Bourton-on-the-Water: Coach ban being considered

Bourton-on-the-Water is commonly referred to as the "Venice of the Cotswolds".

A "no-go zone" for coaches could be created in one of the Cotswolds' most popular tourist destinations.

Parish councillors in Bourton-on-the-Water are set to vote on plans to tackle ongoing issues including a lack of parking.

Pulhams & Sons Coaches says that more than 238,000 people visited the village by coach or large minibus in 2019.

Concerns have been raised by businesses that they may be hit by a lack of customers.

More than 40 Bourton-on-the-Water residents packed the George Moore Community Centre on Wednesday to debate consider restricting access for touring coaches.

Parish councillors will decide in April whether to use permanent or emergency traffic regulation orders - or a combination of both - to manage coach movements.

Any final decision would be subject to a full public consultation and would need to be implemented by highways authority Gloucestershire County Council, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

If approved, coaches would not be allowed to access Bourton from the A429 Fosseway into Lansdowne and High Street as well as into Station Road.

Pulhams & Sons Coaches, which is based in the village, has provided services in and out of the Cotswolds since 1880.

Its co-owner said the company had contributed to the community for many years "in ways most people would not imagine".

'Ban may see job losses'

John Kerslake, the co-owner of Fresh For Lunch in High Street, told Wednesday's meeting that a plan to ban coaches was "difficult to understand".

"Welcome to Bourton-on-the-Water, but only if you can come in a car and have loads of money," he said.

"Please don't come if you are visiting from overseas on a coach tour. Please don't come if you're a pensioner on a coach trip visiting for an affordable day out."

Like many Cotswold villages, it is hugely popular with tourists

Cotswold MP Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown said the proposal is bound to lead to business closures and job losses.

Sir Geoffrey said: "Businesses in the village are already under severe economic pressures and this proposal is bound to lead to closures affecting the high street and the subsequent loss of jobs.

"Consideration also needs to be given to the potential environmental effects of more cars and the overall threat to the vitality and vibrancy of the village."

A meeting will take place on 27 March for Sir Geoffrey and officials from multiple councils to explore a different solution.