The UK Coach Operators Association (UKCOA) is urging the industry to object to a planned Traffic Regulations Order (TRO) which would restrict coach access in Burford, Oxfordshire.
Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) is consulting on a move which would prevent coaches and buses of more than 12m in length from entering the town’s Priory Lane, which has 7m parking bays.
The Council is pushing ahead with the restrictions because it says large PSVs are blocking access to residents’ properties and making dangerous manoeuvres in a very restricted area.
OCC also wants to extend double yellow lines on Priory Lane such that one of the existing bays is removed and formalise the “School Keep Clear” markings with a “No Stopping 8am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday” restriction.
UKCOA says such a TRO would negatively impact tourism in the area and the local economy.
It would come as a further blow to coach tourism in the Cotswolds following the closure at the end of 2024 of the parking area in Bourton on the Water, just 20 minutes’ drive away, following which Burford has been seen as an alternative for some trips.
The trade body has issued its members a letter template to use to petition the council before the consultation period ends on 3 January. The document concludes: “The proposed restrictions will harm the local economy, increase congestion, and negatively impact residents without offering adequate alternatives for coaches.
“I strongly urge the Council to reconsider these plans and work with stakeholders to develop a more balanced and inclusive approach.”
