Tourism row in crowded Cotswolds village as visitors 'park for free and bring picnics'

A group battling against overtourism in Bourton-on-the-Water claims many tourists add little or nothing to its economy. The picture postcard village, often called the ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’, has been bursting at the seams in recent years. Many residents say the infrastructure is not there to cope with the thousands of visitors who now come all year round and not just in the summer. A group called Bourton Residents Voice was formed in September last year to try to get something done about the issue. Now its chair person, Charlotte Joynes, has spoken out in a strongly-worded statement on behalf of the group as peak season arrives. Some businesses in Bourton do not believe too many tourists visit it, saying the money they take in the warmer months enables them to get through the colder ones when trade is slow. Last year traders and tourists defended its popularity among TikTokers, with one shopkeeper warning that without tourists Bourton would turn into a "ghost town". But Bourton Residents Voice (BRV) believes far too many people now descend on the village from early in the morning until late into the evening. Charlotte said: “Only a small percentage of businesses in Bourton are tourist led and the others struggle to keep appointment times or pop home for a lunch break as they are held up in traffic chaos. “The type of visitor has changed over recent years and many bring nothing or very little to our village economy. They park on residential streets for free, bring their own picnics, leaving residents to pay for litter removal, and instead of visiting attractions just stick to the village centre.” She added that in previous years, day trippers were happy to spend money on eating and drinking in Bourton’s pubs, cafes and restaurants but now many brought their own food and ate it on the village green. She also said: “Many residents have problems with traffic congestion, parking and the sheer amount of people on our narrow paths. Nobody can deny that we live in a beautiful village but there is no infrastructure put in place to manage such vast numbers of people. “Our elderly residents are struggling to negotiate paths with walking frames/mobility aids to access local amenities. “Our district nurses are unable to visit as many residents in their own homes as they once could, as they are stuck in traffic queues from one end of the village to another.” Gloucestershire County Council launched a public engagement exercise on Monday, (July 13) giving everyone the chance to share their views and help shape the authority’s future plans for Bourton. The county council says it is reviewing parking arrangements, coach services and pedestrian movement to better balance the needs of residents, businesses, visitors and commuters in the village. The exercise is being delivered in partnership with Bourton-on-the-Water Parish Council and Cotswold District Council.