We’ve had water pistols on the streets of Barcelona, violent demonstrations in the Majorcan capital of Palma, blocked beaches on the Spanish Costas and aggressive marches in Venice – all in response to rampant over-tourism.
But on Saturday, in the besieged Cotswolds village of Bourton-on-the-Water, it was picnic rugs, strawberries, fold-up chairs and flasks of tea – also in response to rampant over-tourism.
As demonstrations go, it was a very British affair.
There were no arrests; not even angry gestures or foul language – but it was heartfelt, as some 100 residents gathered genteelly on the village green by the River Windrush at 8am, holding a few placards and wearing T-shirts with ‘We love tourists’ printed on the front and ‘Just not this many!’ on the back.
‘We deliberately started early in the morning because we did not want to ruin the day for visitors of the right kind,’ said Charlotte Joynes, 54, chairman of action group Bourton Residents’ Voice.
No chance of that. In fact, any visitor yesterday would have found the whole scene wonderfully quaint, more akin to a village fete than a village furore.
And very different to a normal Saturday morning when the selfie brigade descends on the green and agonise about the perfect backdrop for their Instagram posts.
The population of Bourton-on-the-Water, in Gloucestershire, is fewer than 4,000 but it can attract up to 10,000 tourists on any one day at peak times.
A tourism demonstration in Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire, began at 8am so as not to disrupt tourists ‘of the right kind’, organisers said
‘It’s just completely out of control,’ said Jane Russell, who has lived in the village for 30 years.
‘The bin men can’t empty the bins fast enough, which is why we’ve got foxes and rats taking over. The place is falling apart.’
But it’s still outlandishly pretty if, like me, you arrive at 7am on a sunny Saturday, long before the coaches roll in.
Gorgeous stone bridges cross the river and there are narrow streets off the main road, hence Bourton being described as the ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’ – but without the entry fee.
It’s also been called ‘Bourton-on-the-Ganges’ as it’s popular with British Indians, many of whom drive down for the day from Birmingham or Leicester.
But perhaps the more accurate description is ‘Blackpool-on-the-Water’.
No disrespect to Blackpool, but the comparison is made because tourists set up camp by the river, with trestle tables, parasols, tents, chairs, portable barbecues (currently banned by the PM) and cooler boxes.
‘They tend not to buy anything in the shops and so aren’t contributing in any way,’ says grandmother Mrs Joynes.
‘What’s worse is that we’ve got 150 Airbnbs in the village, which means none of my kids can afford to live here.’
A tourist in Bourton-on-the-Water earlier this month. The town, which has a population of 4,000, can attract up to 10,000 on any given day
What the protesters can’t abide is the mess that’s left behind.
‘The tourists have no respect for anything,’ said Simon Hitchman, who dropped by on his way to watch Cheltenham Town FC play Rotherham.
‘They leave their litter and expect someone else to clear it up.’
There are worse accusations. Several people complained of tourists using front gardens to relieve themselves. One reportedly defecated on a drive.
The river tells its own story. Children, who paddle in the shallows as they would in Blackpool, have built dams using stones from the river walls – a form of vandalism and dangerous long-term – but no one stops them.
And there’s the rub. The only people who can enforce the by-laws – written on a sign and including ‘no erection of tents or canopies’ and ‘no barbecues’ – are trained council officers and police officers.
‘But you never see any police,’ said parish councillor Leanne Launchbury.
‘Given the number of people who come here, if this were a city centre there would be a police presence.And Gloucestershire County Council has long given up replying to emails.’
But no sooner did Ms Launchbury finish than I spotted two Police Community Support Officers on the other side of the parched ‘green’ and a man with a clipboard in a county council vest.
When asked why they turned up for the demo but haven’t been seen at other times, the PCSOs mumbled something about ‘keeping the peace’, and the man from the council, Steve Cotton, who turned out to be village warden, said it was a ‘complicated issue’.
Thousands of tourists and day-trippers flock to the Cotswolds’ ‘prettiest village’ with lots of shops catering to them
It certainly is complicated. The vast majority of shops cater almost entirely to tourists (there are 35 outlets selling ice cream and all manner of tea rooms) but without the tourists there might hardly be any shops at all.
‘We are reliant on tourists, especially those who come on the coaches and wander around and get back on the coaches,’ said Annette O’Brian, who works at Chestnuts Fashion Fix.
‘It’s people who come in cars and decamp for the day who are the problem.’
Will Clarke is the manager of The Lodestone, which sells rocks and crystals.
‘I find it strange that the people who complain about tourists clogging up the village are spending the day clogging up the village,’ he said.
In true British bureaucratic style, Gloucestershire County Council has produced a ‘parking and transport survey’ to get residents’ views and ‘further engagement will take place before any plans are finalised’.
Then there will surely be another survey to assess the results of the first one.
As one resident put it: ‘We all know, deep down, that what’s most likely to happen as a result of this standoff between businesses and residents in dealing with over-tourism is absolutely nothing.’
Still, the demonstrators have had their say – and done so with admirable decorum.
