Free morning parking and new tech: Council rolls out a future-focused parking plan

The new Cotswold District Council strategy is due to run from this year until 2028 and will include measures to make sure parking in the district is sustainable and supports the council’s commitment to net zero.  

One of the most notable updates will be in Bourton-on-the-Water, where changes have been designed to give residents greater access to local facilities in the morning and accommodate the growing trend of visitors staying later into the evening. This includes making free parking available at Rissington Road car park before 10am. Parking charges will then apply from 10am to 8pm, replacing the previous 8am to 6pm schedule.   

Announcing the new plans at a recent cabinet meeting, Cllr Paul Hodgkinson, cabinet member for health, culture, and visitor experience, said: “I know first-hand the challenges the village faces during the tourist season. This new approach is designed to give something back to residents and boost the money going back into the village. 

“Allowing residents to access the village earlier means they can enjoy local shops and services without parking restrictions and will give a boost to the local economy. Extending fees into the evening will also generate additional income, a portion of which will be reinvested in the community through the tourism levy at this car park.” 

The levy has been in place in Bourton-on-the-Water since 2021, this means for every stay at the Rissington Road car park, a percentage of the parking fee goes into a fund to be spent on local projects. 

Following the success of this scheme the new parking strategy will also see the introduction of a similar tourism levy at Maugersbury Road car park in Stow-on-the-Wold. 

Cllr Hodgkinson added: “The levy in Bourton has funded important initiatives, including extra parking enforcement and the appointment of a village warden which are helping to alleviate some of the impacts of tourism on the village. 

“We hope the scheme in Stow will deliver similar benefits for residents and help manage the impact of the growing number of visitors to the town.” 

As part of the strategy modern payment and parking technology will be installed to make parking easier and more convenient for residents and visitors, while future-proofing the service. In addition, the plan includes an expansion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, supporting the council’s commitment towards net-zero. 

Alongside these measures, the council will continue to collaborate with town and parish councils to support local parking initiatives and ensure the strategy meets community needs.