A proposal to build a coach and car park in Bibury, touted as England’s ‘prettiest village’, has been withdrawn due to significant public opposition and insufficient details. Max Thomas, the owner of the trout farm in Bibury, sought planning permission from Cotswold District Council for the development of a new car park to accommodate both coaches and cars on the outskirts of the village.
The picturesque village, famous for its iconic Arlington Row, has been grappling with overtourism-related problems, attracting thousands of visitors daily from all corners of the world. In response to the congestion issues during peak times, measures including the potential prohibition of coaches from the village center were being considered.
However, Thomas’s proposal to establish the car park in a field off the B4425 at Arlington Pike, to the west of central Bibury, has been retracted. The suggested pay-as-you-use car park, intended to accommodate 80 to 100 vehicles, was planned to be a mere ten-minute walk or a short shuttle drive from the village center, complementing the existing 150-space car park at the trout farm. The plan involved renting the space from a local farmer, which is also no longer available.
READ MORE: Gloucestershire Death Notices and Funeral Announcements
READ MORE: Exercise Improves Quality of Life for Cancer Patients
Bibury Parish Council chairman, Craig Chapman, highlighted the withdrawal of the plans after the landowner retracted their offer upon realizing the strong local resistance. Planning officials also cited insufficient information on the car park’s specifications, suggesting potential rejection had it not been withdrawn.
Chapman emphasized that the proposed car park did not enjoy the support of the majority of the village residents. He noted that the village is already inundated with tourists, and introducing a new car park at the proposed site would only exacerbate the existing problems. He underscored the need to address overtourism by managing the current influx of visitors before considering the addition of more facilities that could potentially attract further traffic.