Karl Airport Parking closing down

In an email to customers, Karl Airport Parking, located at Old Ballyrobin Road, Muckamore, has announced it will be shutting at the end of July.

The business says that to remain open any longer, would put them at risk of “further legal action and fines”.

The email said: “As many you will know we have for a number of years done everything we can to remain open but it has now reached a point where we can no longer do so.

“To stay open would put us at risk of further legal action and fines which is in no one’s interest. So it is with huge regret that we must, in the meantime, wind down the business and close at the end of July. We will not be taking any new bookings and we will contact you directly if we need to cancel your booking. Naturally anyone that we have to cancel will receive a full refund.”

The business has not given up hope altogether though. They added: “Our new planning application is due to go into the Council for consideration on July 1 and we hope therefore to be able to reopen very soon.

Earlier this year Belfast International Airport threatened court action against Antrim and Newtownabbey Council in its long-running dispute over unlawful car parking competition.

It came after the council withdrew a notice that would have compelled Karl Airport Parking to shut down.

The airport has long argued that several unlawful car-park operators near Aldergrove are costing it millions in lost revenue and putting jobs there at risk.

The dispute has echoes of a similar row at Belfast City Airport. Boal Car Parking, located at Ikea, eventually shut down after a long-running planning wrangle.