Latest news with #Tetbury
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Telegraph
‘We're being squeezed out of our £600-a-year car park by tourists'
Motorists paying almost £650 a year to park claim they are being squeezed out by tourists. Residents of Tetbury, near King Charles' 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 locals, they 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. 'Tetbury seems to be a car park' Dee Buss, 78, said the parking situation left his disabled neighbour unable to reach their car to go to a hospital appointment. 'It's been really bad,' he 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 gets people 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.'
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Furious neighbours of King Charles's Highgrove say they have nowhere to leave their cars due to hordes of tourists - despite paying for one of Britain's most expensive parking permits
Furious neighbours of King Charles 's country home say they have nowhere to park because of hordes of tourists visiting the estate. Residents living in Tetbury, Gloucestershire, near Highgrove House, pay for one of Britain's most expensive parking permits. But despite the hefty fee of £640 they can't park their vehicles outside their homes and claim the town is used as a 'car park'. '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,' explained resident Steve Tayler, 72. Another resident, Kenneth Ford, 68, added: 'Personally I think it's a lot of money to be paying. 'If you go somewhere with your car you have nothing to say that you had that space. 'So every time you go somewhere and come back you could not have a space, so you could be paying the £600 a year for 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.' Despite the hefty fee of £640 residents can't park their vehicles outside their homes and claim the town is used as a 'car park' The price of the permits are double the cost of some of London's most expensive boroughs. And only half of the spaces in West Street are allocated to locals, meaning they struggle to find a place to park. John Evans, 87, said: '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.' Dee Buss, 78, added: 'It has really been bad. 'I have no choice but to buy a permit because parking in the street is nigh on impossible. 'This my eighth year with the parking permit and the price has just gone up and up and up. 'We have a situation where because we have so many Airbnb's and second homes, people literally park where they see a space without thinking. 'In the house across, there's an elderly disabled lady who had a hospital appointment on Saturday but 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.' However, the council does provide free parking for all at the Old Railway Yard car park in the town. Councillor Paul Hodgkinson, portfolio holder for parking at Cotswold District Council, said: 'With officers from the council, I have spent time in Tetbury talking to residents, local businesses and other stakeholders so 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 rail yard carpark in Tetbury which is free of charge. We remain committed to ongoing dialogue with local residents and businesses.' The estate, bought in 1980, is the private residence of King Charles and Queen Camilla. The house runs public tours for charity from April to October. And the gardens are managed by The King's Foundation, the charitable organisation which oversees all of Charles' philanthropic initiatives. They attract more than 40,000 visitors a year with proceeds being ploughed back into the Foundation's work promoting traditions heritage skills and building sustainable communities.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Yahoo
'We can never park despite permits pricier than London'
Locals in a picturesque Cotswold town have called for action over "nightmare" parking – with permits costing double that of London's wealthiest boroughs. Residents of Tetbury's ancient narrow streets, who have no option to park outside their homes, pay more than £600 a year for a parking permit. But, despite paying this sum, they do not have allocated spaces and say they are often unable to find a place to park near their homes. Councillor Paul Hodgkinson from Cotswold District Council said opportunities to expand off-street parking in the town were "unfortunately limited". Everyone we spoke to holds a season ticket to park in Tetbury's West Street car park, which costs £640 a year. This compares to £257 a year for vehicles in the highest emission band in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and £321 in Westminster. Susan Pillinger, who lives on a road in Tetbury with five cottages – and no space for cars – described parking as an "absolute nightmare". She said: "It's a constant worry because, if you go out, are you going to find anywhere to park when you come back?" David Pearson told BBC Radio Gloucestershire that he was well aware of the limited parking before moving to the area, but said "we didn't expect a 30% rise in the cost of a permit and also an increase in tourists". "Frankly in London you can get it for a third of the price and they have the same problems [with] narrow streets," he said. Ms Pillinger said she "wouldn't mind paying the money so much if we had an actual designated space". They have all called on the council to ensure that spaces in car parks near their homes are held for residents. The council's Mr Hodgkinson said half of the bays in West Street car park were allocated to season ticket holders. However, visitors are still able to use these spaces. The council does provide free parking at the Old Railyard car park in the town. But resident Derek Mills said this was situated about 15 minutes from his home, meaning it was "not feasible" for people with limited mobility. "My wife is disabled, so there is absolutely no way I could park there and expect her to walk back," he added. Mr Hodgkinson said the council "remain committed to ongoing dialogue" with locals and businesses. Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. New traffic rules as village faces 'overtourism' Air pollution measures dropped after 20 years Cotswold District Council
BBC News
25-05-2025
- BBC News
'Nightmare permits pricier than London – and we can still never park'
Locals in a picturesque Cotswold town have called for action over "nightmare" parking – with permits costing double that of London's wealthiest boroughs. Residents of Tetbury's ancient narrow streets, who have no option to park outside their homes, pay more than £600 a year for a parking permit. But, despite paying this sum, they do not have allocated spaces and say they are often unable to find a place to park near their Paul Hodgkinson from Cotswold District Council said opportunities to expand off-street parking in the town were "unfortunately limited". Everyone we spoke to holds a season ticket to park in Tetbury's West Street car park, which costs £640 a year. This compares to £257 a year for vehicles in the highest emission band in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and £321 in Westminster. Susan Pillinger, who lives on a road in Tetbury with five cottages – and no space for cars – described parking as an "absolute nightmare". She said: "It's a constant worry because, if you go out, are you going to find anywhere to park when you come back?" David Pearson told BBC Radio Gloucestershire that he was well aware of the limited parking before moving to the area, but said "we didn't expect a 30% rise in the cost of a permit and also an increase in tourists"."Frankly in London you can get it for a third of the price and they have the same problems [with] narrow streets," he said. Ms Pillinger said she "wouldn't mind paying the money so much if we had an actual designated space".They have all called on the council to ensure that spaces in car parks near their homes are held for residents. 'Not feasible' The council's Mr Hodgkinson said half of the bays in West Street car park were allocated to season ticket holders. However, visitors are still able to use these spaces. The council does provide free parking at the Old Railyard car park in the resident Derek Mills said this was situated about 15 minutes from his home, meaning it was "not feasible" for people with limited mobility. "My wife is disabled, so there is absolutely no way I could park there and expect her to walk back," he added. Mr Hodgkinson said the council "remain committed to ongoing dialogue" with locals and businesses.
BBC News
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
King Charles given special pie as part of ancient tradition
A sculptor who carved a stone pie for King Charles as part of a tradition dating back to the Middle Ages says it was an "honour".Since before the 1200s, the city of Gloucester traditionally sent a lamprey pie to the reigning monarch each Christmas - a custom that faded in the 19th Century. Now, the pie is baked only for special royal Harrison, 58, was tasked with creating a stone lamprey pie to mark King Charles' Coronation, which took place in May said: "I am part of history going back before 1200s. How crazy is that? What an honour." Ms Harrison told BBC Radio Gloucestershire the pie's stones had come from 12th Century Llanthony Secunda Priory and it had taken her 64 hours to sculpt."The King likes upcycled things," she said."I recycled the stone into a lamprey pie. Llanthony Priory sent King Henry VIII a pie to Windsor Castle in 1530." She has yet to hear from the King about what he thinks of her will now be on display in the gardens of the King's residents in Highgrove, Tetbury.
