Pretty little Cotswolds town bitterly divided over tourists – ‘if you don’t like it leave’

“There’s too many of them.”

That was the abrupt verdict from one local walking by when asked about the number of tourists visiting the picturebook town of Stow-on-the-Wold in the Cotswolds.

The area was already one of Britain’s most popular tourism destinations, but the number of people flocking here to get a taste of a more traditional side of Britain continues to rise.

Footfall from day visits and holidaymakers brings in a whopping £1billion a year and adds an extra 20,000 jobs, according to Cotswolds info.

But the 38 million annual visitors also fill the pavements, take up parking spaces, and take a huge toll on local property prices.

Speaking to people in the town for a day you will hear the same grievances – congestion, parking, and Airbnbs.

A local retiree who wished to remain unnamed explained how tourism has made life harder for some who live in Stow-on-the-Wold.

She told Express.co.uk: “I think tourism has benefited the community, benefited the shops, and filled the pubs at night. But it has benefited the Airbnbs, which we are not too keen on.

“There are disadvantages. When you are trying to walk through Stow, especially with my dog, there are other people with dogs everywhere. I love dogs but you don’t always know if they are friendly.

“We have lots of coaches that come now with lots of people, so the pavements get quite congested too.”

On Airbnbs, she added: “It’s a shame because our youngsters cannot find accommodation and renting is really expensive. Any houses on sale go immediately, a lot from people with second homes or Airbnbs.”

The local said that while many in the area will welcome the quieter winter months, even then the streets can still be busy with visitors.

She added that “we don’t want to get like Bourton-on-the-Water, absolutely full through the summer”.

Some are more enthusiastic about those coming to Stow-on-the-Wold. Rob Slatter, owner of the Rohan outdoor clothing store in the town, says tourism there has increased massively since Covid.

His message to those who are not fond of the number of visitors is clear: “Don’t live in an area where there is huge tourism. If you buy a house in the Cotswolds you will see a lot of tourism.

“I would say instead of being selfish, think about all of the employment opportunities. Half of the shops would shut overnight without tourism.

“Go and live somewhere else where there is no tourism and you won’t have any queues. You can’t have it both ways, living in a beautiful part of the world that everyone wants to see and then complaining there are tourists.”

Another local who wished to remain unnamed suggested that tourism in Stow-on-the-Wold may even have to be limited to stop the “resentment” felt by locals.

He said: “We have been in the area for 40 years, we live in a nearby village and we have seen a big difference.

“Local people resent having too many tourists around, but equally the local economy relies on it. It would be very hard to turn people away, and it is good that, rather than flying around the world, people are coming here to enjoy their own country.”

Ben Eddolls, Chairman of the Stow-on-the-Wold Town Council, says the tourism in the town has been a big boost.

But he also blames the lack of affordable housing as a key reason why Stow-on-the-Wold is struggling to cope with the demand of incoming tourists.

“We are reliant on tourism, but with tourism comes other problems like traffic congestion and parking”, he said.

“Also, a major problem we have here is property prices. Local people cannot afford to buy here.”

Mr Eddolls says a neighborhood plan to develop houses on the edge of town was thrown out by an independent investigator, meaning there will only be a small development of affordable housing.

The Town Council chair added that the Airbnbs in the area are having a “massive” impact on property in the local area.

He continued: “It is totally unaffordable, The norm for a house here is £500,000. Many of the people who work here are on minimum wage. How can they afford to live in Stow-on-the-Wold?

“The worst are the second homes which are not used very often.”

A big problem, however, is that much of the area around Stow-on-the-Wold is protected land, making it hard to get planning permission for affordable housing.

While many in the town blame Airbnbs and second homes for making housing unaffordable and driving increased tourism, those who let out the properties believe they are adding to the community.

Catriona McDonald, who rents out an Airbnb in Stow-on-the-Wold with her husband John, says that holidays lets “are an integral part of the economy of the area” and that Stow is ” a thriving bustling town that would lose its heart without the visitors”.

She added: “There are a number of local people that are fearful that the industry is taking away the character of the area. We can personally confirm as we are residents in the heart of this town that we have a great community that cares for each other.

“As a retired couple it provides fantastic services which we would lose if there was no industry here.

“This is not new for Stow. It has always been a destination point. My parents from New Zealand travelled to Stow-on-the-Wold in the seventies to visit this beautiful town, so it is not something that has just developed over recent a recent period.

“In fact our history will indicate from the many pubs here that date back to 1600 and before that it has been a destination point for centuries and it would be a shame to lose this unique aspect of our town.”

However, one local fears these properties could lead to more friction in Stow in the years to come.

The local warned: “Airbnbs do have an impact. It makes a big difference and can make the housing unaffordable. But building more houses in an area like this is generally resisted.

“Going forward I think the tourism will cause more friction, so perhaps finding some to limit it might be needed.”