CONCERNS about independent airport parking schemes have been expressed by Bournemouth Airport after 'a number of customer complaints'.

The airport's concerns have been revealed as an application is submitted for a parking service to be based at the theme park, Adventure Wonderland.

The theme park has applied to Christchurch Council for permission to use part of their land for BOMA Ltd's car parking scheme, where vehicles are collected from customers at the terminal and then returned to them on their arrival.

The cars would be parked at Adventure Wonderland when the customer is away.

But in response to the proposal, Paul Knight, managing director of Bournemouth Airport, said: "Companies which offer a 'meet and greet' service are completely unregulated and cars are driven away from the airport and parked in areas which do not provide the high standards of safety and security that we offer.

"We receive a lot of complaints about 'off airport' parking but, as they operate independently of the airport, we have no way of helping those who have booked with these organisations.

"We are committed to providing the best possible customer service and it is frustrating for us that we cannot assist some of our passengers with their complaints."

He added: "Following a stringent reassessment by the Police we have recently retained our Park Mark status which confirms that our car parks are safe and secure, and that we have strict measures in place for deterring criminal activity."

Managing director of BOMA Ltd, John Smith, said they were working with Trading Standards to ensure all safety and security aspects were covered, should planning permission be granted.

"We don't want a battle with the airport. We are offering a service they don't.

"We met with Trading Standards this week and they haven't received any consumer complaints against us.

"As a family-run business, our customers are very important to us. We have a stringent customer complaints procedure in place and will obviously take any complaints seriously."