Cotswold District Council is currently engaged in discussions with the owner of the Station Road coach park, advice Bourton-on-the-Water, buy and other interested parties – including the local Parish Council, the Visitor Information Centre and the Chamber of Commerce – to review the future provision of coach parking in the village. This follows a recent announcement from the coach park owner, stating that he would cease to accommodate coaches after 30 November.
Cllr Chris Hancock, CDC’s Cabinet Member for Enterprise and Partnerships, is hopeful that a workable permanent solution will be found to ensure the continuation of coach parking in the village:
“We have had some very positive discussions with the Station Road coach park owner and other key stakeholders, and we are working to find an acceptable solution which will ensure the continuous provision of coach parking in Bourton. We know that local traders benefit very much from coach visits and we are treating this issue as a high priority.
“It is clear that any option we implement cannot be put in place by 30 November, and for this reason the owner has kindly agreed to extend his closure deadline until the end of January 2016. This means that the Station Road coach park will welcome coaches during the festive season, including the annual Christmas Fayre/lights switch-on event on 4 December.”
As negotiations between the interested parties continue, the Council is hoping to deliver a permanent solution as soon as practicable.