Foot run over as village faces 'overtourism'

Coaches often block up roads in the village of Bibury

Residents of "England's prettiest village" had to endure "overtourism traffic chaos" over Easter it has been claimed, with a local man's foot run over in a parking dispute.

The popularity of Bibury in Gloucestershire has created an almost constant problem for residents who have to put up with parking chaos caused by the influx of tourists.

The village, home to only a few hundred people, is known for the picturesque Arlington Row.

Resident Mark Honeyball said his foot was run over while Bibury Parish Council chairman Craig Chapman said the traffic was "one long queue" over Easter.

Bibury was described by 19th Century writer William Morris as "the most beautiful village in England".

And it is believed to be popular with Japanese tourists as Emperor Hirohito stayed there during the first half of the 20th Century when he was prince.

Arlington Row is one of the most famous views in the Cotswolds

However, while social media posts often portray the location as a tranquil village in the English countryside, the day-to-day reality includes regular traffic jams and illegal parking.

Overtourism in the village is recognised by the local authorities and Cotswold District Council and Gloucestershire County Council actively avoid promoting it as a tourist destination.

'Very dangerous'

Mr Honeyball said the situation has "got beyond a joke" as a driver who was parked on the pavement "ran over his foot".

"People can't get through as well as emergency services," he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"I had to call the police on the day and they couldn't get to me as a Range Rover had very nicely run over my foot in a dispute over where they shouldn't be parking and did a quite bit of damage. It's not broken, just badly bruised.

"He drove on the pavement. I had another one on Monday who I was asking to move off my drive and he just put his car into gear and drove along the pavement at me."

Despite the village having two coach bays next to a bridge over the River Coln, up to six coaches arrive on any given day.

Residents say that if the existing bays are full then the coaches will unload at the nearest space that is big enough - raising safety concerns around the narrow pavements being blocked.

The village's roads are also often not wide enough for two coaches to pass each other.

The village can see 10,000 tourists a day but is home to just 600 residents

A working group has recommended stopping coaches from using parking bays and waiting on the B4425.

But this move is a short-term measure and further restrictions could be rolled out after a consultation taking place this summer.

Bibury Parish Council chairman Craig Chapman was among those to witness the traffic problems over Easter.

"I was out on Sunday and Monday with other people in the community trying to move the traffic along the B4425," he said.

"The traffic coming from Barnsley through Arlington into Bibury was one long queue."

North Cotswold MP Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown sympathised with residents and says action is needed.

"Clearly this is what the residents of Bibury want. The trouble is coaches are getting larger and larger," the Conservative said.