An unauthorised car park near Stansted Airport has done something truly remarkable: it grew by nearly two-thirds after being told to shut down. The facility at New Farm, near Elsenham, Essex, was set up in early 2025 as a cheaper alternative to official airport parking, but customers returning from holiday described scenes of "mayhem" - overcrowded transport, damaged and dirty cars, and long waits for collection.

Mark Reardon, from Norfolk, found his car had been used as a makeshift bedroom: seats laid down, blankets moved, number plate on the windscreen, and a broken door handle. "I just don't know how they can run a place like this," he said. The seven-acre site, formerly agricultural land, now holds up to 1,000 cars. Uttlesford District Council issued an enforcement notice last summer, but an appeal by Aurangzaib Cheema (listed as an owner of SC Parking Ltd) allows it to keep trading until the Planning Inspectorate hears the case - not expected before 2027.

Customers reported additional £20 charges for transport to a hotel, then had to walk to the airport. Jane Fuller's daughter's car was left unlocked for 22 hours - she locked it remotely from Croatia. Deb Jordan described being piled onto a minibus with luggage over her head, then given keys to someone else's car. Several customers believed they booked through reputable comparison sites. The BBC approached Cheema, Abdul Rehman (new director), and service provider Park Pilot Ltd for comment - no response. Uttlesford District Council said it's a complex case with multiple agencies. Essex Trading Standards said not enough complaints to investigate. Travel Extra Deals Ltd, a comparison site, issued a final warning to the operator. Stansted Airport's managing director urged customers to choose authorised providers.