Norwich Airport has been slammed for "forcing people" to pay drop-off fees after the site introduced a new "outrageous" fine in a nearby road.
Elizabeth Utting, who has been using Delft Way as a free drop-off point for more than two years, has hit out at the airport’s “unbelievable” system after being fined £100.
It is a road many people use to drop off airport passengers, and Ms Utting says she has stopped countless times before on the street outside the Holiday Inn without being fined - until now.
Ms Utting alleges that the new charge, introduced just weeks before she was caught out by it, has not been sufficiently publicised.
After stopping for a matter of seconds on November 27 to let two friends flying from Norwich Airport out the car, Ms Utting received a fine.
Since then she has been dropped off and picked up from the same location twice, by her husband and her friend’s partner, so collectively they may have to pay up to £300.
Vehicle Control Services Ltd, a private company, were appointed by Norwich Airport to enforce the charge on November 5.
She said: “The system is unbelievable. I never received the first letter of notice for the fine.
“As a result, when me and my friend travelled to Alicante last week, we were dropped off and picked up at the same spot in Delft Way.
“I am assuming two more fines will be posted to us.
“That will be £300 altogether.”
Ms Utting received her final reminder to pay the fine last week and must pay £100 by January 16.
Although there are single and double red lines on parts of the road, she believes the signage in the area is “not visible enough to be seen as a deterrent to stop”.
She said: “There is one sign in the area which can be seen as you drive from McDonald's back to the roundabout.
“If I had seen it, I wouldn’t have stopped.”
A spokesperson for Norwich Airport confirmed the new charge has been effective since November 5, less than three weeks before Ms Utting was caught.
Vehicle Control Services Ltd has declined to comment.
AIRPORT DROP-OFF FEES
Norwich Airport raised its fees to park in the site’s short-stay car park for 30 minutes from £5 to £6 in December 2025.
Even before this, many city folk have been doing their best to avoid the airport's parking fees.
David Makin, from Newton Flotman, said: “My daughter flew from Norwich in July.
“For her it was cheaper to pay to park on someone's drive rather than parking.
“A £100 fine in that street is outrageous.
“You can park for a whole week at the airport for that price.”
Gerry Pilf, from Brundall, said: “I have dropped someone off near the McDonald's before.
“Airports across the country have those drop-off fees.
“But this fine is disgusting. It’s revolting. Any fine for a brief in and out is despicable.”
Chloe Woollard, from North Walsham, said: “I know many people who use that road to drop people off.
“It feels like the airport are forcing people to pay the drop off fee.
“£100 is not a little fine. It’s a shame.”
SAFETY CONCERNS
A spokesman for Norwich Airport said: "The airport has introduced the no stopping and no waiting restrictions on airport-owned roads due to safety concerns.
“The airport has a third-party provider enforcing those restrictions, including the issuing of charge notices as appropriate.
“However, Norwich Airport does not receive any revenue from enforcement activity or from the agreement in place with our enforcement provider.
"This is an entirely safety-driven initiative. These restrictions are clearly signposted on approach roads and detailed on our website."
Ms Utting said: “It is absolutely not a dangerous road.
“There is a clear view all the way, and cars can pass. There are so many people who use this street to drop people off.
“No one wants to pay the drop-off fee at Norwich Airport. This fine is going to catch out hundreds of people.”
