Fears Cotswold Lib Dems 'want to ban tourists' amid row as England's 'prettiest village' is 'sick to death' of traffic chaos

A row has broken out amid accusations that the Liberal Democrats want to ban people from visiting the Cotswolds as residents are “sick to death” of traffic problems in England’s prettiest village. Bibury, which is deemed as one of the country’s prettiest village and ranks among the most picturesque in the world, has been suffering from overcrowding for years.

Misleading social media posts often show a tranquil Arlington Row with very few visitors. However, the day-to-day reality villagers have to endure includes regular traffic jams and illegal parking across most of Bibury.

Overtourism in some parts of the Cotswolds is so bad the District Council actively avoids promoting certain locations in its tourism strategy. The idea of a coach ban has been mooted in places such as Bibury and Bourton-on-the-Water.

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And the issue came up in a debate over civic pride in Gloucestershire last week. Highways cabinet member Dom Morris (C, Fairford and Lechlade) said he was glad the Liberal Democrats recognised that Gloucestershire is a beautiful county.

But said it was a shame their tourism strategy is “trying to ban people” from visiting Gloucestershire. “I’m delighted that opposition members recognise we live in a beautiful county,” the Conservative said.

“What a shame that their illiberal non-strategy on tourism is trying to ban people from coming to Gloucestershire. I’m working really hard to find a better way of dealing with that.

Cotswold District Council leader Joe Harris (LD, Cirencester Beeches), who is also a county councillor, told those present that the issue of tourism was a "wider debate".

But Cllr Paul Hodgkinson (LD, Bourton-on-the-Water and Northleach), who is a cabinet member on the district council, said the Lib Dems were standing up for residents of Bibury. “The portfolio holder for highways mentioned we wanted to ban people,” he said.

“I think what he is referring to obtusely is the fact we are standing up for the residents of Bibury who are sick to death of some of the issues with coaches there and we are listening to that community, which he isn’t.

North Cotswold MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, who represents Bibury, agreed with his Conservative colleagues at Shire Hall. He said even if a coach ban were practicably possible, they would still travel to the village and stop in inappropriate locations.

Sir Geoffrey said a better solution would be to find suitable alternative parking provision in Bibury with bookable arrival and departure slots.

“This will continue to create real health and safety issues as well as causing general congestion for everyone,” he said. “A much better option would be to find suitable alternative parking provision with bookable arrival and departure slots.

“This would control and limit the movement of coaches that could travel to both destinations. I support the proposal from the Highways cabinet member to set up a ‘cross organisation’ working group involving all stakeholders.

“[This will] explore a number of different options to manage the problem of tourism in Bibury and appeal to the Liberal Democrats to work constructively with the Parish, District and County councils to find workable and sustainable solutions. Otherwise, this problem will continue to fester as it has done for far too long.”

In August, Lib Dem-run Cotswold District Council recognised and pledged to tackle the "overtourism nightmare" affecting nearby Bourton-on-the-Water. Villagers there have had to put up with a coach parking “free for all” and angry visitors.

The picturesque village, which has been dubbed the ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’ is among the areas so popular with tourists, the District Council actively avoids promoting the place.

Being full of tourists is a familiar sight for Bourton but parking and traffic congestion problems have been exacerbated this year by the closure of the designated parking area for coaches.

Bourton residents complain the coach parking 'free for all' is causing traffic nightmares and some faced 'threats of violence' from angry visitors during busy times earlier this year.