Residents Endure Chaos from Tourist Influx in the country's Most Snapped Street - Home Invasions by Visitors Recall a Disney-esque Ambiance
In the picturesque village of Bibury, England, a balancing act between tourism and community wellbeing is underway. This idyllic destination, once described by William Morris as the most beautiful village in England, has seen an influx of visitors, particularly since online recommendations have made it a must-see for travellers.
For residents like Lady Anne Evans, who runs a café, shop, and tearoom called Eleven, parking has been a persistent problem since she moved in. Over time, this issue has worsened, with the number of coaches visiting the village rising from 10 to a staggering 90 a day.
The increased coach traffic has caused congestion and damage to the village, with coaches knocking over walls, National Trust property, and pavements. Residents in Bibury's Arlington Row have reported instances of tourists tramping their gardens, peering through windows, and even walking into their homes. Some have even experienced oblivious tourists knocking down walls with their cars and blocking driveways.
Ella Illes, a local resident, believes some tourists treat Bibury as a "Disneyland" or a "museum town," contributing to the congestion and disregard for local property. This perception is shared by Jennifer Bowman, who works in gaming, who believes there is a lack of infrastructure, such as recycling bins, trash bins, and parking, to accommodate the increasing number of tourists.
During peak summer months, cars park on double yellow lines, making it difficult for residents to step out of their houses. This has led to tension between tourists and residents, with some residents feeling their quality of life is being compromised.
In response to these issues, the Bibury Working Parking Group, consisting of Gloucestershire County Council, Cotswold District Council, the police, and Bibury Parish Council, has been making recommendations to restrict access for coaches. The group plans to change the layout of parking bays to stop coaches waiting on the B4425 next to the Swan Bridge in the center of the village. Coaches are now directed to enter and exit the village via specific routes, and parking has been redirected to locations outside Bibury, with ongoing enforcement to manage traffic flow.
Future plans include traffic surveys and potentially installing ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) systems to better control visitor numbers and flows. These measures aim to reduce parking congestion in Bibury itself by limiting parking to short stays while directing longer-term parking to nearby towns, helping to protect the village's character and maintain resident satisfaction.
Despite the challenges, many residents, such as Jason Collard, a builder in Bibury, recognise that the village's landscape and history attract tourists from all over the world, including America, Japan, China, and Italy. Lorraine Spackman, who works at the local shop Eleven, embraces tourists and believes that Arlington Row, with its iconic spot, will always attract tourists.
For Lady Anne Evans, managing the needs of residents and tourists is key to preserving Bibury as an "international" heritage site. Despite occasional inconveniences, she believes the village's unique charm and history make it worth the effort to strike this delicate balance.
- The influx of tourists in Bibury, England, influenced by travel recommendations and its general-news worthiness, has led to a lifestyle challenge, as residents grapple with issues like parking congestion and disregard for local property.
- To maintain community wellbeing and preserve Bibury's picturesque charm, officials are implementing changes in parking arrangements, traffic flow, and possibly ANPR systems, striving to strike a balance between tourism and resident satisfaction, making it an international lifestyle destination for tourists from around the world.
