Cotswold villagers up in arms over 'ludicrous' parking plans

Around 250,000 tourists travel to Bourton-on-the-Water by coach every year

Cotswold villagers are up in arms over plans to create coach spaces on a narrow street, with one describing the proposal as "ludicrous".

Around 250,000 tourists travel to Bourton-on-the-Water by coach every year.

From next year, coaches will no longer be able to use Hacklings car park.

Mark Hawthorne, leader of Gloucestershire County Council, said tourists must be able to arrive and leave the village safely.

He also added the authority is concerned about the impact a loss of coach parking could have on both the local economy and the highways network.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, council leaders have suggested converting on-street parking on Station Road into drop-off and pick-up points.

Donna Holland, who has lived in the village for 23 years, believes the proposal will exacerbate the problem of gridlocked traffic in the area.

Council leaders have suggested converting the on-street parking on Station Road into coach spaces

She said Cotswold District Council has known for two years coaches will not be allowed to park in the new year, and questioned why coach spaces were not considered by the authority when Rissington Road car park was resurfaced and relined last winter.

"We are one of the busiest, if not the busiest village in the Cotswolds.

"I support the fact that we need coaches to come to Bourton. It's a difficult one because I understand everyone's frustration.

"There just hasn't been a solution but this is possibly one of the most ludicrous ideas so far", she said.

Gloucestershire County councillor, Paul Hodgkinson, said: "[The coach spaces] would be just for drop-off and pick-up points for coaches, not for them to stay there all day.

"It is an option but highways have to fully flesh it out, source the money and then it might go ahead."

A spokesperson from Cotswold District Council said it is working closely with a range of local stakeholders to provide solutions in the village.

Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: [e-mail]