Residents in Bourton-on-the-Water, one of England's most picturesque villages, say postcard-perfect tourism has overflowed into daily chaos as they push for tighter parking controls and a ceiling on visitor numbers.
They say constant traffic, blocked roads, and safety problems have made the village both tougher — and riskier — to live in.
Here's what to know
According to BBC News, residents are increasing their calls for action as their village becomes regularly inundated with tourists.
Residents recently have gone as far as to host a "day of action" to fight constant traffic from visitors, claiming a major accident could be imminent.
Residents said, according to the BBC, they are not trying to shut visitors out. Their complaint, instead, is that the present flow of cars and coaches has become unmanageable.
Organizing the sit-in was Charlotte Joynes, who leads the Bourton Residents Group, and she told BBC News the village has become "absolutely lawless."
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Among the issues raised by the group were streets so crowded that parents with prams and older adults struggle to get through, as well as delays that can prevent nurses and emergency workers from reaching people who need them.
For resident Paul Doxsey, as cited by the BBC, it is like "living next to the M5 on a Saturday and Sunday - just so many cars, in and out, turning round on your drive and parking illegally."
Tony Dale, a member of Cotswold District Council, told BBC News that officials were trying to balance the needs of residents and visitors but that there was no "simple solution."
More background
The frustration in Bourton-on-the-Water reflects a broader issue in popular destinations: Tourism can support local businesses while also putting intense pressure on roads, public space, and essential services when too many vehicles arrive with too little oversight.
After leaving Cheltenham for what he hoped would be a "slower pace of life," Doxsey told the BBC he now sees the move as a mistake. "On our road, we can't get out of our houses. You just can't get the cars out. It's constant traffic," he said.
He also said some drivers have parked on private drives and become abusive when confronted.
Other residents described similar conditions. Resident Tina Hamer said, "The village is swamped, it can't cope."
She added that she now goes to a different village for Post Office banking rather than deal with conditions in town.
What's being done?
The Bourton Residents Group said it wants better oversight of tourism, not an end to it, and is calling for "balance, proper management and action."
Ideas put forward by residents include capping daily visitor numbers, changing parking rules, and bringing back a system that would stop additional people from entering once the village is full.
Resident Martin Steer said he supports a booking-style system, arguing to the BBC, "We don't need to change the village, we just need to reduce the amount of people that are coming per day."
Roger Whyborn, the Gloucestershire County Council cabinet member responsible for road safety and sustainable transport, told the BBC officials understand both the economic value of tourism and the pressure it can create.
He said the council is exploring measures such as resident parking permits, extra parking controls, and improved coach management while working with residents and local councils.
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