A cruise parking firm operating without permission for nearly a year has been told to sort out toilet problems that create a potent smell.

Airlynx in North Quay, in Wharf Road, Woolston, has been offering cruise ship passengers parking facilities since March 31 last year.

Now councillors have paved the way for approving a retrospective planning bid, allowing short and long-term parking for five years.

Airlynx will only be allowed to operate if the head of planning agrees residents' concerns have been addressed.

The decision comes after complaints about the bad smell of portable toilets on site that don’t have proper sewage, which generates a bad smell in the area.

Dust pollution was also one of the concerns raised.

Residents' objections said that the cars parked there cause “significant” air pollution by “kicking up a lot of dirt and dust”, affecting their health.

Other residents raised more objections regarding increased traffic, pollution and noise.

One said: “Since Airlynx has been at the Wharf Road site, there has been an increase in road traffic with Airlynx vehicles not sticking to the 20mph put in place by the council.

"When the site is open, there is constant traffic up and down Wharf Road.”

Another resident added: “This has already happened with no consultation with the residents, and it is unfair.

“I feel this area should be used to benefit Woolston and the surrounding community, but all it does is bring additional traffic to the area where children need somewhere to play instead.

“The extra traffic is not bringing any much-needed income to Woolston at all, whereas this site could be used for something that could or be used to be used by the local residents. I cannot believe all the security fencing and containers have been put up without permission. I think it’s appalling.”

Some residents also indicated that children played at the site before establishing the car park.

“Before Airlynx arrived, children could go out and play within the estate," one said.

"This has now stopped due to the risk of the children being hurt due to the volume of traffic now on the estate.”

Despite concerns, Airlynx will be able to continue offer about 270 cruise parking at North Quay in Woolston.

It leased the site and has been providing short and long-term parking for the cruise terminal with a transfer service from 7.30am to 4pm, seven days a week.

The office, storage and toilet facilities are in the site’s southwest corner and are temporary buildings/shipping containers.

North Quay’s history

From 1966, North Quay in Woolston was the centre of Vosper Thorneycroft shipbuilding, a warship design and construction company until 2004.

At the Woolston Yard, more than 3,000 people who specialised in constructing frigates of up to 4,000 tonnes were employed.

The Hunt-class mine countermeasures ships were constructed at Woolston. The first of these, HMS Brecon, was handed over to the Royal Navy in December 1979.

The Woolston Yard also played a substantial role with the Royal Navy and three Type 42 destroyers: HMS Southampton and HMS Nottingham, fitting both out, and HMS Gloucester, one of the ‘stretched’ Type 42 destroyers.

Following the closure of the Vosper Thorneycroft shipbuilding yard in 2004, the 0.69 hectares site, which was vacant for more than 20 years despite being “actively marketed” since March 31 2023, has been occupied by Airlynx, offering cruise parking without planning permission.

In 2008, planning permission was granted for marine-related industrial buildings with a fabrication building and car park on the proposal site, which formed part of a wider boat building side.