The coach parking bays in Bibury, Gloucestershire, will close as of tomorrow (23 May) as part of what Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) says is a “temporary” trial to “prioritise public safety”.
The two bays near Swan Bridge in the village are being converted into drop-off and pick-up stops.
The council is recommending that, after dropping off, coach drivers turn around at Cirencester Services, which is around six miles away, and then use a layby near Barnsley, which is around half way back to Bibury.
It follows GCC’s recommendations earlier this year to ban coaches from the centre of the village altogether. That followed claims that an influx of coaches was causing congestion and safety concerns.
Longer-term prospects for coaches in the village may depend on the outcome of the trial, which is due to last a month but may be extended if it is deemed successful. If the council’s plan outlined in March is carried through, new coach parking sites outside the village will be sought.
The situation in Bibury and similar issues in nearby Burford are understood to have been exacerbated by the removal of coach parking at another Cotswold hotspot of Bourton-on-the-Water. The development there in December 2023 has seen tour operators look elsewhere in the Cotswolds.
During the trial, coach drivers are being encouraged by the council to enter Bibury from the east and collect from the westbound bay opposite.
Tom Benjamin, Director of Go Cotswolds, which runs guided minibus tours in the area, is optimistic it will provide a solution but is concerned that the drop-off/pick-up bays will not be available when his drivers use them – starting with a planned trip tomorrow.
“It should be okay, providing that no coaches stop and linger there…” he says. “All we can see happening is that coaches will arrive, see that there is a big bay to drop off and just park there… My concern is, without a viable option for those coaches to go out of the village and park anywhere, they’re just going to linger there and block those spots.”
Regarding the ongoing coach parking situation in the village, he adds: “The issue, half the time, is that cars park in the coach parking bays. Car parking there has been atrocious for years.”
GCC says it has collaborated closely with local coach operators, businesses, and community stakeholders in forming this plan.
Cllr Lisa Spivey, division member for South Cerney, says: “The safety of our residents and visitors is paramount.
“We’ve seen an increase in unsafe coach movements, particularly reversing into bays without proper guidance, which poses a serious risk to pedestrians and other road users.
“This trial is a proactive step to prevent accidents and ensure Bibury remains a welcoming and safe destination for all.”
