Charge the airlines to fund parking at airport

VIEWPOINTS Write to: Viewpoints, M.E.N, Mitchell Henry House, Hollinwood Avenue, Oldham, OL9 8EF Or email: viewpoints@men-news.co.uk

I AM a lucky pensioner, no money, no passport and therefore no need ever to visit that ever-increasing focus of trepidation and aggravation - namely Manchester International Airport.

I have read that one or two local taxi companies are refusing to do ‘the airport run’ - shame all the others are not following suit.

Stress, or so I am told, is one of the greatest causes of death in this country. So why is it that our airports and indeed our hospitals engage in such practices? Hospitals charging their own staff for parking is, quite frankly, disgraceful.

If the NHS had the gumption to review their purchasing policies nationwide, millions could be saved thus negating hospital parking charges. Similarly, if airports imposed a small levy on the airlines and travel companies, all this parking stress could be alleviated.

This levy, if calculated properly, could cover the cost of parking attendants, infrastructure etc.

While I appreciate the cost of holidays may rise, that may be a small price to pay to alleviate stress. Roger Brown, Worsley

THE drop-off charges introduced at the airport are most unfair and have put me off using it. This is an example of how it could affect elderly, infirm people. I went with an 83-year-old, who cannot walk very well, by train from the airport station to Edinburgh.

I parked (pre-booked) in the airport multi-storey. As my relative found it difficult to get by travelator to the station, I decided, on return, to go and get the car and pick up my relative at the station. Incidentally, I am 82 and a bit rickety!

Having paid for the parking, if this situation arises again for me or anyone else, are we to pay an extra £3 just to pick up a poor old partly-disabled person at the door of the station?

If so, then this whole set-up is iniquitous and is utterly lacking in respect for customers of the airport.

It’s scandalous and shows those responsible as greedy, inhumane and being totally disrespectful of their customers. Would M&S, Boots, Primark or Debenhams charge people to walk in the door?

It is a terrible slur and shows up the airport in a very bad light. Mary, Buxton

This photo of Rivington Reservoir, in Bolton, was taken by Keith Rylance, who lives in the town. If you have a stunning picture, then we’d love to see it. Send your photos to us at viewpoints@ men-news.co.uk, marking them Picture of the Day