It’s now the done thing. Every Tom, Dick and Harriet with a point of view is petitioning Tony Blair to back their pet project. So why not lovers of the outdoors?

One and three-quarter million people told the Prime Minster they didn’t want road charging. Now the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) is hoping climbers and walkers will add their names to a petition to save the Peak District from quarrying.

The e-petition, which says: “We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Stop quarrying damaging the Peak District National Park.” Apart from the dubious use of capital letters, grough echoes the sentiment. At the time of writing, 476 names had been added to the list, so it has some way to go to catch up the above-mentioned one.

You can add your name to the petition by visiting the Downing Street website.

The public inquiry into the Backdale Quarry is entering its final week the BMC is urging all outdoors lovers to support the Peak District National Park Authority to curb expansion of quarrying.

The inquiry is being held at Calver village hall, between Baslow and Stoney Middleton. It is due to end on Wednesday.