Bourton coach parking – a solution at last

Bourton on the Water, in the heart of the Cotswolds, has had no designated coach parking since early last year after a private car park in the village decided to stop coaches parking in it. This led to a summer of frustration for residents as coaches dropped off passengers in unsafe locations.

Now, Cllr Paul Hodgkinson (GCC, Bourton and Northleach) has brokered a solution which will give coaches a specific drop off and pick up point away from the village centre plus a longer term solution centred on the Cotswold School. 

This week Bourton Parish Council voted to back a Gloucestershire Highways proposal which will see coaches use a new drop off and pick up bay near to the industrial estate. 

Paul said: “Having worked with Gloucestershire Highways, Bourton Business Network, Pulhams Coaches and the Parish Council over the last few months I’m delighted that we have finally reached a solution which will start solving the frustrations everyone has felt on this thorny issue.

“Under the proposal, which Highways have designed, coaches will not enter the main village but will drop off and pick up passengers near to the industrial estate and will then park at Pulhams coaches site. This means that coaches will not cause traffic issues outside the Cotswold School nor around the centre of Bourton and the Rissington Road. This scheme will be piloted by Highways for 6 months and will start in the Spring to cover this year’s tourist season.

“Longer term, the Cotswold School is looking at ways to improve its own parking on site, create better sports pitches and enable coaches to park too which will then provide a permanent coach parking solution. I’m actively supporting the School in achieving that.

“I hope that this will take the heat out of this issue, give residents some peace of mind and also help businesses who employ local people.”