Thousands of taxi and private hire drivers have been fined for parking illegally on residential streets around Heathrow Airport, following a major crackdown by Hillingdon Council.
The enforcement action began after the council introduced a Public Spaces Protection Order in February, covering the areas of Pinkwell, West Drayton and Heathrow Villages.
The new rules ban taxi drivers, minicabs and chauffeurs from waiting on residential roads unless they are picking up or dropping off passengers, or unless they live or run a business in the area.
The move came after a public consultation showed strong support from local residents who said their lives were being disrupted by drivers waiting for Heathrow passengers on nearby streets.
Residents complained that vehicles were blocking driveways, causing traffic problems and leaving rubbish behind. Some reported more serious behaviour, including drivers urinating and defecating in public areas close to homes.
There were also concerns about noise and air pollution, with engines left running for long periods while drivers waited for flights to land.
As part of the crackdown, drivers caught breaking the rules face a £100 fixed penalty notice, reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days.
But motorists who refuse to pay can be taken to court, where fines can reach £1,000 and may result in a criminal record.
Taxi operators were fined for waiting along residential roads for pick-ups near Heathrow Airport
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Hillingdon Council said there was no excuse for the behaviour, as official waiting areas already exist inside Heathrow Airport for taxis and private hire vehicles.
The council has already taken one driver to court who was found guilty at Ealing Magistrates‘ Court on Monday, December 8, after failing to pay a fine.
The driver was ordered to pay £658, including a £220 fine, a £88 victim surcharge, and £350 in prosecution costs for the incident.
The case was handled under a single justice procedure, meaning it went ahead without the driver needing to attend court.
Under the new rules, drivers can be fined £100 for failing to pick up customers in the correct place
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PACouncil enforcement officers spotted the driver‘s vehicle parked on Doghurst Drive in Heathrow Villages during a patrol in May. Despite receiving a final warning, he failed to pay the original fine.
Since the PSPO came into force, the council has issued 6,252 fixed penalty notices, most to drivers waiting for passengers arriving on flights. The issue has also reached Parliament.
Hayes and Harlington MP John McDonnell tabled an Early Day Motion, warning about the scale of the problem.
The motion said: “This House expresses its grave concern at the serious problems being experienced by residents in the Heathrow villages as a result of the anti-social behaviour of rogue drivers of private hire vehicles, including physical, verbal and racial abuse and defecating and littering.”
More than 6,000 taxi drivers were fined for parking incorrectly
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GETTYCouncillor Wayne Bridges warned that the drivers of these vehicles are already provided with official designated waiting areas within the airport perimeter, “yet many continue to disregard this”.
“I hope this sends a clear message that we will take all necessary enforcement options to uphold this PSPO and that anti-social behaviour which negatively impacts our communities will not be tolerated,” he stated.
Heathrow Airport has also backed the crackdown, with a spokesperson stating everyone who drives to the airport “should respect our neighbours”.
“We have dedicated waiting facilities at the airport for taxis and private hire vehicles, and we support Hillingdon’s plans to keep local roads clear for residents,” the spokesperson added.
