PEAK AREA Name the crag. Photo: John Coefield. NEWSLETTER September 2017 [email protected] Rocking Chair future of the crag but are not yet in a Rob Greenwood position to confirm plans. Finally, just to unravel one final loose end: we have had There is a lot going on three interested parties approach us behind the scenes at regarding the role of National Council the moment. representative for the Peak Area … but The organisational review is well none of them can actually make the next underway, with the first summary/report meeting … due … shortly after the next round of area On the bright side it looks like Simon Lee, meetings.Talks have taken place between the regular attendee of the Peak Area meetings Peak District National Park Authority and and recently appointed Commercial the BMC regarding the future of Stanage, Partnerships Manager at the BMC, has made after concerns were voiced at the last Peak tangible progress in acquiring a retail partner Area meeting; however a conclusion is likely and – in a completely unrelated note – to be reached – you guessed it – shortly rebolting at Horseshoe Quarry has now after the next area meeting. begun. If this isn’t enough, I’m sure there’ll Buxton Mountaineering Club, custodians be more to discuss on the night. of Aldery, have had a meeting regarding the For now – see you there. Next meeting: Wednesday 13 September, 7.30 p.m. The Maynard, Grindleford, S32 2HE Wiimberry.. Photo::John Coefiielld.. Access News is to drive there. It used to be possible to Henry Folkard park in one or two informal lay-bys, but these have been blocked off by large Dark Peak boulders by persons unknown – presumably It is in the nature of the landowner. This is clearly against the access problems that they can take a while spirit of the CRoW Act, but not against the to resolve, especially on private land.This law which does not prevent a landowner can be frustrating. Where land is mapped from resisting what he/she may regard as as open access under CRoW, which allows unauthorised parking on his/her land. access on foot and for certain specified A similar situation not far away at activities, climbing included, theoretically Standing Stones was successfully resolved things are more straightforward. by national park officers, and suggestions But theory is not reality. from Mark Warwicker, but there was More and more the focus is on already an existing Highways Authority lay- accessibility rather than plain access. by there. Making one at West Nab could What’s the difference? One needs to be solve the problem – but that would need able to get on to open access land to be landowner consent. able to enjoy it, and that is what increasingly The national park authority has no seems to be a multi-faceted problem. powers to intervene in a case like this One example is at West Nab, a brilliant (nor can it take down the Private Land bouldering area, and somewhere local signs on open access land around at people like to go for a walk. It’s on open Standing Stones), and the boulders are moorland, relatively remote and lacking in not apparently seen as a problem by the public transport links. Thus the only Highways Authority.Again, it does not practical option, say for an evening visit, apparently contravene any stewardship 2 Peak Area Newsletter September 2017 agreement with Natural England, and towards ‘honeypot’ sites, where the pay repeated lobbying of local councillors by and display machines are.Yet it is precisely Mark has got nowhere.There have long this group the authority has a social been access problems around West Nab, responsibility to encourage to enjoy the but it has been possible to resolve some precious national asset of a national park. of these over time.Things change and those What kind of statement about national with whom an accommodation was reached parks, what kind of welcome, does a hefty previously have now moved on, while fine make? cutbacks to local authority staffing have The twin statutory purposes of national adverse impact on resolving problems of parks, loosely defined as conservation and this kind. enjoying their special qualities, seem to have It does not help either that quite so been effectively subsumed by an impetus to many statutory bodies could have a part become commercially entrepreneurial, either to play in finding a resolution to something through seeking commercial sponsorship which is clearly against the spirit of CRoW. (which only comes at a price) or by finding The buck does not actually stop with any more ways of charging the public – local of them. If accessibility to open access land communities and visitors alike – for use of was ever on the political agenda, it isn’t now, the park for whom it was created: the sense and perhaps this is something for the BMC of national pride and the common good in to take up centrally and nationally. the creation of national parks subsumed by Another aspect of the same problem authorities that perhaps need to think is really national parks wide, and it relates carefully about how they balance income to parking charges, accompanied by generation with the purposes for which enforcement and draconian penalty. These the parks were established. are reportedly going to be introduced by Do the recent job descriptions the Peak District National Park Authority. for PDNPA Members now emphasise This was said to be going to happen last commercial expertise above conservation, April, but is now said to be going to happen cultural heritage, community and the next year. Increased charges and penalties common good? Read them and make will apply to PDNPA car parks where there your own mind up. is already a pay and display machine. Accessing open access land by public Over the summer the assault on the open transport is progressively less and less of moorland landscape by the driven grouse an option, so for many venues, both for shooting fraternity through the creation visitors and local people, driving there is of vehicular tracks to grouse butts the only option unless you are blessed with continues unabated – and the cumulative unlimited time for a long walk. Hard-line impact here is particularly significant. Since and expensive parking charges make an the last newsletter three new cases have effective barrier to access by an authority come to light, reported by BMC hill walkers that is supposed to promote it, and indeed and others (notably fell runners). These are did by exemplary work in negotiating on Moscar on what is part public right of access agreements prior to the CRoW Act. way and part solely grouse butt access, in Moreover such a barrier can mitigate the vicinity of Torside Castle, and behind against the less affluent members of society High Neb. The work at Moscar has been who are perhaps more likely to gravitate called to a halt and is being reviewed by http://community.thebmc.co.uk/peak 3 national park planners in the wake of public The Eastern Moors Partnership has protest, and similar action is in hand seen a lot of staff changes recently – five staff regarding the track from the small reservoir members out of a complement of 8.4 full- near the head of Rivelin Brook that runs up time posts – though Danny remains at the to Crow Chin. We have not got anywhere helm, along with John Mead.A stakeholder yet with the Torside/Glossop Low area, group meeting is to be arranged in the next though it has been referred to the planners. couple of weeks. The public consultation on the Burbage, Louise is covering Stanage in this Houndkirk and Hathersage Moors newsletter (page 6), and she and Dave Management Plan is scheduled for Turnbull will report at the area meeting October.As part of that consultation expect on the visit of the national park CEO, to see a roadshow display at Burbage North. Sarah Fowler, and one of her directors, If you have ideas you want to see taken on Simon Malcolm, to the BMC offices. board don’t hesitate to make your personal suggestions.The BMC has already submitted Suffice it to say here that I represented the its suggestions, and there will be a copy BMC at the funeral last month of Stella of what we said at the area meeting should Maguire who represented archaeological anyone want to read it. and cultural heritage interests (but not A Sheffield Moors Partnership commercialism) as a Member of the NPA, meeting is scheduled for the afternoon and was also their representative on the immediately before the area meeting, so Stanage Forum, the Eastern Moors feedback from that will be made at the area Partnership and the Sheffield Moors meeting. One proposal that will be on the Partnership. She engendered huge and well- table there will be to grant concessionary deserved personal respect, and indeed respect bridleway status to two ways. The first is for her authority, from stakeholders on those the footpath across Nell Croft, near Fox groups, even if she found herself, because of House, and the second, called the Cairn her integrity, at odds on occasion with the Track, is a desire line linking Houndkirk authority. Her legacy and her values will Road with Burbage’s Green Drive. Both will endure, as have those of earlier champions provide welcome links between existing of access, accessibility and appreciation of the bridleway-status ways. special sense of place of the Golden Frame, even though at a more personal level her Peter and I put some comments together loss is deeply felt, and very, very sad.