Call for strategy to tackle 'selfish parking'

Derbyshire County Council said drivers left their cars in the way of gritting lorries in January

A call has been made to bring together MPs, councils and emergency services in order to tackle parking in parts of Derbyshire's Peak District.

Police officers closed multiple roads in January, including Winnats Pass and Rushup Edge, near Castleton, due to "selfish parking".

The closures followed reports of "about 200" parked cars blocking gritting lorries and emergency services trying to respond to an injured walker near Edale.

Councillors representing Hope Valley also want to hear from residents at an "emergency summit" and to create an "urgent plan of action" to support the tourism sector.

They added social media had "compounded the problem" and is introducing the area to a "new audience".

Councillor Joanna Collins said: "It's time that residents and visitors... are given the infrastructure they need to provide for planned, safe and sustainable tourism that works for all."

Police said the owners of cars parked on a clearway at Winnats Pass in January would be prosecuted

Councillor Peter O'Brien, who represents Hathersage, said the Peak District attracted between 13 and 24 million visitors each year but the infrastructure was "not designed for this level of demand".

"With multiple landowners, interest groups and councils each acting in isolation, there is no joined-up strategy to take on the challenge posed by the growth in visitor numbers since Covid-19," he said.

A Peak District National Park Authority spokesperson said it recognised "the strength of feeling" shared by many communities affected by increased visitor numbers.

They added members of the authority's senior team were engaging with all relevant agencies and landowners to arrange discussions to understand what might be possible as a "strategic, partnership approach to tackling the issues".

Derbyshire County Council said it was working with councils on a further roadside parking review and new measures in the area.

The authority added parking enforcement officers would continue to ticket cars in areas they should not be parked.