Vehicles banned from park trackway

The Peak District National Park Authority announced in June this year that it was planning to make an Experimental Traffic Order at Chapel Gate, a country track which runs between Chapel-en-le-Frith and Edale.

A legal notice has now been made which means no “recreational motor vehicles” can use the route from Wednesday, August 31, until the end of February 2013.

At the end of the 18-month trial period, a decision will made on whether to make a permanent ban on such vehicles using the damaged route.

The trial ban affects a trail less than two miles long which skirts Rushup Edge and runs along a high ridge.

Christopher Pennell, chairman of the Peak District National Park Authority’s audit, resources and performance committee, which decided to make the order, said: “Chapel Gate is an important route because it runs through a Special Area of Conservation, a Special Protection Area and a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

“Unfortunately, as the course of the route became badly rutted, people deviated onto the land at the side of the track and damaged the fragile wildlife habitats there.

“During the 18-month trial, we will assess how successful this approach is in conserving the national park landscape and decide whether we need to make the ban permanent, vary it or discontinue it.”

Countryside campaigners from the Friends of the Peak District group are also calling for the authority to make more orders of this type to try and protect vulnerable trails in the national park.

A protest was held at Stanage Edge to raise awareness of the poor state of Long Causeway, which is becoming impassable for walkers, cyclists and horse riders after being badly damaged by motor vehicles.