Coach Parking Solution Could 'Result in Death,' Warns Care Home Manager

 Coach Parking Solution Could 'Result in Death,' Warns Care Home Manager

A proposed temporary solution to address coach parking shortages in Bourton-on-the-Water has raised serious safety concerns, with the manager of a local care home warning that it could result in "death."

Following the closure of a coach parking site in 2023, Gloucestershire County Council put forward a provisional plan that would allow coaches to pick up and drop off passengers along Meadow Way. However, the manager of Jubilee Lodge care home expressed alarm that this could block emergency vehicles, potentially putting residents and visitors at risk.

The proposal has sparked controversy, with a divided vote in the parish council over whether to support it. Of the council members, five were in favor, three were against, and one abstained. Stephen Davies, leader of Gloucestershire County Council, admitted that the long-term solution would "probably need more work."

Temporary Plan for Coach Parking

The plan allows coaches to use Meadow Way for a 10-minute drop-off period, after which they would proceed onto Station Road, then turn onto the Fosse Way before reaching the industrial estate. Pulhams Coaches, the main coach operator, would have parking available at the industrial estate between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM daily.

While this would address the immediate shortage of coach parking, the care home manager raised alarm about the impact on Jubilee Lodge. In a letter to the parish council, the manager cited the "noise pollution" from coaches and their passengers, which would disrupt the care home residents, many of whom rely on mobility aids to move around.

The biggest concern, however, was that the narrow roads in the area would prevent emergency services from accessing the care home during a crisis. "Due to a high volume of traffic and such a narrow road to and from Jubilee Lodge, the emergency services will not be able to get through, which could ultimately result in death," the manager wrote.

Opposition to the Proposal

Bourton-on-the-Water’s district councillors, John Wareing and Len Wilkins, also voiced opposition to the plan. They criticized the proposal for not adequately considering the needs of Jubilee Lodge’s residents, visitors, and employees, as well as schoolchildren and parents who use the busy pavement in the area. "Simply moving the pinch-point of unbearable visitor coach congestion to another unsuitable location in the village is not a solution," they said in a joint statement.

The plan has also been met with skepticism from some locals, who argue that relocating coach parking would just shift the problem rather than solving it.

Looking Ahead

Despite the concerns, Davies maintained that the plan was a "temporary" measure designed to alleviate the current parking issues while a more permanent solution is worked out. The county council has invited feedback from Bourton-on-the-Water residents during this trial period, which will last for six months.

While a long-term solution is still being developed, there is growing pressure to find a better approach that accommodates the needs of residents, businesses, and tourists without compromising safety.

As the debate continues, the future of Bourton-on-the-Water’s coach parking solution remains uncertain, and local authorities are under increasing scrutiny to balance the needs of a bustling tourist destination with the safety of its residents.