England’s Idyllic “Most Beautiful Village” Overrun by 20,000 Weekenders, Strains Coach Limits

Parking restrictions are being introduced on tourist coaches entering what has been dubbed England's most beautiful village which is invaded by a huge number of visitors every weekend.

The charming Cotswolds village of Bibury may attract as many as 20,000 tourists over a weekend, with up to 50 buses parked there each day.

Gloucestershire County Council has now announced a temporary traffic management trial, starting on Friday, for the bank holiday weekend.

This will involve closing the current coach bays in the village centre temporarily and setting up bus stops for safer passenger drop-offs and pickups instead.

The county council mentioned that they collaborated with nearby bus companies, businesses, and residents to launch this trial in the bustling village.

Lisa Spivey, the newly-designated head of the county council who oversees the South Cerney ward, stated: "Ensuring the wellbeing of our community members and guests remains our top priority."

'We've seen an increase in unsafe coach movements, particularly reversing into bays without proper guidance, which poses a serious risk to pedestrians and other road users.

'This trial serves as an anticipatory measure to avoid incidents and maintain Bibury as a hospitable and secure locale for everyone.'

The council is urging visitors to park responsibly and use designated parking areas.

'Irresponsible parking not only endangers others but also detracts from the charm and accessibility of this historic village,' a council spokesman said.

'Vehicles not adhering to parking regulations may face penalties and fines.'

As part of the trial, car parking will also be suspended opposite the trout farm to provide a safe area for coaches to drop off and pick up customers.

People driving up are advised to utilize the pay-and-display car park located near the trout farm or opt for parking along The Street, where they can park without restrictions.

Residents of Bibury, which was referred to by the 19th-century author William Morris as 'the most picturesque village in England,' mention that For most of the year, it turns into something akin to the Wild West.

Part of the rise in visitors can be attributed to influencers showcasing these small villages as ideal day-trip locations from major cities like London through social media platforms.

The long-term suggestions put forth by Gloucestershire County Council involve potentially banning coaches from stopping or parking in Bibury altogether and enhancing signage to redirect them away from the village’s slender streets.

The team aims to explore whether there might be locations beyond the village boundaries where coaches would have parking space available.

It also wants to encourage tourists to use other ways of visiting Bibury, such as walking, cycling, using public transport or minibuses.

Councillor Stephen Davies, leader of Gloucestershire County Council, said in March: 'We are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of Bibury residents and visitors.

'The proposed measures will help manage traffic more effectively and enhance the overall experience for everyone.

'We appreciate the community's support and cooperation as we implement these changes.

We recognise that these suggestions might not sit well with bus companies; nonetheless, we are committed to finding a way for tour buses to bring visitors to Bibury. This process will require some time.

'Hence, we have tried to discover balanced resolutions that provide results which still attract visitors in a controlled manner, while also tackling the safety and crowd issues faced by the village.'

The parish council chairman, Craig Chapman, further stated: "Although the people of Bibury recognize that we reside in an attractive village, the strain caused by the large number of visitors arriving, particularly those brought by tourist buses, has grown unbearable and untenable."

He stated: "Although this marks the beginning of the actions, it is quite encouraging, and I have confidence that it will be well-received by the community."

Trainers have already been prohibited from entering the heart of the adjacent Bourton-on-the-Water, also known as the 'Venice of the Cotswolds,' due to comparable problems seen in Bibury.

The proposals ignited conflict among residents due to concerns that prohibiting coaches might turn Bourton-on-the-Water into a 'ghost town'.

Serious parking and congestion issues led to enraged locals calling for the ban as they say Bourton-on-the-Water 'cannot cope' with the huge influx of visitors.

The beautiful village, which is 15 miles east of Cheltenham and has a population of 3,000, was given the 'Venice' label because of the number ornate stone bridges over the River Windrush.

Tens of thousands of tourists flock to the village every year - which is great for traders - but residents were growing increasingly frustrated with the congestion.

Parish and district councillor Jon Wareing last year said Bourton was buckling under the weight of an ever increasing number of daytrippers.

'People can spend an hour in their car, driving around. Some of the ''difficult'' behaviour that follows is because they get frustrated.

'One of my neighbours asked this person not to park on his property and got threatened with violence. He said he knew where they lived if they did anything to his car and threatened to throw a brick through their window.'

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