Advice for Residents

Living in the Peak District National Park has many benefits but the influx of visitors can provide challenges too.

We work closely with local communities to ensure that they continue to enjoy a high quality of life. The use of the Peak District landscape by 4x4s, quad bikes, trail bikes and other motorsport enthusiasts is one area that often arouses strong emotions.

Concerns often centre around motorsports causing:

• Damage to the landscape
• Noise disruption to residents
• Potential safety issues for other users, like walkers or cyclists.

We understand these concerns and are here to work with you to try and resolve any problems that may arise.

Unfortunately dealing with these problems is not the responsibility of one individual agency. This can make it confusing for the public to know who to contact for help.

The good news is that all these agencies are working together. This page will tell you who to contact for help – but if you are unsure please contact us rightsofway@peakdistrict.gov.uk and we can point you in the right direction.

Taking action to stop the illegal use of Peak District land by motor vehicles

We are very concerned about any incidents of routes and land in the Peak District being used illegally. Responsibility for stopping any illegal activity by motor vehicles rests with the police. We are working with the police to provide the information they need to take action against offenders.

So what are we doing?

We have installed logging machines at various locations in the Peak District that record the use of land by vehicles. The police can use this information to take action against those responsible. This can range from issuing warning notices for first-time offenders through to confiscating vehicles for repeat offenders.

We are working with motorsport user groups to encourage responsible and legal use of the Peak District by 4x4s, quad bikes, trail bikes and other motor vehicles. Together with these groups we are developing voluntary codes of conduct in different locations to ensure that use is responsible and causing the minimum amount of damage to the land and disturbance to local residents and visitors.

We are also working with walkers, cycle and horse riding groups to get their support on this issue.

This work is being carried out with the support of the Peak District Local Access Forum, whose membership includes members of the local community. The forum has set up a sub-group – which includes representatives of motor vehicle users, landowners, conservationists and other users – to look at the use of unsurfaced routes by motor vehicles.

One option as part of the management of routes is the use of Traffic Regulation Orders. It is important to recognise that TROs are a tool to help manage the use of land by motor vehicles but they are not the solution to all problems – or suitable for use in all locations. They only work if they can be enforced and when used together with other measures to encourage responsible motor vehicle use in the countryside.

Identifying areas to make improvements

Surveys have been done on all 180 non-classified highways in Derbyshire to ensure that efforts to improve the condition of routes are being targeted at areas of greatest need.

The current condition of each route was assessed as either:

• Sustainable
• Unclear
• May be unsustainable

For each of the 23 routes that fell in the ‘may be unsustainable’ category a comprehensive management plan will be drawn up analysing all the issues involved. This will be made up of five separate reports from:

• Peak District National Park Authority rights of way officers, conservation officers and area rangers
• A Derbyshire County Council highways engineer
• The Local Access Forum sub-group

The management plan will have targets for all the organisations involved to meet and the deadline for doing it by. The actions could range from putting up more warning signs, resurfacing, voluntary restraint, and temporary prohibition through to issuing a traffic regulation order that bans all traffic from the route.

The 23 routes identified will be looked at in turn with the most urgent cases being worked on first. Members of the Peak District National Park Authority will decide in September on the first few cases to be looked at.

They will be from this list (in alphabetical order):

Name of Highway / Location Parish

• Bamford Clough, Bamford
• Black Harry Lane, Stoney Middleton
• Bradley Lane, Pilsley
• Brough Lane, Brough / Shatton
• Chapelgate, Edale/Chinley
• Clough Wood, Birchover
• The Cop, Peak Forest
• Derby Lane, Monyash
• Hay Dale, Wheston
• Leys Lane, Little Longstone
• Long Causeway, Bamford / Sheffield
• Minninglow Lane, Ballidon
• Monksdale Lane, Tideswell
• Moorlands Lane, Bonsall
• Nether Bretton, Eyam
• Pindale, Castleton
• Riley Lane, Eyam
• The Roych, Chinley / Chapel en le Frith
• School Lane, Great Hucklow
• Shatton Lane, Brough / Shatton
• Sough Lane, Taddington
• Upperdale, Brushfield
• Washgates, Hartington Upper Quarter/Staffordshire

Operation Blackbrook

Operation Blackbrook is an on-going initiative launched in April 2007 to look at complaints about ‘off road’ bikers and 4x4 drivers travelling through areas such as Taddington, Longstone Edge, Pilsley, Baslow, Eyam and Millers Dale.

Residents in these areas had complained of:

• noise
• pathway erosion caused by the motorcycles and 4x4 vehicles
• finding it hard to use the unsurfaced tracks, public footpaths and bridleways due to damage caused by motor vehicles.

Operation Blackbrook is a joint venture between Derbyshire Police and the Peak District National Park Authority’s access and rights of way team and rangers.

Aims of the operation

To encourage motorists to:

• use lawful unsurfaced roads and byways
• understand the impact that their activities on the lives of local residents
• use peer pressure to stop the minority driving unlawfully or inconsiderately

Early success

In May 2008 there were 12 official complaints about motor vehicles using the countryside. In June and July this fell to two complaints each month, following a publicity campaign on the issue.

Motor vehicle users are stopped in the countryside to be given advice and information about the best ways of minimising disruption for residents and other users of the land.

PC Kevin Lowe, the lead officer for the initiative, said: “The operation is on-going and we hope to see further success in the future. While evidence shows that this is an issue of concern for the local community we will continue with the operation.

Tackling noise problems caused by motor vehicle use

One of the attractions of the Peak District is its tranquillity. Use of the countryside by motor vehicles has to be done without causing excessive noise.

Environmental health officers at your local district, borough or metropolitan borough council have powers under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 to take action to stop excessive noise problems. These include the ability to:

• confiscate vehicles making excessive noise
• prosecute those responsible – who could face fines of up to £40,000.

Local council noise control contacts

How can I help tackle noise problems?

To take action environmental health officers will need to show that the noise being created by off-roaders is excessive. Often they will also need to demonstrate that the people causing the noise are doing so over a long period of time or on more than one occasion.

This is where you can act as their eyes and ears.

You can help by:

• keeping a written record, with times and dates, of the noise problems being caused
• writing a description of the vehicles involved
• recording the noise problems to help establish the extent of the nuisance being created.

Who does what?

• The local highway authority maintains the surface of routes
• The highway authority legally decides whether routes are suitable for off-road use or not
• The police take action against illegal use – contact them on 0845 123 3333
• The highway authority and Peak District National Park Authority have identical powers to make Traffic Regulation Orders

If you have a problem you would like help with you should initially approach the relevant authority listed above.

Help us to help you

If you have any constructive ideas or comments about ways we can improve access and enjoyment of the countryside for all users then please contact us rightsofway@peakdistrict.gov.uk.