A family’s day trip to a picturesque little village in the Cotswolds ended within an hour after they were left horrified by visitors eating out of saucepans and filling up communal spaces by having picnics. The family of eight, from Middlesex, were visiting the Cotswolds village of Bourton-on-the-Water when they decided to abruptly leave the village after just half an hour.
One family member said they felt ” embarrassed” at what they had seen in front of them and were unable to enjoy what should have been a scenic day trip. Karl Taylor, 58, wrote a raging letter to the local parish council after their short-lived visit on May 27. He said he “couldn’t wait to leave” the idyllic vilage and blasted their trip as a “truly awful experience.”
The family, from Ruislip, in Middlesex, had ages raging from six to 60 years old, according to GloucestershireLive.
Not hesitating to pen his concerns Mr Taylor told Bourton-on-the-Water parish council the family had driven 90 minutes to get there only to be strucky by the “unsightly” surroundings of large groups “occupying almost every grassed area throughout the village”.
Mr Taylor said: “I felt I should write to the parish council to express my deep disappointment following a visit to Bourton-on-the-Water with my family. We were shocked when we arrived. It was a truly awful experience after driving 90 minutes to get there and we left after 30 minutes.
“We had looked forward to enjoying the charm and beauty of one of England’s most iconic country villages. However, the reality we encountered was far from what we had expected.”
He continued, expressing dismay at the disappointing situation: “We had looked forward to enjoying the charm and beauty of one of England’s most iconic country villages. However, the reality we encountered was far from what we had expected.
“What struck us immediately was the overwhelming number of large groups occupying almost every grassed area throughout the village. Many were openly picnicking, eating food they had brought from home with some even using saucepans as makeshift serving dishes. It was not only unsightly but deeply disheartening to see such disregard for the surroundings.”
The visitor also claimed this behaviour would impact local businesses and suggested a possible solution. He added: “As someone proud to promote English values and heritage, I felt embarrassed to witness this happening in a place that should represent the best of our countryside. The situation, in my view, is not only tarnishing the village’s image but is also harming local businesses.
“A practical solution might be to place “Keep Off the Grass” signs on all lawn areas. This simple step could help encourage visitors to frequent local cafes, restaurants, and shops instead. Businesses that rely on tourism to survive. Sadly, after witnessing the state of things, we couldn’t wait to leave. What a shame that such a beautiful location has been allowed to fall into this condition.”
Bourton-on-the-Water Parish Council have acknowledged Mr Taylors email and have said the village green “is legally protected for public use and must remain accessible for recreation”.
Bourton-on-the-Water Parish Council clerk Sharon Henley said: “The grassed area in the centre of the village is a registered Village Green, owned and maintained by the Parish Council. It is legally protected for public use and must remain accessible for recreation, including sports and pastimes.
“For this reason, it would not be appropriate, or lawful, for the Parish Council to install signage instructing people to “keep off the grass,” as has been suggested. We do, however, fence off the Village Green each winter on a strictly temporary basis.
“This is done to allow for essential maintenance, including re-turfing and re-seeding, to ensure the area remains in good condition for the public to enjoy during the busier months.”
