Stanage Edge attracts rock-climbers from across the globe. Photo: PDNPA

Peak District bosses have rejected plans to sell off one of the area’s most popular climbing crags.

The national park authority decided today to retain ownership of the North Lees estate, which includes Stanage Edge.

Stanage attracts climbers from across the world and worries over its future prompted the British Mountaineering Council to launch its Stand up for Stanage campaign.

The Peak District National Park Authority’s audit, resources and performance committee voted unanimously to keep the 545ha (1,347-acre) estate near Hathersage.

Rob Dyer from the BMC spoke at the meeting, along with Jean Hodgkinson from the Stanage Forum, John Thompson from the Peak District Local Access Forum and Keith Jennings, a former head of property for the national park authority.

But the authority warned some charges, for car parking and camping, for instance, would have to rise as part of a new business plan for the estate.

The authority said it has been reviewing all its properties in the light of Government cuts of more than 30 per cent in its budget between 2011 and 2015, and has previously leased its Eastern Moors estate to a partnership of the National Trust and RSPB and the Roaches to the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust.

Such a partnership option was considered but discounted in this case.

The BMC had called for a charter for Stanage with an emphasis on keeping access for walkers and climbers.

Committee chair Christopher Pennell said: “We wanted to give certainty on the future of the estate for the sake of the local community, users, tenants, the authority’s managers and staff and everyone who knows and loves it.

“After careful consideration we concluded that the authority is in the best position to run the North Lees estate.

“It was bought with public money and we are fully committed to ensuring public access, conservation, education and innovation.

“We believe in it; our officers have given us a business plan showing how it could be brought to a position where we recover full costs, and we want them to get on with it without the distraction of continuing to investigate the possibility of external partnerships or disposal.

“This will mean people may have to be prepared to pay more than they have before, for instance for car parking, camping, refreshment concessions or for utilising buildings.

“But they can rest assured that there would never be any restriction or charge for access, and that any income generated on the estate will be re-invested in the estate.”

“We also want to assure community and user groups, who are as passionate about Stanage and the North Lees estate as we are, that they will be fully involved in formulating a new vision for the estate for the 21st century.”

After the decision John Thompson said: “This is something that we could certainly welcome.

“We do think it’s important to refresh the vision for the estate and it’s something we’re prepared to put a lot of energy into.”

The estate includes the 60-pitch North Lees campsite, popular with climbers and other outdoor enthusiasts; four car parks and traditional farm buildings including a Grade II listed cruck barn that could be used for community events in conjunction with the farm tenant.

Eight woodlands covering 45ha (111 acres) are also in the estate, and applications have been made for conservation grants for these.

The Elizabethan North Lees Hall is leased until 2038 to the historic buildings charity the Vivat Trust for holiday accommodation. The hall’s east wing is to be refurbished as accommodation for the farm tenant.

A 480ha (1,186 acres) farm on the estate was recently let to a 23-year-old farmer who will raise traditional-breed sheep and cattle.