EXCLUSIVE Crackdown on 'unsafe' tourist coaches in England's 'most beautiful village': Parking restrictions enforced in Cotswold hotspot invaded by 20,000 visitors every weekend
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 picturesque Cotswold village of Bibury can sometimes see as many as 20,000 visitors in a weekend, and up to 50 coaches parking there in a day.
Gloucestershire County Council has now announced a temporary traffic management trial, starting on Friday, for the bank holiday weekend.
It will see the existing coach bays in the village centre temporarily closed and instead bus stops will be installed for safer passenger drop-off and pick-up.
The county council said it had worked with local coach operators, businesses, and the community to introduce the trial in the popular village.
Newly-appointed county council leader Lisa Spivey, who represents the South Cerney division, said: 'The safety of our residents and visitors is paramount.
'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 is a proactive step to prevent accidents and ensure Bibury remains a welcoming and safe destination for all.'
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.
'Any vehicles not parked in compliance with parking restrictions will risk being issued with a parking penalty charge notice.'
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.
Visitors arriving by car are encouraged to use the pay and display car park at the trout farm or on The Street, which offers unrestricted parking.
People living in Bibury, once described by 19th Century writer William Morris as the 'most beautiful village in England', say for much of the year it becomes like the Wild West.
The increase of visitors is partly driven by so-called influencers promoting the tiny villages as perfect day trip destinations from big cities such as London on social media.
Longer-term recommendations from Gloucestershire County Council include looking into prohibiting coaches from stopping and parking in Bibury completely and improving signs to direct them away from its narrow lanes.
The group wants to see if there might be areas outside of the village where coaches could park.
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.
Visitors arriving by car are encouraged to use the pay and display car park at the trout farm or on The Street, which offers unrestricted parking
'We also understand that these proposals may not be popular with coach operators, however we are determined to work to find a solution for coach tourists to be able to visit Bibury but this will take time.
'Therefore, we have attempted to find compromise solutions that offer outcomes which continue to welcome visitors in a managed way, whilst also addressing safety and congestion concerns of the village.'
Parish council chairman Craig Chapman, added: 'Whilst the residents of Bibury acknowledge that we live in a lovely village, the pressures put on us by the sheer volume of tourists visiting and coaches bringing tourists has become intolerable and unacceptable.'
He added: 'Whilst this is the start of action, it is very positive and I am confident it will be appreciated by the community.'
Coaches have already been banned from going into the centre of nearby Bourton-on-the-Water, dubbed the 'Venice of the Cotswolds', because of similar issues to those in Bibury.
The plans sparked a war between locals amid fears that banning coaches could make Bourton-on-the-Water 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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