It has urged people travelling to the airport to consider using public transport rather than driving

A raft of proposals to tackle illegal off-site parking around Bristol Airport has been announced. The joint Parking Action Plan between the South West transport hub, North Somerset Council and Avon and Somerset Police is aimed at reducing “rogue” meet and greet operators, and “nuisance street parking”.

In January, local parish and district councillors held a parking surgery to discuss areas of concern with the police and key members of North Somerset Council, including highways and planning enforcement teams.

It is understood 40 actions were highlighted and agreed on at the time, including:

• Proposing to double the funding provided by the airport to support North Somerset Council’s planning enforcement team;
• further joint days of action with Avon and Somerset Police and North Somerset Council and working with both to tackle “rogue” meet and greet operators;
• new signs enforcing no stopping or waiting in the lane directly off the airport roundabout;
• parking restrictions for the Bridle Cottage layby on the A38 near the Fox and Goose, limiting waiting for a maximum of two hours;
• local taxi firms contacted and reminded about the waiting zone, which is free for the first hour, to discourage parking outside properties;
• and expanding the capacity of the airport’s one-hour free waiting zone and improving signage.

Rob Henley, transport planning manager at Bristol Airport, said: “The only way to tackle parking issues is through a joined-up approach. We encourage those customers who can use public transport to consider travelling to the airport this way.”

Mr Henley urged people driving to the airport and local taxi drivers to “please be more considerate to the local community and not park outside homes”.

“We recommend using our free waiting area rather than dropping off outside of people’s houses and in laybys,” he added. “A complimentary bus runs regularly from this area to the terminal.”

A ‘Parking Reporting Guide’, which is available on the airport’s website, has also been produced “to make clear” which organisation deals with which issues, Bristol Airport said.

It is understood that last year, North Somerset Council worked to target illegal off-site operators, some of which were parking more than 1,000 cars in a field during the summer peaks. The local authority made more than 1,000 monitoring visits in 12 months and issued 24 enforcement notices against sites operating off-site car parks without planning permission, it said.

Councillor Annemieke Waite, cabinet member for planning and environment for North Somerset Council, said: “If you choose to park outside of Bristol Airport, it is your responsibility to check the company is reputable. Look for a parking accreditation. Check terms and conditions and reviews, and avoid companies with a mobile only number. Consider using a credit card to book. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.”

Inspector Christian Gresswell at Avon and Somerset Police added: “We hope the measures agreed will help to alleviate some of the issues we have seen over recent months and we will continue to support the local authority with any enforcement action they may take themselves.

“Residents and visitors alike are urged to keep reporting issues surrounding nuisance parking and unaccredited parking operators to us and our partners, so we understand the scale of the issues and what resources are needed to tackle them.”

The British Parking Association (BPA) has also been working with the airport and North Somerset Council since last year to share knowledge of airport parking issues elsewhere in the country.

Anne Bevis, technical compliance manager at British Parking Association, said: “We look forward to playing an integral role and assisting with further improvements to benefit everyone into the future.”

In December, Bristol Airport announced it would be replacing its bus fleet with all-electric vehicles. The investment is part of a commitment to reach net-zero operations by 2030, the airport said.

The branch will open at the site of a former hardware store in April

Ecology Building Society has chosen Wales for its first ever high street branch. The mutual, which is the youngest in the UK having been established in 1981, will open it maiden branch in Porth where it has acquired a former hardware at Hannah Street.

In partnership with Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, Ecology Building Society – which has 15,000 customers served via online, post and telephone – secured UK Government Shared Prosperity Funding to renovate building, which has stood empty since June 2025. The new branch will create at least three new jobs in the area.

It will provide face-to-face service offering a range savings and mortgage products. It will also feature kiosks giving business and retail customers free access to cash deposit and withdrawal services, including to those without Ecology accounts. A community space, available for local groups to host activities, has also been designed into the branch.

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On the rationale for investing in its first branch, Gareth Griffiths, chief executive of Ecology, said “For too long, communities like Porth have been abandoned by the big high street banks, leaving them stranded in a ‘banking desert’ without access to essential services and support. These faceless corporates have put profit-driven decisions over people’s needs, leaving a gap that Ecology is determined to fill. This ambition starts with our very first branch in Porth.

“Since Covid and the cost-of-living crisis, people have an increased need for security and face-to-face support. But the big banks have failed to respond to this. Ripping out banking facilities from the high street is more than just the denial of access to cash and customer service. It’s the loss of trusted spaces, stability and connection.

“Our community hub space will be a place that people and local groups can come together, plan activities and help one another. Porth has an amazing sense of pride, and we want the branch to build on that.”

Ecology identified Porth as one of several areas across the UK facing long-standing inequalities in access and opportunity. In Wales alone, over 62% of high street bank branches have closed their doors in the last decade, with Porth’s last remaining bank closing over eight years ago, making it difficult for residents and local business to access key financial services and support.

Ecology is currently considering, although at an early stage, potential locations for other physical branches.

Mark Norris, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and housing, said:“We are delighted to welcome Ecology Building Society to Porth, bring much-needed community facilities to the town. As well as the immediate and obvious benefits of new banking services and local employment opportunities, this partnership has also meant an empty property, which was at risk of becoming an eyesore and a cause for community concern, has been regenerated.”

Rachel Springall, finance expert at Moneyfacts, said: “It is wonderful to see Ecology Building Society launch its first-ever branch to support those who are under-served in their area. There has been a stark decline in bank branches over the years, attributed to falls in footfall and changing consumer behaviour.

“However, there are still people out there who need access to branches to deposit or withdraw cash or need in-person support. Mutuals are champions at giving back to the community, so it’s brilliant to see the inclusion of a space available to local groups and that even non-members can use the banking facilities.”

In 2024 Ecology Building Society had total assets of £337m, of which £250m was mortgaged related. The mutual is currently preparing its financial report for 2025.