Motorists in the UK are being hit with excessive charges at every turn, with the latest controversy centered on the fees levied on drivers dropping off family or friends at airports. According to research by moneysavingexpert.com, London's Gatwick Airport charges £1 a minute for its drop-off fee, meaning a ten-minute stop costs £10. This comes just a month after the airport faced criticism for its faulty water system, which left customers without flushing toilets or running water.
Widespread Airport Charges
Gatwick is not alone in imposing these fees. Twenty-five out of 29 of the UK's biggest airports now charge a fee for drivers pulling in to drop off passengers. London City Airport charges £13 for a maximum ten-minute drop-off, while Leeds Bradford and Norwich airports charge £8. Aberdeen, Southampton, Luton, Heathrow, Glasgow, and Birmingham each charge £7, and Newcastle and Liverpool charge £6.
In contrast, airports on the Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey, and in Newquay allow free drop-offs, a move that suggests they see such charges as counterproductive and greedy.
Beyond Airports: Parking Fees Hit High Streets and Hospitals
The issue extends far beyond airports. Local councillors and MPs often speak of “saving the high street,” but traders point to nearby parking charges as a major deterrent. In Chichester, West Sussex, parking in a central short-stay car park for up to five hours costs £12.30, prompting many to visit out-of-town retail complexes with free parking instead. Additionally, the council-run car park near the Chichester Festival Theatre charges until 8pm (except Sundays), a move seen as targeting evening theatre-goers.
Hospital parking is described as a “vile tax on ill health.” A two-hour visit to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton costs £8.40, while Wey Valley NHS Trust charges £5.80 for parking at Hereford County Hospital for a couple of hours. Some hospitals even charge their own staff for parking, which hardly makes them feel valued.
Growing Frustration and Calls for Action
The abuse of motorists has been going on for decades, with authorities considering measures such as pay-per-mile road charging or charging people to park outside their homes. The article argues that if the government is serious about “growth in every postcode and hope in every heart,” it must address these excessive charges that treat drivers as cash cows.
