You may or may not be aware of the consultation that Derbyshire County Council have opened regarding proposed changes to traffic regulations in and around the village of Castleton (in the Hope Valley in the Peak District). But you really ought to.
You can read the outline proposals by typing ‘Derbyshire Council Castleton Traffic Consultation’ into a search engine, or clicking here. You must email DCC for access to the full plan. There hasn’t been an in-person consultation event. The consultation process closes on 8 August.
You may well have seen the issues around ‘sunsetters’ inspired by social media to vist the area earlier in the year to photograph the views from the Mam Tor and Winnats Pass area. The thousands of episodes of illegal parking grabbed national headlines.
In very broad terms the proposals are to enforce (through road markings and signs) that no parking is permitted where it never has been and ergo to move to prevent the incidence of verge parking which caused chronic congestion. Additionally, actions are proposed to minimise the number of vehicles (inc camper vans) able to park on the ‘Broken Road’ along to Odin’s Mine and from the top of Winnats down to Blue John Mine.
Why do I think that you ought to at least read the proposals ?
Because the residents are understandably up in arms about the congestion, littering and damage caused by visitors. Go and have a look at the hundreds of episodes of human waste either side of the Broken Road wall.
Responsible tourists ought to be up in arms about a) the zero provision of park and ride / walk / cycle facilities, b) almost zero provision of short term camper van pitches, c) woefully inadequate vehicle parking spaces, and d) woefully inadequate out of hours provision of amenities for a location which has quickly become one of the most visited landscape attractions in the UK.
Visitors have as much right to (responsibly and sustainably) visit and enjoy the area as the residents have to enjoy living there.
DCC might have the funds to paint some lines but neither they nor any other involved organisation (Derbyshire Constabulary, National Trust, High Peak Borough Council etc) have even a small percentage of the resources (human and fiscal) required to appropriately manage the issue currently or moreover when the traffic regulations are imposed.
There is not one working example of ‘building more car parks’ being a successful solution to a visitation crisis in a Protected Landscape anywhere.
There is not one working example where ‘there aren’t any other options you just can’t park here’ has been a successful solution to a visitation crisis in a Protected Landscape. Doing that in Castleton will serve only to move the issue along the Hope Valley.
Visitation crises like the one in Castleton are only solved by offering a viable, affordable, sustainable alternative to bringing private vehicles into a Protected Landscape, in conjunction with appropriate education, engagement and enforcement as and where necessary.
Painting coloured lines on tarmac isn’t the solution.
You’ve got 3 days left to get involved.