Tourists' litter puts village 'under pressure'

An increasing amount of litter in the village has become "one of the most pressing issues"

A picturesque village is facing "significant pressure" from a rising number of tourists and their litter, a council has said.

Bourton-on-the-Water, known as the Venice of the Cotswolds, has a population of about 4,000 people but sees around 300,000 tourists visit each year.

Its parish council has released a statement stating the accumulation of litter, particularly from takeaway outlets and picnickers, has become "one of the most pressing issues".

"We recognise that the increased visitor numbers this year have placed significant pressure not only on the village centre but also on surrounding residential and commercial areas," the statement said.

The council has released a list of actions it is taking to "address the growing impact of tourism", the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The measures include ensuring rubbish is collected three times per day on weekends, and encouraging local takeaways to help crack down on the waste.

The parish council wants to be "bin-free" by 2030

The council is working with Cotswold District Council, Gloucestershire County Council and other bodies to tackle "the severity of the problem".

"While tourism brings economic benefits, it also presents challenges that require coordinated and sustained efforts to be managed effectively," the statement said.

It said parish councils have limited powers to tackle the problem and no control over visitor numbers, and has urged people to report issues to the district and county councils.

The statement comes days after Cotswold district councillor Jon Wareing said the village was being ruined by "TikTok tourists" who are "exploiting the destination's heritage for clicks".

He told the LDRS: "This kind of visitor tends to have little real interest in the heritage, culture or natural environment they are exploiting for clicks.

"They're the ultimate hit-and-run tourist."