Cotswolds parking scheme given £20k funding

A scheme aimed at easing parking pressure in parts of the Cotswolds has been given £20,000 in funding.

One of three projects given a combined £60,000 by transport body the Western Gateway STB, the scheme will share real-time parking information with coach and tour operators to promote the use of public transport in the area.

It comes after discussions about introducing a parking levy in Stow-on-the-Wold and parking problems in Bourton-on-the-Water.

Bath and North East Somerset councillor Sarah Warren, who evaluated the funding bids, said: "It's really important that harder-to-reach places are prioritised as much as urban areas."

A further £5,000 was granted by the River Severn Advanced Wireless Innovation Region Partnership.

The other schemes include a shuttle bus linking Lyme Regis and Bridport on Friday and Saturday nights and research into rural transport initiatives in the south east of Dorset.

The Western Gateway STB region covers and area from Gloucestershire down to Bournemouth and acts as a single voice on strategic transport matters across the region.

It works alongside eight local authorities and one combined authority, including Bath and North East Somerset Council, Gloucestershire County Council, Wiltshire Council, South Gloucestershire Council and the West of England Combined Authority.

Its pilot scheme in 2025 gave money for a regular weekend shuttle bus between Bridport and West Bay in Dorset, and funded a project looking at transport options such as e-bikes in Gloucestershire.

Gloucestershire County Council leader Lisa Spivey said she was "delighted" that the authority had been successful with the funding bids.

She said the money would enable the installation of smart traffic sensors and the development of a real-time digital dashboard to help the council to understand and respond to travel patterns.

"These tools aim to improve the experience for residents, businesses and tourists alike, while supporting our wider ambitions around digital innovation and net zero."

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