Traffic
Its been a problem for a time
Burford is constrained by firstly a single lane bridge over the river Windrush. During rush hour and of course the summer months there are constant queues and traffic congestion on the High Street. Add the narrow medieval twisty streets and limited parking and we have recipe for frustration and anger.
Our town council has tried
Town Council Minutes show it as a constant topic through the years. More recently with Bourton-on-the-Water and Bibury limiting large coaches they have descended on Burford causing chaos on the High Street through illegal parking and dangerous maneuvering. No one killed yet in Priory Lane !
With Traffic comes Parking Problems - more below
It's acknowledged that Burford has a significant tourist economy. We have the same problems as Venice, Barcelona etc. where the infrastructure can't cope - the very thing that tourists come to see. There's the conundrum.
Oxfordshire County Council
Our Town Council lobbied OCC to limit long coaches in the coach park in Priory Lane, in front to the Primary School. However they kicked this along the road with no decision either way. Inaction!
What to do ?
Lobby, lobby, lobby. The OCC councillor responsible for the delay or inactivity is Andrew Gant. His contact details are here . Email him.
Protecting Our Heritage
An Anglo-Saxon Town
An Anglo-Saxon Town
An Anglo-Saxon Town
Burford originated as a village in the middle Saxon period, a settlement near the site of the modern priory. The first certain reference to Burford is in the Domesday Book of 1086, which recorded a population of around 200 people.
21st Century Coaches
An Anglo-Saxon Town
An Anglo-Saxon Town
A typical modern (21st century) coach is approximately
12 to 14 meters (39 to 46 feet) long, 2.55 meters (8 feet 4 inches) wide, and 3.7 to 4 meters (12 to 13 feet) high
Where to put them ?
Where to put them ?
Where to put them ?
Burford Town Council has proposed sites for possible extra car parking and more importantly coach parking. The above image shows these, (yellow highlight) with one being part of the proposed development on Sheep Street - paid for by the developer allegedly.
Other options
Where to put them ?
Where to put them ?
Oxfordshire County Council own a field at the top of Tanners Lane adjacent to the A40 (shaded light green). Wouldn't it be sensible to make this the required Car and Coach Park ?
Ever seen a parking enforcement officer ?
No, neither have we
Parking enforcement at Guildenford Car Park is the responsibility of West Oxfordshire District Council. They rarely do it as the parking is free, resulting in very few tickets last year! This lack of enforcement can exacerbate Burford traffic problems, especially with the ongoing discussions about Burford housing plans that could increase vehicle congestion in the area. On-street parking enforcement falls under the jurisdiction of Oxfordshire County Council, which has outsourced this responsibility. Unfortunately, this often leads to inaction. To address these concerns, especially regarding the need to protect Burford heritage amidst developments like the Sheep Street development, you may inquire with OCC using a freedom of information request to find out when they plan to check on enforcement.
Some fun - Parking Whoppers!
