Cotswold District Council is asking for the views of residents on how they should spend the money that has been raised through their tourism charge.
Last year, the council decided to implement a tourism charge at a car park in the village of Bourton-on-the-Water, ensuring that 50p of every car parking ticket in the car park went into a fund to be spent on local projects.
Last year £22,000 was raised from the funding and not spent so that will be available for spending this year, whilst the council are expecting the tourism charge to raise over £40,000 this year alongside that. Everything from traffic improvements, cycle parking and disabled access can be funded by the money raised from the charge, whilst other bigger improvements that other councils have utilised government funds, such as the Levelling Up Fund, to improve. These bigger projects includes things such as improvements to public spaces.
Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Mike Evemy, said:
“The tourism charge has raised significant additional funds to spend on projects and activities in the village that help to manage the impact of visitors who come to enjoy what Bourton-on-the-Water has to offer.
“Last year we were able to fund some great initiatives including a new village warden, new larger waste bins, bollards to stop illegal parking and a study into how we can improve the village for disabled visitors and residents.
“I would like Bourton residents to let us know about our ideas for the funding this year and help us to decide how the tourism charge will be best spent.”
The consultation from the council opened last week and will be closing on the 18th September 2022. Residents will be welcomed to not only give their opinions on the proposals that have already been suggested, but also to give their own ideas for how the money should be spent.
