By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
A Cotswold civic chief has quit in protest over the way a controversial coach parking scheme debate in Bourton-on-the-Water was handled.
Councillor Jon Wareing has resigned amid concerns “legitimate public health and safety” anxieties over the stop-gap solution for Meadow Way were ignored during a recent special Bourton Parish Council.
Gloucestershire County Council is rolling out a temporary drop off and pick up scheme in the popular Cotswold village which has the support of the parish council.
An extraordinary meeting was called by three councillors to hear public concerns over the proposal and for the parish council to consider withdrawing its support for the temporary proposals.
However, this move was voted down by the parish council despite what Cllr Waring says are concerns from residents and coach operators about the safety and practicality of the scheme.
He said coach operators have described the scheme “ill-thought-through and could be prone to operational disasters’” and “the site that they have chosen is right at the junction so it’s not safe”.
Cllr Wareing said: “I decided to withdraw from being a parish councillor over the way in which the Meadow Way experimental traffic regulation order has been handled.
“It’s not about agreeing or disagreeing with the outcome per se, it’s about the refusal to go through a robust process of analysis of the pros and cons to get to a democratic outcome.
“Specifically, there was no discussion or debate about the legitimate anxieties of residents about the scheme. In particular, their public health and safety concerns.
“The concerns of some coach operators about the safety and workability of the scheme and subsequent withdrawal of some coach services as a direct consequence. The nonsensical, baffling and frankly self-defeating negative impact of the scheme on the visitor experience.
“It’s important that as a member of an organisation or a team one can sign up to decisions made as a collective because you believe the process to arrive at a decision has been rigorous and robust, irrespective of the outcome.
“In all conscience, I don’t believe the process was at all thorough in considering all perspectives and then weighting these properly. The lack of acknowledgement, by Council, of residents’ concerns about, and opposition to, the Meadow Way scheme was particularly disappointing.
“This was a clear opportunity missed to live into the council’s new mission which is: ‘working together to ensure community is at the heart of everything we do.’
Cllr Wareing, who will continue to represent Bourton Village on Cotswold District Council, says he will explore the possibility of creating a residents’ association.
He says this will be done with the aim of “listening to residents and making a positive impact in reversing the degradation of our social, natural and economic environment, to build a stronger, resilient and more sustainable community.
“I think residents need an organised voice in the same way that Tourism businesses in Bourton got organised.
“Residents who may be interested in forming a Residents’ Association, to create an organised voice for Bourton, can get in touch by email: jon.wareing@cotswold.gov.uk and I will support them in taking this idea forward.”
Bourton Parish Council declined to comment.