Private hire taxi drivers have spoken out after toilet facilities at a designated waiting zone near Manchester Airport were closed, despite drivers paying to use the area while waiting for passenger pickups.
According to a report by Manchester Evening News, the facility — located at JetParks 1 off Thorley Lane — included toilets inside a portable cabin, alongside another room with tables and chairs, and had also been used informally as a prayer space by some drivers.
The airport said the toilets were shut after being “abused and vandalised to such an extent that it became a health hazard”. It also claimed cleaning staff were “regularly verbally abused and threatened” while attending the area. Manchester Airport stated that alternative toilet facilities are available inside the terminal buildings and that signage has been installed to inform drivers.
The private hire waiting area operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and drivers are charged £1.50 for 90 minutes of access while waiting to collect passengers from agreed pick-up points.
Concerns over potholes and safety
Drivers also raised concerns about the condition of the waiting zone itself, supplying photographs showing large potholes across the surface of the car park. Some drivers claimed the damage has caused harm to their vehicles.
One driver told the Manchester Evening News:
“There are often 150 drivers in the car park at any one time. We are hard-working people who keep this city moving, but we are being treated with contempt. The holding area we pay to use is also in a dangerous state, causing damage to our vehicles.”
Another driver alleged that drivers had resorted to fixing the surface themselves, pooling money together to buy gravel and sand to fill in the worst potholes.
Airport response
In response, Manchester Airport said it had “no choice” but to close the toilets after repeated warnings were ignored. A spokesperson said cleaning staff attended the area regularly but that misuse continued despite appeals to stop the vandalism.
The airport maintained that drivers can still access toilet facilities inside the terminals.
DM Commentry
It’s no secret among drivers that the toilets at the private hire waiting area were in a shocking state. There were ongoing issues with misuse, including people washing themselves in sinks and drivers sleeping overnight in their cars nearby. While toilets absolutely should be provided for drivers, some simply didn’t look after the facility at all — so it’s no surprise it was eventually shut down.
That said, the bigger question is how Manchester Airport can continue charging drivers to wait in an area that doesn’t even provide basic facilities and is reportedly full of dangerous potholes. If drivers are paying to use a designated zone, the very least they should expect is a safe surface and access to proper amenities. Responsibility goes both ways — but respect should too.
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