By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
A temporary solution to Venice of the Cotswolds’ ‘coach parking chaos’ has been thwarted by the presence of underground electricity and telephone lines which stopped workers from installing street signs – making parking restrictions unenforceable.
Gloucestershire Highways had planned to start a trial scheme designed to address the shortage of coach parking facilities in Bourton-on-the-Water in time for Easter.
Coaches have not had a designated parking area since the closure of a privately-owned site at the end of 2023.
This has sparked concerns from villagers as coaches are regularly spotted unloading and picking up passengers in many parts of Bourton – often dangerous places.
Under Gloucestershire County Council’s provisional plan, which is meant to run until the autumn, coaches would have had a designated area to pick up and drop off passengers in a designated on-street parking bay on Meadow Way, near the junction with Station Road.
Visitors would then proceed into the village via The Avenue (next to the Cotswold School) and continue to the High Street.
After a maximum 10-minute drop-off period, coaches would then leave Meadow Way, turn right onto Station Road, then right onto the Fosse Way before reaching the industrial estate where parking will be available at Pulhams Coaches.
This scheme is designed to operate between 9am and 4pm every day, with the parking bays returning to general car parking outside these hours.
Pulhams Coaches would oversee a booking system for coach parking on their premises.
The temporary restrictions, which are being made possible with a six-month experimental traffic regulation order, have been blasted as “insane” by some residents amid fears it could put lives at risk at a nearby care home.
There have also been calls for a public meeting to allow the villagers a say on the proposals. But for the time being the temporary solution is unenforceable.
Last week, highways workers installing the measures came across telephone, street lighting and other electrical cables under the footway next to the area where a parking restriction sign needs to be installed.
It is understood the utilities run all along the length of the pavement which has prevented workers from installing the sign where it is needed.
Without this, the parking restriction is unenforceable.
Cars were pictured parked in the bay marked out for coaches over the weekend. Without the street sign in place, there is no restriction for drivers to park there..
It is understood Gloucestershire Highways carried out all the regular checks for utilities ahead of the works.
And while they identified their presence this does not usually prevent such work from going ahead.
However, the cables are understood to be at quite a shallow depth and are encased in concrete. It is understood highways chiefs are considering an alternative way forward.
Gloucestershire County Council has been approached for comment.