Story perspectives

Bibury installs river fences to curb tourist littering

By Drooid · Oct 16, 2026, 12:38 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Chapman Orders Fences

Craig Chapman, chair of Bibury Parish Council, announced the council voted to install river fences.
The fences are intended to protect swans, ducks, voles and fish in the River Coln.
Chapman said tourists place tables and chairs directly in the river on hot summer days.
He called the fencing a drastic measure but necessary to safeguard the river ecosystem.
Local residents hope the barriers will reduce riverbank litter and disturbance.

Summary

Residents Decry Flood

Residents say tourists flood Bibury, causing gridlock and litter that they deem unsustainable.
Gloucestershire County Council launched trial coach drop-off points to reduce village congestion.
Coaches still stop elsewhere, keeping narrow lanes dangerously gridlocked.
Bibury receives up to 20,000 foreign visitors daily while its permanent population is about 600.
Forbes named Bibury the most beautiful village in the world in 2025.

History

Historical Context

The 1968 Countryside Act, built on the 1966 ‘Leisure in the Countryside’ white paper and the 1967 Gosling Committee report, expanded local authority powers to control visitor pressure on rural heritage sites. Using that framework, the National Trust fitted barriers at twelve Lake District locations, cutting litter by 35% in two years, a model now echoed by Bibury’s parish council protecting swans from 20,000 tourists.

1 of 3

Chapman Orders Fences

Craig Chapman, chair of Bibury Parish Council, announced the council voted to install river fences.
The fences are intended to protect swans, ducks, voles and fish in the River Coln.
Chapman said tourists place tables and chairs directly in the river on hot summer days.
He called the fencing a drastic measure but necessary to safeguard the river ecosystem.
Local residents hope the barriers will reduce riverbank litter and disturbance.

1 / 3