NEW plans to allow off-airport parking for 200 cars at Adventure Wonderland’s car park have been lodged.

The theme park at Merritown Lane, opposite Bournemouth Airport, want the council to relieve a condition to allow 200 cars to park on their land as part of parking company, BOMO Ltd’s, current operation.

The company run an ‘off-airport’ parking scheme, where they pick-up vehicles from people at the airport and return them to the owners when they arrive back from holiday.

The scheme has been slammed by Bournemouth Airport in the past, who said the proposal leads to more traffic to and from the airport.

Previously, managing director Paul Knight has said the companies who run meet and greet services are “completely unregulated”.

The airport had received complaints about ‘off airport’ parking.

He added: "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"

The airport has recently changed ownership when it was sold by Manchester Airport Group to Regional and City Airports in December.

When asked for a statement on the latest application, the Daily Echo were told Bournemouth Airport’s position remained unchanged.

The new scheme is asking that permission granted in 2016 for use of another part of Adventure’s Wonderland land is revoked, and relocated to the new site, which is already used for parking.

The reason for the application is due to the 'high demand from customers' for this service, which has been voted in the top five of airport parking companies in the UK by TrustPilot, a statement from the applicants says.

It also defends any potential criticism about inappropriate development, saying the alternative use does not have a greater impact on the Green Belt.

It says suggestions people could use the bus service are unrealistic and “the only alternative for airport users is car use.”

“The Airport has failed to develop its parking to the size stated in its Master Plan document with only approximately 1,800 standard spaces available.”

It also says: "The demand for BOMO's service has increased as the airport has expanded with increased flights and passenger numbers.

"The service provides a competitive alternative to and relieves pressure on parking at the airport itself."

The area will be fenced off with high green chain link fence, and users of the service will be entitled to free access to the theme park as well.

Comments are open on the application until February 8.