PEOPLE living in Bourton-on-the-Water are being asked how they feel council money should be spent.

Money raised from the Rissington Road car park is set to be re-invested into the community, and Cotswold District Council want to hear from the public to see where the money should be spent.

£22,000 was raised and not spent last year, therefore becoming eligible to be spent this year. 

Cllr Mike Evemy, deputy leader and cabinet member for finance, 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.”

For every stay at the Rissington Road car park, 50p of the parking charge goes into the fund to be spent on local projects with the council expecting it to raise over £40,000 this year.

The council is consulting on a range of options including measures to improve traffic, cycle parking, improvements to public spaces, repairs to footpaths and ways to make the town more accessible to disabled residents and visitors.

The consultation began on Tuesday, August 22 and will run for four weeks, with residents asked to give their opinions on the proposals as well as being able to suggest their own ideas.

The consultation is available through the Council’s website and closes on 18 September 2022.

The survey can be found here: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/botwtourismcharge 

For anyone not able to fill out the online survey can write to the council at Communications Team, Cotswold District Council, Trinity Road, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 1PX.

For more information on the consultation, and to fill out the survey, go to www.cotswold.gov.uk/consultations