By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
A temporary solution to Bourton-on-the-Water’s coach parking “hell” has been blasted as “insane” amid concerns from a nearby care home it will put lives at risk.
Bourton-on-the-Water parish council voted to support a proposal put forward by Gloucestershire County Council highways and County Councillor Paul Hodgkinson (LD, Bourtn and Northleach) on February 5.
Those behind the scheme say it is designed to address the “nightmare” shortage of coach parking facilities following the closure of a privately-owned site at the end of 2023.
But it has sparked serious concerns from bosses at Jubilee Lodge care home who fear the high volume of traffic on such a narrow road would mean emergency services will not be able to get through which could result in people dying.
Under this provisional plan, coaches will be allowed to pick up and drop off passengers in a designated on-street parking bay on Meadow Way, near the junction with Station Road.
Visitors will 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.
Here, 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 will oversee a booking system for coach parking on their premises.
The initiative is being rolled out under a six-month experimental traffic regulation order, allowing for continuous evaluation and adjustments if necessary.
But the manager of Jubilee Lodge care home on Meadow Way has written to the parish council raising concerns coaches could block emergency vehicles and people could die as a result.
“My concerns are that we have vulnerable residents some on end of life care, the noise pollution of the coaches along with the noise level of excited visitors exiting the coaches and then hanging around on a very narrow pathway awaiting pick up, will not only be disruptive to our residents but also those visiting loved ones,” the manager said.
“As mentioned, the pathway is very narrow and many of our visitors require the use of wheelchairs and other mobility aids, I feel that space will be extremely limited for those trying to access our homes.
“As you are aware the parking outside Jubilee Lodge is used by families taking and picking their children to and from school, where will these parents now park?
“My biggest concern is that due to a high volume of traffic and with such a narrow road to and from Jubilee lodge the emergency services will not be able to get through which could ultimately result in death.”
And a Station Meadow resident said the new proposal for coach parking is insane.
“We struggle with them there as it is let alone if you turn it into a drop off point,” they said in an email to the parish council.
The controversial temporary solution split the parish council vote with five in favour, three against and one abstention.
The village’s two Cotswold District Councillors Jon Wareing (LD, Bourton Village) and Len Wilkins (C, Bourton Vale) were among those voting against.
They said in a joint statement that the vote was taken despite no guarantees about the enforcement provisions that are essential to make the experimental TRO work.
Both said there was an assurance that the pilot TRO can be stopped at any point in the event that it is too disruptive, but they are concerned there is no mechanism for doing so.
They say this is because there is no clear criteria for evaluation of whether it is working well or disastrously and no specified means of determining whether it is adding to an already heavily congested part of the traffic infrastructure of Bourton at the end of the school day.
“[There was] no consideration for the views and feelings of the management, residents and families of residents of Jubilee Lodge which provides individualised dementia, nursing, intermediate and respite care for up to 74 residents.
“No consideration on the potential negative impact on safety of coach loads of visitors occupying an already busy stretch of pavement used by schoolchildren and parents often with buggies, at the end of the school day.”
The councillors also warned the scheme depends on coach drivers complying with signage instructions, despite ample evidence suggesting these instructions are likely to be disregarded.
And the scheme inclueds “a preparedness to gamble on the risk of increased congestion causing economic harm to the industrial estate”.
“Coach parking has been one of the most weighty, time consuming and divisive topics in front of the council in the last few years,” they said.
“One might therefore think that it would merit a thoroughly comprehensive and considered thought process before moving to a vote.
“Residents, quite justifiably, should have expectations of a high level of scrutiny and debate on issues demanding leadership in the community on their behalf.
“In our view, the lack of diligence in scrutinising the proposal and failure to obtain clarity on the above points, prior to a vote, was not only mysterious and surprising, but meant that it was impossible to give it our confident support.
“An unfortunate consequence of the way this decision unfolded is to give encouragement to to those who perceive Bourton Parish Council to always roll over in the face of tourism business interests.
“As holders of public office we should be open and objective, taking decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.
“It is in the spirit of openness that we take this opportunity to shine a light on legitimate concerns that remain unaddressed.
“The jubilant tones struck in some of the media coverage trumpeting a solution to ‘coach-parking hell’ following the vote, seem both ill-judged and premature.
“Simply moving the pinch-point of unbearable visitor coach congestion to another unsuitable location in the village is not a solution.
“It manifestly does not address the root cause of the problem and there is no assurance that it even addresses the symptoms.
“But it will involve GCC spending public monies at a time when council budgets are under enormous pressure.
“It bears repeating. Bourton does not have the road infrastructure to cope with the excessive volumes of visitor vehicles that we experience throughout the year.”
GCC Highways has invited feedback from the parish council and local residents during the period.
To ensure smooth traffic flow, two ‘Keep Clear’ markings will be installed on Station Road to assist coaches in making right turns from Meadow Way.
Additionally, signage will be placed to guide both pedestrians and coach drivers, and parking enforcement measures will be in place.
County Council leader Stephen Davies (C, Hardwicke and Severn) confirmed it is a highways proposal but it is not the long-term solution.
“The proposal we are making is a county council proposal which came out of a working roup we set up,” he said.
“It’s not a long-term solution, it’s a temporary solution to alleviate the current problem while we work with all those involved including the parish and the district.
“The long-term solution will probably need more work and that will involve discussions with the local businesses as well.
“It is a county council initiative, it is supported by the Conservative group. But it is an interim solution while we work on the next level of solution. “