Unblocking the Village: Innovative Parking Solution Through Community Trial Program
BBC – In the picturesque village of Bourton-on-the-Water within the Cotswold region, a solution has been developed to address the issue of limited parking spaces for coaches that bring in tourists. Initially faced with proposals to ban coaches entirely due to concerns about traffic congestion, business owners argued against this move as it would negatively impact their earnings.
A trial plan is set to commence in spring, allowing coach drivers the option of dropping off and picking up passengers from Meadow Way, a location that is conveniently situated approximately 10 minutes away from the village center. County councillor Paul Hodgkinson expressed his hope that this arrangement could prevent coaches from parking haphazardly in various unsafe locations.
Councillor Hodgkinson shared his optimism regarding the trials success and noted discussions have been ongoing for several months to improve traffic conditions within the Gloucestershire village. The six-month pilot program, led by Gloucestershire Highways, will prohibit coaches from entering the village proper but permit them to park at Pulhams Coaches site between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM after passengers have been dropped off at Meadow Way.
According to Mr. Hodgkinson, during drop-off and pick-up operations, drivers would be limited to a maximum of ten minutes per stop. The trials implementation will also monitor potential disruptions around school times to ensure minimal disruption to the local community.
The plan has garnered support from Adam Grime, who operates the Cotswold Motoring Museum. Mr. Grime expressed satisfaction with this resolution, even though it may not be an ideal solution: “We’ve had groups cancelling due to a lack of coach parking options here in the village.” He explained that his business had experienced losses because of these restrictions.
Donna Holland, owner of The Croft restaurant, acknowledged that while the proposed scheme might ease some immediate concerns about traffic congestion within the village center, it wont completely resolve overall parking issues. “The centre gets very congested not just with coaches but cars as well,” she emphasized. She also stated that both coach and car visitors are essential to her business: “I certainly don’t want either of them to stop coming. They’re a huge part of our village.”
A spokesperson from the Gloucestershire County Council highlighted that they anticipate this new drop-off and pick-up system will serve as a temporary solution to alleviate traffic congestion within Bourton-on-the-Water.
Council leader Stephen Davies also underscored the complexity of resolving this issue, which extends beyond just transportation concerns. He emphasized that economic factors must be considered: “This looks like a highways issue, but there are much wider economic issues at play and we’re working with everyone concerned on finding long-term solutions.”
