£100,000 boost for fight against off-road menace in Peak park

Members of the Peak District National Park Authority have agreed to allocate an extra £100,000 over the next two years, which will be spent on creating one new full-time job and also paying for extra legal work.

It is hoped that the money will resolve problems over the use of routes more quickly and create the capacity to potentially deal with more Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs), which can close tracks to off-road vehicles.

Such orders can be used to restrict vehicles on routes where “severe damage has been or is likely to be done to the environment” or to “the national park’s special qualities, including its quiet enjoyment”.

A TRO has already been implemented on Chapel Gate, near Edale, which had become deeply rutted due to overuse by 4x4 vehicles and trail bikes, making it dangerous for walkers, horse riders and mountain bikers.

Christopher Pennell, chairman of the authority’s audit, resources and performance committee, said: “We are in a better position than ever before to tackle the impact of motorists on unsurfaced routes in the national park.

“We recognise there are strong feelings amongst local communities and other countryside users about the damage and disturbance caused on certain routes.

“We are here to protect the national park and its special qualities.

“It’s our job to consider the impact of 4x4 and trail bikes using unsurfaced tracks on the environment, local communities and on the quiet enjoyment of the national park.

“We want people to enjoy this much-loved landscape for the benefits of recreation but in ways that don’t harm the environment.

“Unfortunately the impact of some 4x4s and trail bikes on the condition of unsurfaced routes can make it difficult and sometimes dangerous for walkers, cyclists and horse riders to use them.”

Members of the public spoke out at a meeting of the committee last week, at which the new funding was agreed.

A national park authority spokesman said: “Six groups represented local and national motoring interests and five groups spoke for local communities and other countryside users including horse riders and walkers.

“A further period of public consultation on the revised strategy will take place before work on delivering the strategy starts.

“This is to allow any new issues not previously raised to be considered.

“The national park authority will continue to work in partnership with responsible 4x4 and trail bike user groups, the police, highways authorities, the Local Access Forum, and others including horse riders, walkers and cyclists.”

The move comes after a campaign was launched against the use of 4x4 vehicles and trail bikes in the national park.

One protest at Stanage Pole, which was led by the Friends of the Peak District’s Take Back the Tracks campaign, attracted more than 100 families, hikers and horse riders.

Protesters walked from Redmires and Dennis Knoll along Long Causeway and beneath Stanage Edge – but horse riders who had also arrived to show their support had to turn back as Long Causeway had been so badly damaged by motorbikes and 4x4 vehicles.

Further pressure on the Peak District National Park Authority has come from the Peak Horsepower group, which says riders have been excluded from some bridleways and byways as surfaces have been so badly damaged they have become increasingly dangerous.

The new funding has been agreed at a time when the authority has to make cuts of £1.8 million over four years from its £7.8m budget. In 2012-13 the authority needs to find savings of £354,000.

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