Holidaymakers' cars dumped at pub car parks by meet and greet "cowboys"

Pubs in Wythenshawe, near the city’s airport, have been dumped with passengers’ cars by a firm which promises 24-hour security and CCTV, and which has been labelled 'cowboys' by the local council.

The Manchester Evening News​ launched an investigation after motorists reported suspect dashboard footage and mileage.

Cars were being left at the Cornishman, Woodpecker, the Happy Man and Mountain Ash, and the car parks did not have levels of security promised, the investigation concluded.

Holidaymakers have been charged as much as £57 for a week’s storage.

Many local meet and greet services in the area do feature 24-hour security at their own sites, including fencing, barriers and CCTV.

One service has claimed pub car parks can be used as holding areas, where cars are only stationed for a matter of hours, and that sites are always manned by staff.

'Outrageous'

Manchester Airport runs an official meet and greet service, which is not implicated in the investigation.

Manchester City Council warned against services not connected to the airport which claim to provide secure parking - typically advertising a staffed 'compound', with CCTV protection.

“But instead, often leave customers’ cars unprotected outside local pubs, or parked bumper-to-bumper on residential streets in the Wythenshawe area, before returning them to unsuspecting holidaymakers on their return,” a council statement read.

Wythenshawe MP Mike Kane added: “I have had meetings with the airport and city council to try and resolve this situation. It’s outrageous that some firms are pretending to offer secure parking.”

Damaged

Some customers have been left waiting for several hours at the airport for their cars to be returned - with some vehicles returned damaged.

The council has stepped up enforcement action to prevent the ‘cowboys’ from dumping customers' cars at five pubs in the Woodhouse Park area of Wythenshawe. 

Council officers are also closely monitoring roads around Woodhouse Park - and where they suspect that a car has been "dumped", may have grounds to tow it away.

The council is liasing with the British Parking Association and Greater Manchester Police as part of its approach.

The crackdown comes in support of residents who have been left unable to park near their own homes, or who have been disturbed by cars being driven late at night, often at high speeds, through residential areas, despite the presence of traffic calming measures.

'No stone left unturned'

Councillor Nigel Murphy, executive member for neighbourhoods at Manchester City Council, said: “We’re working with Manchester Airport and Greater Manchester Police to ensure that no stone is left unturned when it comes to clamping down on these cowboy companies. Their activities are causing serious disturbance to Manchester residents and this will not be tolerated."   

Wayne Poole, landside operations director for Manchester Airport, said: “We frequently hear horror stories from passengers who have had bad experiences with unofficial ‘meet and greet’ companies operating from the airport.  

“A number of operators imply they have links to the airport when they don’t, which often results in passengers believing they have purchased a car parking space with us.  

“We welcome the crackdown by Manchester City Council and GMP and would urge all passengers looking to use meet and greet car parking facilities to book via our website. Anyone with any doubts about their car parking can verify it with our customer services team.”