Grandad's fury at £200 fine after using Manchester Airport's drop-off zone

A grandad has slammed Manchester Airport for "no signage" after he was fined £200 for using the drop-off zone without paying.

Peter Walsh, 80, says he has been charged for failing to pay the drop off zone fees on two separate occasions having gone to Terminal 1 in June and July and in both instances a £5 fee was required.

He said he wasn't aware that he had to pay a fee until he received two letters from parking firm APCOA, stating that he had been fined for both visits. "I'm absolutely furious," said the retiree from Middleton. It comes after a Brit abroad slams all-inclusive hotel food asking 'what on earth is this?'

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"In June, my son went away for a week and I took him to the airport, no problem. I spent three minutes and a few seconds at Terminal 1, drove out and there was no barrier, no nothing.

"A week later, me and my wife Janet went on holiday to Lanzarote, and my son dropped us off in my car at Terminal 1 and did the exact same thing.

"We were gone for around three weeks. When we came back, what was in my post was two demands for £100 for both visits, which I was absolutely furious at. They had the cheek to offer you a discount if paid within 14 days, I had no chance to do that because I wasn't here. I think it's a disgrace."

Peter says that he is calling on airport and car park bosses to think about reinstating the old system which had a barrier and an onsite payment system. "There was no signage that was flashing in my face. If there were signs there, I didn't see them, " he told the Manchester Evening News.

"Since coming back, I said to my wife that I'm going to jump on the tram, I'm going to have a ride down there and have a look at these signs. But I thought, 'I've got better things to do with my time', so I didn't go.

"They said it's to increase traffic flow, I don't believe it for a minute, this is a money making scam in my eyes. To expect everybody to be 100% okay with the online payment is not fair. Why can't they have a flashing red light or flashing amber light with a small sign saying 'don't forget to pay'. It's a simple thing."

A spokesperson for APCOA said: "Customers using the drop off zone must pay to do so and have 24 hours after their visit to make a payment - Mr Walsh did not make a payment for either visit.

"If a customer feels that they have been issued with a parking charge unfairly, they can appeal within 14 days using the details contained within the letter - Mr Walsh has not appealed either parking charge.

"The new barrierless pick up and drop off areas are reducing congestion around the airport and allow customers to visit these zones without waiting in traffic. To help customers remember to make payment for their visit, there is prominent signage throughout the pick up and drop off zones."

A Manchester Airport spokesperson said: “Our new barrierless pick-up and drop off areas are reducing congestion around the airport by making sure that people no longer have to wait to exit the areas, which previously could cause traffic to back up.

“The feedback we’ve had from passengers tells us the new barrierless system has made the airport experience more seamless and they’re pleased that they no longer have to wait to leave the pick-up and drop-off areas. That means people aren’t ending up having to pay more than they should as a result of waiting at the barriers.

“The vast majority of passengers do remember to pay before the deadline but we want to make sure that people don’t forget so we’ve put prominent signage in place around the areas to make sure nobody misses it.”