Man vows to never park at major UK airport again after being 'fined for three-point turn'

Ian Simpson, from Glasgow, flew to Bristol in February and was fined on his journey back to the airport. He said he will "never fly to the airport again" following the incident

A man has vowed to never to fly to Bristol Airport again after he claims he was fined for making a 'three-point turn' outside the terminal.

Ian Simpson flew into Bristol from Glasgow in February but was slapped with the fine on his journey back to the airport as he looked for the correct place to park. Renting a car during his stay in Bristol, Mr Simpson told of how his sat nav guided him onto a road legally at the airport - but he then had to turn around 25 yards later due to no entry signs obstructing his route.

The driver said a month later he was fined and that he tried to appeal the case, but he alleges that nobody could give him an answer on what he should have done when he came to the no-entry signs. Mr Simpson said the ordeal made him feel frustrated. He said: "I was hit with the £100 fine for 'stopping' in a no-stopping zone. I admit that I shouldn't have stopped but I needed to do a three-point turn, and no one has told me what else I could have done.

"It is frustrating that I was fined and worse that I was not given a clear answer on what I could have done to avoid it. I regard the fine as nothing but entrapment. I will never fly to Bristol Airport again, I will deliberately fly to and from an alternative airport, even if it is more expensive. I feel like the fines are extorting the public."

Mr Simpson feels like the lack of an answer has made his case feel more frustrating with a lack of understanding, reports Bristol Live. He added: "I fail to understand what to do. The fine stung me. I believe that I haven't done anything wrong. I did the three-point turn to avoid going in a no-entry area, the turn took 40 seconds. This is a poor showing from Bristol Airport."

A spokesperson for Bristol Airport said: "All of the internal roadways at the Airport have experienced a longstanding issue with vehicles stopping in unsafe areas. This poses a high risk to the safety of our customers, colleagues and business partners and causes delay and congestion to other road users.

"Signs across the site further underline the message to all customers. Breaking rules, such as ignoring signs to the exit, attempting to drive into roads marked 'no entry', and stopping on double-red lines, may result in drivers facing fines. The rules are enforced through a combination of fixed cameras and mobile patrols.

"In addition to the signs we have on-site, maps, videos, and guides of how to access the Airport and our car parks are available on our website. Facilities are available close to the terminal for vehicles picking up (Short Stay and Pick Up) and dropping off (Drop and Go) passengers, and a waiting zone offering free parking for up to 60 minutes is available. This free car park is located by the entrance to Silver Zone and is linked to the terminal by a frequent shuttle bus service."

Within the last year there have been a number of cases of people being fined over stops, three-point turns and parking issues. In August 2023 a driver was fined £100 after stopping for 34 seconds on a double red line when he tried to answer his phone to get directions to the right parking.

Then in the same month, a driver was fined £100 after being involved in a minor crash and stopping. A taxi driver was charged £75 when trying to drop-off a customer and was overcharged when he was charged twice. In February of this year, a driver was "dismayed" by a parking nightmare during current construction works at the airport. He was fined £100 after struggling to find the pick-up area and stopping at temporary traffic lights to pick up his sister.

At the beginning of March a couple vowed to never return to Bristol Airport again following a three-point turn which saw them fined £100. The couple says they got lost whilst finding the Silver Zone parking area and, despite being helped out by a security guard, was later met with a fine.

A woman was also fined after stopping her car for 33 seconds after having a panic attack. She pulled over into an exit to the short-stay car park and described communication with the airport as like "hitting your head against a brick wall".

In April, Bristol Live reported that a man was fined after letting his wife out of the car to use the toilet whilst stopped at a traffic light. The man believes that the parking fines are "just a ploy" to make people pay. Bristol Airport was named as one of the most expensive airports in the UK to park at for a week-long holiday. A report found that a week stay could cost £99 or just above £14 a day.