For everyone who loves the Peak District Peakland guardian Winter 2019
Also protecting the landscapes of South Yorkshire In this issue… Notes from the CEO 3 Climate change – our greatest challenge 4 Boundary Walk update 5 Can National Parks rise to the climate change challenge? 6 Contours Holidays 7 Sheffield’s Local Plan 8 My favourite place – by Jean Smart 9 Matlock to Buxton railway 10 Dunford Bridge undergrounding 11 Fracking – Woodsetts fights back 12 Doncaster falls short 13 Archive project progress 14 Breedon do the right thing 15 Taking back the Tracks - Jacob’s Ladder and Wetton 16 Leek Road – we won! 18 The Glover National Parks review 19 2020 calendars for sale 20 Lecture series 20 Magnificent Walk 2020 21 Peak District Designs 22 Moors for the Future update 23 Pure Peak Grit cycle challenge 24 Walkers in an autumnal Hope Valley All quiet on the western front? 25 ©Tim Mackey With thanks 26 General Sir Hugh Beach 26 IT upgrades, grant funding applications, and Membership 27 Follow us on social Notes from the CEO recruiting new staff to name just a few! There CPRE South Yorkshire promotes the beauty, tranquility and diversity media of South Yorkshire’s countryside for everyone to enjoy now and in We’re being proactive on Facebook, I’m writing this from my desk in our new are articles about lots of this work within these the future. We campaign for green spaces unspoilt by development, Instagram and Twitter. If you’re office! We have completed the move pages. environmentally friendly farming and forestry, and thriving villages and downstairs in Victoria Hall to a bigger and At our AGM in August John Anfield, Yvonne attractive towns, connected by excellent public transport. already a fan, please do follow, share, brighter main office (part of which we have Friends of the Peak District works to protect and enhance the like and ‘❤’ us. Thanks! Witter and John Hoare stood down as unique landscapes of the Peak District for future generations. Friends of sub-let to CPRE National Office staff). We Trustees. We owe a debt of thanks to all three the Peak District represents the Campaign to Protect Rural England in the @friendsofthepeakdistrict also have an adjoining room to house our of them for their time and effort in supporting Peak District, and is the national park society for the Peak District. archive while we work on our National the charity. David Holmes, Paul Cooper (Hon. friendsofthepeak Registered charity number: 1094975 Lottery Heritage Fund supported project to Treasurer), and Corinna Lincoln have joined Registered company number: 4496754 @FriendsofPeak make our archive safe, secure, and publicly us as new Trustees. We are also indebted to Cover picture: Alaina Beacall in Winnats Pass on the Pure Peak Grit accessible. the contribution that Andrew Wood made for cycle challenge ©Rich Marshall www.richmarshall.com As well as providiing evidence for the us in his many years as our consultant Planning Back page picture: Relay Championship held by Dark Peak Fell Runners at Fairholms ©Tim Mackey government’s Review of Designated Officer. Designed and produced by TMgraphics [email protected] Landscape Protections, we’ve been very busy As the seasons turn I hope you manage to Icons made by Freepik from www.flaticon.com across the length and breadth of our ‘patch’ get out and about in the wonderful landscapes A: Victoria Hall, 37 Stafford Road, Sheffield, S2 2SF - quarries, railways, green belts, affordable of the Peak District and South Yorkshire. Do T: 0114 279 2655 housing, inappropriate housing, air quality, keep in touch. E: [email protected] community solar power initiatives, Traffic All the best W: www.friendsofthepeak.org.uk Regulation Orders, pylon undergrounding, Tomo Thompson W: www.cpresouthyorks.org.uk choral concerts, ultra-distance bike rides, CEO 2 Peaklandguardian Peaklandguardian 3 clear that although transformational change Of course it matters for an organisation livestock in some areas. The car will lose its Climate change is ‘required across the country, touching centred on conserving beauty, restoring dominance and we will travel in very different every sector and community’, there could wildlife and advocating for viable rural ways. There will be more multi-functional our greatest be huge benefits for rural communities and communities. The imperative for low carbon land, including for local energy generation local enterprise, through a raft of initiatives energy does not mean simply covering our and grids. But it is more about how we challenge such as farm-based and community energy favourite places in wind and solar farms. But manage that change and ensure that the same It is perhaps too simplistic to state that schemes, addressing fuel poverty through we should not over-obsess about change in functions we want from the countryside: we believe climate change is the greatest energy efficiency and conservation, superfast itself; after all, the countryside is constantly space, access, health, relaxation, community, threat to the countryside. At a recent CPRE fibre enabling smart energy solutions, better changing and adapting to new ‘technologies’, productivity, food, ecosystem services, workshop, held to develop a new climate transport alternatives, and low carbon as it has for centuries. beauty, biodiversity – can come from non- change policy for the organisation, a colleague affordable housing. We will surely see changes in the next 30 urban land, whether on the outskirts of from another branch took a different view: We believe that the countryside’s role in years – much more woodland and forestry, Doncaster or in the heart of the Peak District. “Climate change may mean the greatest delivering net zero carbon emissions creates including short-rotation coppice, so openness So let’s not be daunted and embrace the change to the countryside, but loss of land a unique opportunity to provide a