Bit of map help please ….. i’m looking for a place called ‘Somewhere Else’ ? I think it’s in or near the Hope Valley ?
I’ve been reading the various reports about, and responses to, the imminent implementation of parking restrictions around Castleton and Mam Tor.
Local MP’s are rejoicing that their campaign to relieve local parking issues and the associated problems with litter will be realised.
A recurrent answer to the large number of well reasoned questions asking ‘where will all the visitors now park’ is a place called ‘Somewhere Else’. Even when those asking the questions have gone to the efforts of researching all available public transport options (to the west end of the Hope Valley) and made the observation that neither public transport supply nor current legal car parking capacity can meet current demand – and ergo the private vehicle remains the only viable transport option for the majority of visitors – the response remains, ‘they can park Somewhere Else’.
It’s not a solution at all. It’s a celebration of shifting a massive problem further east along the Hope Valley across Parish and Constituency boundaries. Nimbysim and performative politics.
If we presume that resources will be found to enforce the new measures, then the impact on businesses in the area will be quickly apparent. The oxygen that is the tourist pound will be turned off.
Furthermore, when you then add the verge parking restrictions and £500 fine along the ‘northern edge’ of the Hope Valley (around Stanage North Lees, Burbage, Higger Tor, Quiet Lane and The Dale) potentially from Autumn 2026, and then close Surprise View Car Park for ~12 months (from ~Oct 2026 whilst the Ladybower to Worksop pipe is laid), and offer no viable alternatives for the current levels of vehicle borne visitor densities, you create utter and absolute chaos.
Painting lines on roads and fining visitors isn’t a viable strategy for a sustainable visitor transport solution. Nor is telling visitors to go ‘Somewhere Else’.