Managing the use of vehicles on unsurfaced roads
The Peak District National Park is one of the most beautiful places in Britain. So it’s not surprising that millions of visitors want to come here each year to enjoy what it can offer.
The Peak District
National Park Authority has a duty to conserve
this beautiful landscape for future generations – while promoting opportunities for the understanding
and enjoyment of the area by the public.
At times this can lead to conflicting use of the same land by different groups. The needs of walkers, cyclists and horse riders and those who enjoy motor sports can be very different.
It’s not an easy task. All these groups have a right to enjoy lawful access to the Peak District National Park. We are not here to support one group over another. Our commitment is to treat all users fairly while working to minimise the impact of recreational use on the Peak District National Park landscape.
We actively encourage user groups to work with us to get a consensus on the best way of doing this. If you would like to get involved in this work email rightsofway@peakdistrict.gov.uk.
Find out more about how this issue affects you:
Use of unsurfaced roads by motor vehicles
One of the most contentious issues is the use of unsurfaced roads by motor vehicles. Just because a road isn’t surfaced doesn’t mean that vehicles aren’t allowed to use it.
An unsurfaced highway which has vehicle rights is subject to exactly the same rules as a normal road. So users need to ensure their vehicle is road legal (for example it is insured, has road tax, has number plates). They must also only use routes where they have legal access.
In the Peak District National Park it is estimated there are more than 300 routes that could have rights for vehicles to use them – with around 70 per cent of them in Derbyshire.
The
problem
is that the legal status of many of these routes is disputed or just not known. It is a long and complex
legal process to decide which routes do have legal vehicle access and those that don’t, the highway
authority has a duty to investigate the status of each route to determine if vehicle rights exist. Derbyshire
County Council has investigated an increasing number of these routes. We will continue to suggest routes
we feel should be urgently investigated to determine once and for all what rights exist.
Stopping the illegal use of routes by motor vehicles
We take any illegal motor vehicle activity very seriously. Where it is taking place we encourage the police and highway authorities to stop it and – if necessary – take action against the people responsible. They need your help to do this.
You should ring the police on 0845 123 3333 if you see motorists:
- Going ‘off-road’ on to open moorland
- Driving or riding on footpaths or bridleways
- In a vehicle that is not road legal.
The DEFRA website gives more guidance and documents relating to motor vehicles in the countryside.
