12 hours ago
‘Tourists are taking over our £650-a-year car park'
Motorists paying almost £650 a year to park claim they are being squeezed out by tourists.
Residents of Tetbury, near King Charles's Highgrove House in Gloucestershire, say they are left fighting with day trippers who pinch spots which should be allocated to them.
The Georgian house, which was built in the late 18th century, is the private residence of the King and Queen. However, the gardens are open to the public between April and October, meaning there is more competition for spaces.
For those who pay £640 for a season ticket to park in West Street car park, this is the hardest time to secure a spot near their homes.
Although half are allocated to them, locals say they always struggle to find a space.
Cotswold district council conceded that a season ticket 'does not guarantee a parking space' despite the price charged and that they are not exclusively available to residents.
Dee Buss, 78, said his disabled neighbour was unable to reach her car for a hospital appointment.
'It's been really bad,' Mr Buss said, 'I have no choice, but the price has just gone up and up and up.
'In the house across, there's an elderly disabled lady who couldn't get her car out because another had been parked over her entry.
'Obviously we're happy to have King Charles over at Highgrove, but there's so many tourists and it seems to leave Tetbury as the car park.'
Steve Tayler, 72, who lives nearby, said: 'It's a problem.
'They're about £600 a year, a hell of a lot, and there's no allocated spots for residents, so it's just a free-for-all.'
John Evans, 87, added: 'I was looking out my kitchen window one day and there was a coach full of tourists that had come from Germany, parked in West Street.
'And because there's a real need for large vehicles to have places to park, I've seen coaches in the car park here. It happens all the time, it's crazy.'
Kenneth Ford, 68, expressed concern that paying £600 a year got residents nothing.
'At the end of the day, like in all these towns, it's set up more for people coming into the town rather than the residents,' he said.
Annie Bowen, 78, was one of those who decided to pay for a permit.
However, she worried about the lack of CCTV and how protected the vehicles were after her car was hit by a Mini whose driver had left it without the handbrake on.
'So, what are we paying for?' she said. 'We're not designated a space. It's not safe, and it's ridiculously expensive.'
Cllr Paul Hodgkinson, from Cotswold district council, said: 'With officers from the council, I have spent time in Tetbury talking to residents, local businesses and other stakeholders, so I have a good understanding of the issues they are facing.
'In recognition of the needs of season ticket holders, half of the standard parking bays in the West Street car park on Old Brewery Lane are allocated to them.
''While we understand that holding a season ticket does not guarantee a parking space and that these tickets are not exclusively for residents, opportunities to expand off-street parking in the town are unfortunately limited.
'In addition, we also provide the Old Railyard car park in Tetbury, which is free of charge. We remain committed to ongoing dialogue with local residents and businesses.'
Highgrove House was contacted for comment.
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