The charming Cotswold village of Bibury, renowned for its picturesque Arlington Row, continues to grapple with severe traffic congestion driven by overwhelming tourist numbers. Despite Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) introducing a trial coach drop-off point aimed at easing the situation, residents claim that some coach operators are disregarding these measures by parking wherever they please, exacerbating the problem.
Kris Watts, a resident for the past decade, has witnessed a gradual worsening of the issue. Capturing footage on Friday 21 August, she highlighted an Excelsior coach parked improperly, causing significant obstructions near the Swan Bridge. “The coach was just parked up on the left-hand side,” she explained. “You couldn’t see what was coming from the Swan side of the bridge. When we eventually got past it all, the passengers were walking across the road bridge. You just think, why? The coach bays the other side were empty. They just don’t take any notice. They tend to park where they want.”
Her video also revealed another bottleneck caused by an apparently abandoned van parked at the roadside, presumably left there while the driver explored the village. Ms Watts believes social media plays a role in escalating visitor numbers and false expectations. “We moved here ten years ago and knew it was a tourist village, but since Covid it has just got worse and worse. We had the coaches but not nearly as bad as now. I think it’s to do with influencers – people posting reels showing an idyllic, traffic-free village, and then when you get here it’s absolutely rammed.”
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Bibury Parish Council chairman Craig Chapman advocates for a weight restriction on the Swan Bridge to restrict large coaches, which he identifies as a significant contributor to local disruption. “The removal of coach parking bays near the bridge was necessary due to safety concerns from coaches reversing in,” he stated. “However, whether the trial drop-off bays are effective remains uncertain. Bibury is not suited to large tourist coaches crossing the single-track Swan Bridge. Introducing a 17-tonne weight limit, with exemptions for public transport buses, could resolve many issues. A full structural report on the bridge is awaited from GCC, which may facilitate this measure.”
Councillor Roger Whyborn, GCC’s cabinet member for sustainable transport and road safety, noted that the coach drop-off points were introduced after extensive consultation with stakeholders and emphasised safety as paramount. “It is very disappointing to see some coach drivers continuing to drop passengers elsewhere instead of using the designated facilities,” he said. “These drop-off points aim to reduce congestion and improve safety for everyone. We work closely with coach operators and expect compliance with these arrangements.”
Councillor Whyborn added that longer-term traffic and coach movement solutions, including assessments of Swan Bridge, are ongoing. “We remain committed to improving safety while supporting residents, businesses and visitors. We will continue to keep the community informed as this work progresses.”
Excelsior Coaches have been contacted for comment but have yet to respond to the concerns raised.