Plans to revive a popular car boot sale near Cheltenham Racecourse have come under scrutiny following a serious “near miss” between a cyclist and a turning vehicle at the site. Reg Daldry, former operator of the Gloucester car boot, has applied to Cheltenham Borough Council for permission to use an existing 18-acre parking area off the A435 Evesham Road for up to 14 days annually.
The site, north of Cheltenham, has been used as parking for racecourse coaches and previously hosted car boot sales until 2014. The proposals specify that sales would only take place on non-race days, with no permanent structures to be installed.
Despite the site’s longstanding use, Gloucestershire Highways officers recommend rejecting the plans on safety grounds. Their primary concern is the conflict between vehicles accessing the site and the new Bishop’s Cleeve to Cheltenham two-way cycle path, built on a downhill slope where cyclists often travel at speed.
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This cycleway is a key segment in Gloucestershire County Council’s £50 million, 26-mile cycle spine connecting Bishop’s Cleeve, Cheltenham, Gloucester, and Stroud. Hundreds of cyclists use parts of this route daily.
According to the highways authority, visibility issues arise from vehicle geometry and blind spots, compounded by queuing traffic and driver focus on road gaps. Drivers entering or leaving the site risk failing to yield to cyclists or stopping across the cycle path, obstructing their movement. A reported serious near-miss incident underscores these risks.
Highways officials also criticized the proposed use of marshals, which they say could introduce unpredictable controls and encourage unnecessary stopping or dismounting by cyclists. This combination creates a high likelihood of collisions, including dangerous rear-end shunts on the busy A435, with potential for serious injury.
Reg Daldry and supporters question these concerns, emphasizing that the parking site has been safely used for three decades. “It doesn’t make sense. The car park has been here for 30 years, and we just can’t understand why it’s suddenly deemed unsafe,” he stated. He highlighted backing from some local councillors and eight written supporters, noting the car boot’s popularity and positive economic and community contributions.
County Councillor Cheryl Agg expressed support for continuing the car boot sales but acknowledged that site access poses challenges. The council’s planning department has yet to make a final decision on the application, while Gloucestershire County Council has been contacted for further comment.