Furious residents of a village dubbed ‘one of the most beautiful locations in the UK’ have claimed their privacy is being ‘invaded by drones’ and the community ruined by the rise of Airbnbs.
The picturesque village of Castle Combe in the Cotswolds boasts scenic walking routes and quaint old streets, untouched by time.
Every year, holidaymakers flock to the popular tourist destination in their thousands, leaving residents instructing many to get off their land.
Locals say the number of people who live in the village full-time has fallen since lockdown, with houses that go up for sale being snapped up and used as second homes or Airbnbs.
They also allege tourists have been invading their privacy by flying drones over homes in the village despite ‘signs up and down’ the area forbidding the practice.
Locals in Castle Combe, dubbed ‘one of the most beautiful locations in the UK’, have claimed tourists are ruining the picturesque village in the Cotswolds boasts scenic walking routes and quaint old streets
Anna Roberts, 60, (pictured at her home) has lived in the village for 20 years. She described the spike in Airbnbs as ‘one of the saddest things’, alleging it has ‘completely changed the community’ for residents
Georgina Kingshott, 44, (pictured outside her home) has lived in Castle Combe since 2016. She claims tourists have been invading her privacy by flying drones over her home despite ‘signs up and down’ the area forbidding the practice
Georgina Kingshott, 44, a post-doctoral scientist, has lived in Castle Combe since 2016 after escaping London for a quieter life.
She has claimed that living in the village is now ‘terrible’ due to the influx of tourists who ‘will pitch up at one of the benches and be here all day’.
‘It is terrible because during lockdown it was great,’ Ms Kingshott said, but argues now tourists are pitching up like it is a day at the seaside.
She said: ‘In the hotter months people pitch up like it is the beach which can be a bit annoying.
‘There are coaches that come and do guided tours of the Cotswolds so we will have those pitch up a few times a day.
Ms Kingshott also complained that tourists invade her privacy by flying their drones across the village.
Every year, holidaymakers flock to the popular tourist destination in their thousands, leaving Castle Combe (pictured) residents instructing many to get off their land
Locals say the number of people who live in the village full-time has fallen since lockdown, with houses that go up for sale being snapped up and used as second homes or Airbnbs. A property in Castle Combe is pictured above
Ms Kingshott also complained that tourists invade her privacy by flying their drones across the village. There are signs (pictured) posted in the community indicating it is a ‘no drone area’
‘It feels very intrusive. They are not supposed to do that and there are signs up and down,’ she said. ‘You will wander into the garden and hear the sound of a drone and think “what is going on?”.’
She said she is lucky to have a gate the stops people from coming into her property, but says ‘sometimes people will pretend not to see it and sit on this side of the fence which they are not meant to.’
‘I always feel a bit like “get off my land”. It can be intrusive with people running up and down,’ she added.
Anna Roberts, 60, has lived in the village for 20 years and runs a pop up tearoom.
While she welcomes tourists as they boost trade, she has claimed that recently the village has lost its community feel.
When she first moved to Castle Combe, she said around 95 per cent of the village was filled with residents and now she claims it is now less than 50 per cent.
Ms Roberts said: ‘There has been a lot of changes in the village over the years.
‘As houses go up for sale we are finding very few people who want to move in and live here.
‘We have people who buy from abroad – they buy them as holiday homes, second homes and Airbnbs.’
Ms Roberts claims that when she first moved to Castle Combe around 95 per cent of the village was filled with residents. People are pictured in the village
She now claims the number of residents in Castle Combe (pictured) is less than 50 per cent
Castle Combe (pictured) is popular with tourists and has been used as a filming location for blockbuster films such as Stephen Spielberg’s War Horse
She described the spike in Airbnbs as ‘one of the saddest things’, alleging it has ‘completely changed the community’ for residents.
‘At one time, we knew everyone who lived in every house. It was a very good community, a close community, and there was a real family feel,’ she said.
‘Now, unfortunately, those people who live here part-time or have it as a holiday home, they don’t really get involved in things.
‘It has become very different,’ she added, noting that having her business is what ‘keeps us here’.
Ms Roberts said: ‘It is a beautiful village and it’s a lovely house but at the end of the day, it is a very tourist village.
‘If I didn’t run a business from here we wouldn’t want to stay here.’
The village is not only popular with tourists, but has also been used as a filming location for blockbuster films such as Steven Spielberg’s War Horse.
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