I wrote about this issue in January 2025 here Please read that first.
It’s now ‘come home to roost’ as well as grown a few additional limbs.
As i said back them i am categorically opposed to verge parking – it trashes the landscape, BUT i am equally, if not moreso, opposed to using enforcement to ‘stop’ an issue without the provision of a sustainable affordable public transport alternative to the private car.
As a summary of ‘what’s in store’ for the Hope Valley area of the Peak District National Park …
• The painting of red and yellow lines (limiting and or banning parking) around the Mam Tor, Winnats and Castleton area now complete.
• DEFRA have now sanctioned the verge parking ban from Dennis Knoll to Higger Tor and part of Ringinglow Rd to the gas marker, and part way down The Dale (see earlier article). This will take effect once a comms plan has been expedited to inform locals and visitors alike.
- Winnats Pass closed Oct and November 2026
- Rolling roadworks from Bamford to Longshaw wooden pole from Oct for 1 yr (laying a Severn Trent pipe from Ladybower to Worksop).
- Surprise View car park closed from Oct 2026 for 1 yr (to become the storage yard for the above works)
- Planning application in for a major pumping station for the STW water pipe at Hathersage Booths which will attract significant works traffic
By an admittedly rough estimate i reckon that the spaces a car can park in (even if not legally) under Stanage and Burbage and Higger will reduce by 90%.
Surprise View has capacity for ~80 cars and that is closing for a year.
I’ve (badly) drawn a diagram to try and encapsulate all of this …
Very limited parking Mam Tor / Winnats area
Very limited parking under Stanage and at Burbage and Higger
Traffic lights for a year in the Hope Valley west of Bamford
As mentioned previously, there is no alternative to the private car for accessing thise areas. Where do they all go ?
These restrictions could provide an excellent opportunity for influencing behavioural change via an e-bus service to the crags area. There needs to be some carrot and not just a stick.
For the Stanage, Burbage, Higger, The Dale and Ringinglow Rd area my understanding is that the ‘first offence’ of verge parking will attract a warning sticker. The second offence is a £500 fine.
As someone who spends part of at least 340 days a year in the area i forecast utter chaos.