A pub between Cheltenham and Tewkesbury has been given planning permission to create more parking spaces.

The Gloucester Old Spot, on the A4019 Tewkesbury Road in Elmstone Hardwicke, will increase its car park from 41 spaces to 61. In addition, it will create 12 brand new motorhome parking spaces, with a new access point specifically for the motorhomes.

In a planning statement to support the application, planning consultants Evans Jones said: "By expanding the car park, a greater number of people can safely access the site, which in turn will expand the number of people who will be utilising the public house. Furthermore, the addition of motorhomes on the site will allow for economic diversification, which will provide greater economic opportunities in the long run.

"By allowing the parking of motorhomes, the site will allow for people outside of the local area to park at the site for tourism purposes."

The statement added that new parking spaces will also help to resolve capacity and safety issues - with drivers currently parking on the road outside the pub when the car park is full.

The extended car park will be built on an area of undeveloped grassland to the north of the existing car park.

A statement from the pub owner said: "Long before Covid was even on the horizon, Britain had seen a decline in the number of pubs trading successfully, and as a result closing. Sad because they are a valuable resource for communities, employ local people and contribute to the local and national economy. A large percentage of these pubs are rural and often on main A roads - a sector of the market that has been particularly hard hit.

"The pub market has therefore diversified and found additional means of income, including converting space for bedrooms, camping and glamping, opening community shops or posts offices, petting zoos, microbreweries and more. We too feel the need to broaden our retail offer to preserve the long-term viability of our business and we wish to do so in a way that will help not just the pub, but the wider Gloucestershire economy."

The Old Spot, which is close to Junction 10 of the M5, has welcomed motorhomes to park overnight for over five years, but without any camping amenities.

The pub owner concluded: "The M5 at J10 will soon be upgraded to all movements traffic and our proposed facilities will become even more popular and convenient."