A trial which saw the replacement of coach parking spots with drop-off and pick-up points in Bibury is set to form the basis of a permanent arrangement, if Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) goes ahead with its latest proposal.
Calls by a local action group to ban coaches from the “over-touristed” Cotswolds village led to the one-month-long temporary measure in May and June.
The council says the trial was successful and is proposing to replace the car park near Swan Bridge (pictured above) with a coach and bus stop clearway, short-stay limited waiting, and disabled parking provision.
It is inviting responses to its plan – part of a package of new traffic-management measures – via a survey, which will be open until 3 December. Council officers are also receiving feedback from locals at three meetings in Bibury in November.
While the trial involved only two coach drop-off and pick-up bays, the proposed plan involves room for four coaches.
Bibury has seen an increase in coach visitors since the closure of the coach park in Bourton-on-the-Water in December 2023.
Bibury Parish Council is pushing to “reduce coach sizes”. GCC says the village’s “narrow roads and lack of formal parking controls have led to severe traffic congestion and safety risks”.
GCC says: “The village is one of the most picturesque villages in the Cotswolds National Landscape and a popular destination cared for in part by the National Trust. The plans aim to better manage the high number of visitors drawn to Bibury’s charm, while also enhancing the quality of life for those who live and work in the village.”
