Gloucestershire County Council is considering measures to tackle overtourism in Bourton-on-the-Water by potentially banning coaches from key village roads. The charming Cotswold village, often called the “Venice of the Cotswolds,” has faced mounting challenges as a result of excessive visitor numbers in recent years.
A significant factor behind the congestion is the closure of a privately-owned coach parking site at the end of 2023. This has led to coaches parking illegally on double yellow lines, blocking roads, and turning in residential neighborhoods, frustrating local residents.
During a public meeting at the Baptist Church on Station Road, villagers shared concerns about the unsustainable tourism levels. One resident questioned why existing automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras were not employed to enforce restrictions on coaches entering prohibited zones.
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County Councillor Paul Hodgkinson explained that while ANPR cameras are currently used by police to catch speeding vehicles, there is no technical reason preventing their use for coach enforcement. However, any traffic regulation orders (TROs) to ban coaches would need to be requested by the Bourton-on-the-Water Parish Council before Gloucestershire County Council would consider implementation.
Parish councillor Amanda Davis noted that although a TRO for Station Road and Rissington Road has been requested in the past, enforcement challenges prevented it from being approved. She suggested that ANPR cameras could provide a viable means of enforcement if a TRO was in place.
Len Wilkins, another parish councillor, highlighted earlier efforts that sought to stop coaches from entering the village, which were unsuccessful. Meanwhile, Councillor Jon Wareing of the Cotswold District Council expressed optimism that the new county council administration might be more open to revisiting the proposal.
Councillor Hodgkinson emphasized that a clear mandate from the parish council would be essential to move forward with banning coaches. “If the parish council votes to request this measure, it would enable Gloucestershire County Council to seriously consider enforcing a coach ban,” he said.
The future of coach access in Bourton-on-the-Water hinges on local council decisions as the village seeks sustainable solutions to balance tourism with community wellbeing.