Woman stunned after slapped with £100 fine for using drop-off zone at UK airport

A disabled woman was left frustrated after being fined £100 for using Manchester Airport's drop-off zone. Sarah Mannion, 57, from Macclesfield, says she was hit with the charge by private parking operator APCOA after dropping off a friend's 91-year-old disabled father at Terminal 2 last month.

According to Manchester Airport's own website, passengers with a valid blue badge are entitled to free access to the drop-off zone, provided the badge is shown to traffic marshals on arrival. However, Sarah says no marshal was present during her visit, leaving her confused and eventually penalised.

"Before we went, we looked it up online to see what you have to do," she told Manchester Evening News. "It said show the marshal your badge, but there was no marshal there. We disembarked the passenger, and I went looking for someone but couldn't find a single person."

Sarah parked in a designated disabled bay and said she waited in the car briefly while searching for assistance.

After her friend returned from the terminal, they left the area, but not before Sarah made a mental note to call the airport when she got home.

Her attempts to resolve the issue, however, hit a wall, she said. Unable to reach anyone by phone, she was redirected to a web chat, and by the time she finally reached a representative on the following Monday, she had already missed the deadline to pay the reduced rate on the fine.

"I've appealed it and I'm waiting for a response," Sarah said. "I did everything I could to comply, but the system made it impossible. There needs to be a better way."

Sarah, who became disabled after a serious back injury more than a decade ago, said the process is not only flawed, but it's also insensitive to the needs of people with mobility challenges.

"People just assume someone like me can run up and down a forecourt," she added. "Nobody wants to be disabled. It takes a lot, mentally, just to keep going, and then you're punished for trying to help someone else."

Sarah has now called on Manchester Airport and APCOA to modernise the system. She suggests allowing blue badge holders to scan their badge and enter their registration number at a machine, rather than relying on finding a staff member.

"We're not in the olden days. They've got cameras that can read a plate, why not a system that lets you self-register your badge and car?"

A spokesperson for APCOA said: "If any driver feels that they have been issued with a Parking Charge unfairly, they should appeal using the details contained within the letter. We have received Ms Mannion's appeal, and it is currently being reviewed."

Sarah is now waiting to hear the outcome.