Parish faces £15k bill after rockfall shuts path

Gordale Scar is a natural limestone gorge formation in the Yorkshire Dales national park

A footpath at a nationally significant landmark has been closed for six months, leaving a parish council facing a possible bill of up to £15,000 to repair it.

The path, at Gordale Scar near Malham in the Yorkshire Dales, was closed following a large rockfall, triggered by tree roots growing through the limestone which caused the rock to break up.

The rockfall in late September forced the closure of about 400 yards (365m) of public pathway.

The parish council that owns the site and receives income from honesty boxes for toilets and from parking charges, said it would discuss raising a parish precept in order to pay for the removal of up to 100 dead trees from the area.

Chris Wildman, chair of the Kirkby Malham Parish Council, said repercussions from the rockfall were "a big problem".

"This is nationally significant land and it's the responsibility of a tiny parish council.

"We're having to do it all mostly on our own, with no help from the big national organisations in looking after such an iconic location."

The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority has temporarily prohibited use of part of a public path at Gordale Scar

Mr Wildman said the council was the "custodian of the site on behalf of the parish".

He explained that ash dieback had caused a lot of problems throughout Malham Dale, with the council currently waiting for tree surgeons to remove some of the affected trees.

But he said "ripping out iconic trees" would mean the site would look different.

"A tree survey highlighted over 100 ash trees dead, or needing maintenance, which could see us facing a bill of between £10,000 and £15,000 for a controlled clean-up," he said.

He added: "It's difficult when national authorities can't offer any help, although the British Mountaineering Council has been very helpful.

"They've carried out an inspection of the rock face free of charge and removed large numbers of loose rocks."

The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA), initially closed the public pathway for 21 days, followed by a second 21-day period, before the most recent six-month closure.

A notice about the footpath closure issued by the YDNPA states pedestrians are prohibited from using it until 5 May 2026.

The YDNPA said the closure was "to allow for further investigations to prevent potential danger to the public following a substantial rock fall at Gordale Scar".

"It follows an Emergency Notice prohibiting pedestrian access until 3 November 2025," the organisation said.

A map issued as part of the notice shows walkers an alternative route they are permitted to use.

Mr Wildman said discussions were going to take place about financing repairs at the gorge, following the rockfall and path closure.

"The money we raise from toilet honesty boxes and parking income is enough to make the parish council self-sufficient, so much so that we haven't raised the parish precept in a very long time, but we're now thinking about it, as there are these exceptional costs," he said.

Mr Wildman said a discussion about raising the parish precept would take place at the next meeting of the parish council on Monday.

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