‘England’s prettiest village’ to stop tourists paddling in picturesque river

Residents of “England’s prettiest village” have become so fed up with tourists paddling in its shallow river that they are set to put up fencing to stop visitors from entering the water.

Tensions between locals and tourists continue to grow in Bibury in the Cotswolds, where thousands of visitors from all over the world descend on the 627-population village to see its famous honey-coloured stone homes, including the iconic row of weavers’ cottages at Arlington Row.

The village’s appeal goes back to the 19th century, when textile designer and writer William Morris described it as the “most beautiful village in England”, while Japanese emperor Hirohito later called it a “sacred place”.

Last year it was even named the “world’s most beautiful village” by Forbes magazine.

But for many locals, the tourism has its drawbacks, with the area’s narrow roads often clogged up with cars, minibuses and coaches at weekends. Parking is also an issue, with wardens issuing fines worth up to £45,000 last year.

Now councillors in the parish have raised fears over the environmental impact of tourists entering the River Coln, a picturesque shallow waterway that runs through the heart of the village and is crossed by the historic stone Swan Bridge.

According to council minutes, members said that over the summer tourists were not only paddling in the water but also putting up chairs to sit in it. This, they said, could impact the wildlife, including swans and ducks which live in the area.

As a result, councillors want to fence off the river bank next to Swan Bridge by a coach drop-off point. Discussions are also to take place with the National Trust, which owns the Arlington Row cottages, about cordoning off another river bank by the homes.

Speaking to The Independent, parish council chairman Craig Chapman said tourists entering the river had not been showing the village and its wildlife respect.

He said: “Over the summer with the hot weather, people would not just sit on the river bank but would go in the water and even bring chairs in to sit on to cool down.

“The main concern is the wildlife, but also the whole area with people using it like it is a recreational area. When they go into the water they can upset the habitat.”

As well as fears for the swans and ducks in the river, villagers say they are concerned for the populations of voles and fish.

The fencing in the area by Swan Bridge will be funded by Bibury Parish Council, according to the council minutes. There will also be new signage and grass seeding in a bid to revive the grass bank. The council is also to officially adopt the bank and address a diseased willow tree in the area.

Meanwhile, more double yellow lines have been put down to tackle inconsiderate parking, along Coln Road.

Gloucestershire County Council parking wardens, who issued up to £45,000 worth of fines last year as part of a crackdown, have continued visiting the village over the summer, with the record number of monthly tickets issued reaching 131 in May.

Pay and display parking is planned for the village, with a potential £7 for two hour stay charge. When put to The Independent readers in a poll last month, two-thirds said it was a fair price.

The coach drop-off area in the centre of the village, introduced as part of a trial last year, is set to be made permanent with temporary highway barriers to be replaced with street furniture more suitable for the historic setting.