A proposed temporary solution for coaches to set down and pick up passengers in Bourton-on-the-Water has gained support from members of the Parish Council in what looks to be a significant step towards rebuilding viable coach access to the Cotswold village.
The plans have been drawn up by Gloucestershire County Council (GCC). They involve creation of an on-street drop off and set down space for two coaches on Meadow Way, from where passengers would walk to and from the village centre.
That appears to represent a change of policy from the County Council. It previously said that smoothing coach access to Bourton hinged on finding off-street space for set down and pick up activities, and noted “significant concerns” around any on-street provision. That followed earlier optimism that a solution would be found.
A six-month experimental traffic regulation order would be used to implement the scheme. Coaches would not be permitted to park at the Meadow Way location. Minutes of a Parish Council meeting on 8 January present an expectation that they would do that at Pulhams Coaches’ premises nearby.
The GCC proposal notes that the necessary restriction to create the two-coach space on Meadow Way would be in force seven days per week between 0900-1600hrs. Outside those times, parking would be unrestricted.
Emphasised in draft minutes from a Parish Council meeting on 5 February is that the Meadow Way approach is temporary “to ease congestion while a long-term solution is developed.”
The preferred permanent approach is to establish coach parking and set down and pick up facilities at The Cotswold School, which is near to the Meadow Way location. GCC will now progress the temporary proposals with a view to having them in place by Easter, the Parish Council notes.
A paper from the Bourton Business Network (BBN), which has long advocated facilities for coach traffic in the village, states that while the existing availability of parking at Pulhams’ premises is useful, key to being able to serve Bourton is set down and pick up space.
It says that the Meadow Way approach is viewed as “a decent short-term, interim solution, which can be implemented fairly quickly, at minimal cost to the village” and is one that the Business Network supports.
Although there will be space for only two coaches at Meadow Way, BBN adds that using a timed ‘slot’ system will be impractical.
“However, Pulhams will be receiving bookings for coach parking, and movements… will, to a certain extent, be self-policing as drivers who are gathered at that facility will discuss pick-up times with one another and stagger their arrival at the pick-up point accordingly,” the Network suggests.
It advocates a 10-minute limit for use of the bays and a prohibition on engine idling there. “We think that this is the best option while plans are considered to develop a permanent solution at The Cotswold School.”
Despite the largely positive talk about the temporary solution, some concern has been raised by stakeholders. Those include the Home Manager of the Jubilee Lodge care home, which is adjacent to the proposed coach bay. They have highlighted noise worries.
Another piece of correspondence to the Parish Council claims that in 2024, after closure of the previous Bourton Vale coach park, some coaches used Meadow Way by parking on yellow lines and leaving engines idling.
In the 5 February meeting, five parish councillors voted to support the temporary proposals. Three voted against and there one abstained.
