An illegal car park operating near a UK airport has reportedly doubled in size despite council officials having already ordered the "cowboy operation" to shut down. The site's continued growth in defiance of enforcement action raises questions about the effectiveness of local authority powers to tackle unauthorised commercial land use, and highlights concerns for motorists who may unknowingly leave vehicles at unregulated, potentially unsafe facilities.

Council officials had previously issued closure orders against the site, but the operators appear to have ignored these instructions and expanded operations instead. The case underscores broader difficulties councils face in policing illegal parking businesses that spring up near major transport hubs, often undercutting licensed operators while leaving customers with little recourse if vehicles are damaged, lost or mishandled.