the notice are that the operator ceases using the land for the parking of vehicles and ceases parking vehicles unconnected to the agricultural use of the land.

They also have to remove all vehicles from the land.

Planning Inspector R J Perrins dismissed the appeal made by Cindabi (International) Ltd on 18 January.

An enforcement notice on Land at Coombe Head Farm, Backwell was also upheld and the appeal by Richard Marshall was dismissed.

Following the decision, made by Planning Inspector Brian Cook on 23 January, the operator now has month to comply with the notice.

The requirements of the notice are that the operator ceases using the land for the parking of vehicles not associated with agriculture and removes all vehicles from the land, other than vehicles associated with the use of land for agriculture.

Over the last four years the council has issued 27 enforcement notices on unauthorised sites and 41 sites have closed.

The council has undertaken 10 prosecutions resulting in fines of £135,000. Fourteen appeals by operators have been dismissed or withdrawn.

Currently there are 11 sites being monitored and the council has pledged to continue to take action against unauthorised operators.