Calls for coach ban in ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’
The “Venice of the Cotswolds” is now calling for a ban on coaches in the village centre amid concerns about “Disneyfication” overtourism fears.
Around 100 residents in Bourton-on-the-Water voiced their concerns about overtourism at a meeting in front of Shire Hall and District chiefs in November.
And this week the Parish Council voted to request an experimental traffic regulation order (ETRO) to restrict coach access into Station Road from the Fosseway, Rissington Road and the Steeps.
The motion marks a significant step in Bourton’s ongoing efforts to address long-standing resident concerns about the impact of high volumes of coach traffic on key routes through the village.
District Councillor Jon Wareing (LD, Bourton Village), who has campaigned over the issue in recent years, encouraged parish councillors to support the proposal to ask Gloucestershire County Council for the ETRO.
“This is not a new position,” he said. “
The Parish Council previously supported similar measures in 2024, reflecting sustained public concern about congestion, safety and quality of life impacts linked to unrestricted coach access through the village centre.”
He added that the context has now changed, with clearer understanding that enforcement is achievable, including through Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology.
This is seen as removing one of the historic barriers to progressing traffic restrictions.
Cllr Wareing said all parties need to start to work together to find a workable long-term solution similar to those applied in places such as Clovelly, St Ives, York, Bath, Oxford and Cambridge.
He added that the decision should be seen as a starting point for tackling the wider systemic challenge of the large number of visitors arriving in vehicles in Bourton each year.
“It’s not just coaches – it’s cars as well,” he said.
“People often refer to Bourton as the Venice of the Cotswolds.
“Venice is widely seen as unsustainable because visitor numbers overwhelm a small, fragile historic city – pushing out residents, damaging heritage and infrastructure, and putting pressure on the environment, retail and public services.
“The same risks exist here. We could become Venice in the Cotswolds in terms of the impact on our heritage village.
“We need to reverse the ‘Disneyfication’ of Bourton and develop a regenerative approach, where tourism is managed deliberately to support local life rather than displace it.”
County Councillor Paul Hodgkinson (LD, Bourton-on-the-Water and Northleach) said he shared residents’ frustration with some of the coaches not using the drop off and pick up point in Meadow Way.
He said Shire Hall is reviewing the effectiveness of the temporary solution which was designed to take coach traffic away from the village.
“We are reviewing the effectiveness of that this week and will do so again in May. It’s really important that all coaches use the point legally,” he said.
“I am committed to making sure residents are safe and that coaches cause the minimum disruption, whilst helping local businesses to be successful.
“At the County Council we will definitely take this request seriously and I’ll be talking to council officers about how it could work.”