The residents of the village where "Bridget Jones's Diary" was filmed are outraged by the number of tourists
Residents of the picturesque village of Shere in Surrey, England, dread the holiday season every year. The village has become famous for filming numerous movies and now plans to charge tourists for parking and using public toilets.
Residents say they are forced to stay at home because their main street is filled with movie fans every winter. Tensions between homeowners and visitors have grown so high that parish council members are planning to introduce parking fees, reports The Sun.
Residents hope that these measures will deter people from visiting and reduce the number of cars parked in the village. "Over the years, parking has become much more difficult, and it's always hard to find a spot in the center," say irritated locals.
According to them, they receive visitors from "all over the world," including Canada and Australia. "Now it's gotten so bad that we want to move, and it's such a shame because it's a beautiful village with lots of nice walks around, but the intrusion is just terrible," the villagers complained.
They also said that their neighborhood has become a "tourist trap" and said that the other day a fire truck could not even drive down the road because vehicles were blocking both sides.
The typical English village is located a short drive from London, and those who want to take a day's break can reach the city in less than an hour and a half by car.
Since the picturesque countryside is just a stone's throw from the capital, entrepreneurs are buying up houses and turning them into a means of making money by renting them out.
In addition, the Shere parish council also wants to start charging for the use of public toilets to limit the number of visitors. They hope that the decision will be made soon.
"The parking lots are full, and people who live here have to sit and wait in lines to get a spot. We decided to create our private parking lot, but on weekends it is "mysteriously" unlocked and full of other cars," complain the locals.
What is known about the village of Shere
The ancient village of Shere in the English county of Surrey is a favorite location for filming many movies. Directors love this village for its picturesque nature and old houses.
Parts of the movie "Bridget Jones: At the Edge of Reason" also include footage from the iconic Cherès countryside. The wedding scene was filmed near one of the churches in the village during a picturesque winter ceremony with snow.
It was also the location of the 2006 movie "The Holiday Exchange," which is considered a Christmas classic and is loved by many people around the world. The plot of the film is that an American woman named Amanda (played by Cameron Diaz) and an English woman named Iris (Kate Winslet) exchange homes so that each of them can experience a new place.
In the romantic comedy, Cameron Diaz's character arrives in Surrey and falls in love with a man named Graham (Jude Law). While Iris falls in love with Miles in California, played by Jack Black.
Many movie fans come to the village to have a pint at The White Horse pub, where the characters Jude Law and Cameron Diaz go on dates.
Many celebrities have visited the village. Famous people: Ringo Starr, George Clooney, Sir Cliff Richard, and Daniel Craig.
Many famous movies were also filmed here. Among them: "Four Weddings and a Funeral, The Wedding Date, The Mummy, The Silent Witness, and Why Didn't They Ask Evans?"
