Long Causeway near Stanage Edge is one of the routes where a ban is proposed. Photo: Michael Ely CC-BY-SA-2.0
Outdoor enthusiasts and members of the public can have their say on plans to ban off-roaders from two national park trails in a consultation that starts this week.
The six-week consultation is seeking views on excluding 4×4s, trail bikes and quads from Long Causeway, near the popular rockclimbing crags on Stanage Edge.
The Peak District National Park Authority is also planning to stop motorised vehicles using the track over the Roych near Chapel-en-le-Frith.
The authority said it is making the proposals due to damage to the areas through which the routes run, and the effect on other users such as walkers, cyclists and horse-riders and on people who live nearby.
Councillor Garry Purdy, vice-chair of the authority’s audit, resources and performance committee, said: “Both routes are very popular and cross some of the most environmentally sensitive areas of the national park.
“These proposals follow a lengthy period of monitoring and attempts to manage vehicle use on the routes.
“We have already sought the views of the highways authorities, parish councils, recreational user groups and environmental groups, the majority of whom favoured permanent bans. The committee has also held site inspections.”
The public consultation will run until 2 November on proposed traffic regulation orders to exclude motor vehicles from the Long Causeway, a 3.6km route between Sheffield and Hathersage and the Roych, a 3.5km stretch of the Pennine Bridleway near Chapel-en-le-Frith.
Councillor Purdy said: “We’re proposing these traffic regulation orders to safeguard what people value most about these areas, but we want to hear everyone’s views and will make a final decision in the light of all the evidence and feedback.”
Both tracks are former packhorse routes. The Long Causeway crosses Stanage Edge, following a route between Redmires and Hathersage. The Roych track is part of the Pennine Bridleway, a national trail dedicated used by horse-riders, cyclists and walkers.
The proposals are part of the authority’s overall strategy for managing green lanes.
It has 24 priority routes in the Derbyshire part of the national park, 16 of which have action plans for their future management, which can be seen at on the authority’s website.
The Peak authority is currently spending an extra £100,000 over two years to carry out the action plans, tackle illegal off-roading and improve communication with all green lane users.
Details of the consultation are on the authority’s website.
Tommy downing
23 September 2012Why not try to educate the users of these routes to the damage being caused rather than closing them. The amount of lanes open to 4x4s is quite small as it is, it will be a great shame if more and more lanes close. As for the argument that 4x4s are spoiling these lanes for walkers, well that just stinks how much of the countryside is open to walkers compared to 4x4s. Not all people using these lanes are yobs and idiots some of the users are elderly or disabled people and using these lanes is the only way they get to see the beautiful views that the countryside has to offer.
mathew pennill
23 September 20124x4 off road owner are more green then people give them credit for. We spend more time at the scrap yard and buying 2nd hand parts. True recycling. The problem is, as with any group there is always a small minority that ruin it. It's these people that need to be stopped from driving the lanes. Not the ones that stick to the rules. After a great days laning up the peaks we always call in a local pub for something to eat. Putting money back into the national park. The off road club I'm in also dose volantry mantinance on some of the lanes, so we help to put things back to how they should be before the minority mess it all up.
Ben Stobbs
26 September 2012Responsible access for all should be the prevalent policy, not excluding a specific user group. The Council has a vested interest in cases such as this, as Highway Authority they are legally responsible for the maintenance of all public rights of way, closure to motorised vehicles would result in potential budget savings since maintenance requirements would be lessened.
Once motorised vehicles are removed, which user group will be the next target?
Neil
28 September 2012I agree with previous comments, but let's drop the term '4x4' and describe the vehicles and perhaps their age, as many elderly Land Rovers make their way over those routes.
4x4 can send out mixed messages.
mark
02 October 2012people who want to drive cars and motorbikes through these special natural areas are pathetic
Neil
03 October 2012They are roads, Mark.
fred
05 May 2013Been up the peaks today and came thru three separate gates what had been rammed
off there hinges nr roych,!! Walkers, cyclists, horses, or even motorcyclists couldnt have caused this damage!! Stop the 4x4s and stop the damage!!
fred
05 May 2013Been up the peaks today and came thru three separate gates what had been rammed
off there hinges nr roych,!! Walkers, cyclists, horses, or even motorcyclists couldnt have caused this damage!! Stop the 4x4s and stop the damage!!
Neil, they are not roads!! "Packhorse trails", there's something in the title that gives it away ! I agree totally with you on the fact that there arn't many places to go off roading in your 4x4s but thats like me moaning that I want to go surfing but live inland or snow boarding without any snow or mountains round where I live, find a past time that fits in with where you live, Prefarebly one what doesn't rip the tracks and bridle ways to bits!!
Boo
18 September 2013It's a road. Horses cause more surface damage than a sensibly driven car or motorcycle.
Rob Davie
21 September 2013Long causway is a boat byway open to all traffic and is an old roman road
Get the word road
We off-road bikers run two tyres at ten psi and wheigh in about 100 kg not half a ton horse with 4 metal shoes
It has been proved that walkers do more damage than us or land rovers
Peter A
29 September 2013(as a walker) I've just seen six assorted off-road 4x4-type vehicles coming off Stanage towards Hathersage on Long Causeway. They were negotiating the upper rocky stretch at far less than walking pace, blocking the track for everyone else. I got the impression some would be there for an hour or more, or even stuck completely.
I can see the interest in putting a 4x4 through a challenge, but not in the middle of the Peak Park's finest scenery where it's explicitly banned. The 'Elderly people getting to the view' argument makes no sense. There are plenty of places to enjoy the country in a car without doing this.
Also the track is blocked with concrete at the bottom, so they won't get onto the road without wrecking something.