There has been outrage over ‘ridiculous’ and ‘persistent’ parking mayhem which is continuing to blight a popular beauty spot and national park.
Police have repeatedly been drafted in over recent weeks to address the issue of cars being dumped at Winnat’s Pass and Rushup Edge near to Buxton, in the Peak District, Derbyshire. Roads were closed last Sunday (January 13) by police due to poor parking and abandoned cars blocking the roads.
Around 200 parked vehicles blocked gritting lorries and emergency services trying to respond to an injured walker the day before. Derbyshire Police previously issued a warning to motorists and said officers would be adding tickets to any dangerously parked vehicles at the site, including those parked on yellow lines, and that they may be towed.
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On Sunday morning (January 19), police were once again called to patrol the area and said a ‘high number of visitors’ had arrived in the area, with tickets handed out to drivers who ‘ignored’ parking advice.
Hope Valley Police said in a statement on Sunday: “It was another early start again this morning as local SNT officers patrolled the area of Rushup Edge and Mam Tor attempting to keep the highways clear and safe for everyone to use.
A high number of visitors arrived in the area early this morning, officers directed drivers to the best places to park and tickets have been issued to drivers who have ignored this advice.
“If you are visiting the area we urge you to not park on the double yellow lines around Mam Tor and respect the clearway in place on Winnats Pass and on the road from Mam Tor to Edale. These routes are vital roads which the local community rely on. Please keep them clear from obstructions.”
And officers had also been called out the previous day, on Saturday (January 18) to manage the ‘persistent parking issues’ in the area, with parking facilities becoming ‘overwhelmed’.
A Derbyshire Police statement added: “The influx of visitors in the early hours overwhelmed the limited parking facilities in the area. Both officers in vehicles and on foot worked for several hours to try and manage traffic flow and deter illegal and hazardous parking, a difficult task given the high volume of vehicles and visitors.
“Numerous tickets were issued along the designated “Clearway” on Winnats Pass, with additional enforcement by the council’s Civil Parking Enforcement Officers on vehicles parked on or behind double yellow lines along the main road. These measures were implemented to ensure the safety of pedestrians and to facilitate the movement of traffic.
“The longstanding parking challenges at this location have been a point of concern for some time now, prompting ongoing communication and collaboration with our partners to try and find solutions to this issue.”
One person responded, posting: “It’s getting ridiculous now. What is wrong with these folk who think they have the right to park where they like, don’t they think the police have enough to do without having to spend hours ticketing illegally parked cars?”
Another commented: “You need to do this EVERY WEEKEND, and EVERY DAY during the school holidays. It has been getting worse ever since the covid lockdowns were lifted.”
A statement previously issued by Derbyshire Police said: “It is very simple – poor parking causes traffic issues that makes things very difficult for local people going about their day and, in the worst cases, can stop ambulances, fire engines and police vehicles being able to attend emergencies.”
Derbyshire County Council said last week that ‘around 200 cars’ had been dumped at the roadside on the road down to Edale which blocked gritters getting through.
“Please do not add to the problems on these roads, and if you are parked up in the area please move your cars to a car park. We realise that people want to enjoy the peak district but this level of parking is making the gritters job very difficult. And if we can’t get through neither could buses, or fire engines,” a statement read.
