Coach parking trial halted due to road sign issues
BBCPlans for a new coach parking trial in a popular beauty spot have been temporarily halted, because workers cannot install road signs.
Gloucestershire County Council hoped to launch the scheme in Cotswolds village Bourton-on-the-Water this Easter to avoid coaches parking dangerously leading to flashpoints.
But the scheme has been halted after workers came across electrical cables under the pavement next to the area where a parking restriction sign was to be installed.
The council says it is looking at options to resolve the issue.
Bourton has not had a designated parking area for coaches since the end of 2023 when a privately owned site closed, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Since then lots of tour operators have dropped the village from their trips.
The lack of parking has also caused traffic issues, with some residents saying local roads have become "choked" with cars and coaches.
Under plans for the six-month trial, coaches were not allowed to enter the village but could drop passengers at Meadow Way, which is a 10-minute walk to the centre.
But, some residents said the proposals were "insane" amid fears it could put lives at risk at a nearby care home.
There have also been calls for a public meeting to give villagers a say on the plans.
It is understood the wires run all along the length of the pavement, preventing the necessary signs from going in anywhere in the vicinity, so highways chiefs are considering an alternative way forward.
However, a long-term plan is in the works, which could involve coaches parking in Cotswold School.
A spokesperson for Gloucestershire County Council said: "Unfortunately, the location of a buried cable has forced us to delay the start of the coach parking trial in Bourton-on-the-Water as we are unable to install signs as intended.
"We are currently investigating options to resolve this issue to allow us to start the trial as soon as possible."
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