more and big views may disappear in some areas. positives that a low carbon countryside can through poorly planned development resilient and sustainable countryside which Farming will change radically, with much less bring us! remains the greatest threat”. is more able to adapt to a changing climate and to provide many of the services society We know that failing to rein in greenhouse ideas from you. For example we’re hoping needs. The fear, of course, is about a radical gas emissions will be disastrous for to produce a guide to walker friendly B&Bs, change in the ‘look’ of the countryside. But Boundary Walk landscapes, ecosystems and society at large. hotels, hostels and campsites within easy does this matter? But CPRE’s emerging national policy is update by Carol Parsons reach of the route, as well as information on tackling the walk using public transport. Belted Galloways©Tomo Thompson If you can contribute suggestions for these please get in touch. I will also produce a development plan, which will include marketing ideas and identify opportunities for funding. We have created a Peak District Boundary Walk Facebook group to enable everyone to share information, photographs and experiences of the walk. If you’re on Facebook please join and share the group with other interested parties www.facebook. com/groups/2244957655613191/” “I am delighted to be working for CPRE / Friends of the Peak District on a part-time We were thrilled to basis helping to develop and promote the receive £2000 from Peak District Boundary Walk. So far I have the Ramblers Holidays been busy undertaking desk research to get Charitable Trust for Carol’s short term up to speed with its background and history part-time salary. Ultimately, we hope to and am enjoying walking and running sections raise enough funds (through grant funding of this fabulous route around the edge of the and sponsorship) to appoint a permanent national park in my spare time. I’m keen to boundary walk development officer gather information from walkers who have to enable us to maintain the route and completed the route and would welcome generate ongoing support.
4 Peaklandguardian Peaklandguardian 5 Can national parks rise to the climate change challenge? Andrew McCloy The dire implications of climate change are well known. And whilst Britain’s 15 national parks represent our most sensitive and protected landscapes, their sheer accessibility means they are very vulnerable. We are already seeing the signs: the spread of invasive species and tree diseases, the devastating impact of extreme weather, such as the wildfires that ravaged the Peak District’s heather moors, or flooding in the Lake District.
The statutory purposes underpinning our and seasonal closures of minor roads at national parks go beyond conserving and peak times. enhancing the landscape to encouraging 3. Low carbon communities. National popular understanding and enjoyment of the parks should promote greater energy parks’ special qualities, so they are uniquely efficiency and champion appropriately placed to deliver key messages, shape low scaled renewable energy. From solar carbon lifestyles and help tackle climate panels on the roofs of barns to mini hydro change. Here’s how: projects, there is scope to take this much ©Tomo Thompson 1. Sustainable land management. further. National Park Authorities must be allowed 4. Education and research. National parks to play an active part in the delivery of the are natural pioneers: Moors for the Future new environmental land management has made the Peak District a leading hub scheme so that farmers and land managers for research into sustainable moorland are rewarded for caring for the landscape in management, building ties with academic a way that benefits people, wildlife and the institutions and developing a citizen science wider environment. As intensive agriculture programme. The Glover Report and is a key source of emissions, we should National Parks England advocate that every focus on locking up carbon by restoring schoolchild should be able to experience a peat uplands, improving flood resilience, national park. Surely an outdoor classroom supporting better soil and livestock is the ideal place to learn first-hand about management, encouraging afforestation and environmental issues and climate change? exploring new technologies. National parks are already committed to 2. Influencing visitor behaviour. Nine out tackling climate change but, to realise their of ten national park visitors arrive by car, full potential, they need practical, policy and so we need to pilot integrated transport organisational support from government. solutions that have an irresistible walking, They need the freedom to develop active, cycling and public transport offer; such as new partnerships, as well as adequate funding park and ride schemes, e-bike hire, and and powers to make it all happen. Now is installing charging points for electric vehicles. the moment to take the shackles off and let More radical solutions could include national parks rise to the challenge of climate congestion charges, low emission zones change. 6 Peaklandguardian Peaklandguardian 7 MY FAVOURITE PLACE Further delays to The Rivelin Valley by Jean Smart When I was growing up in post-war Sheffield, houses out from Sheffield’s Local Plan it seemed a rather grey, gloomy place with Malin Bridge all sooty air. The consequences of the Blitz along the valley to were everywhere, with bomb damage to Hollow Meadows. homes, public buildings and work places all If this were to too evident. However, at every opportunity be permitted, my mother would take me on the tramcar they knew it to Malin Bridge and we would walk along the wouldn’t be long Rivelin Valley and experience the sounds of before housing went up to the national park bird song, see beautiful trees, paddle in the boundary and beyond. stream and breathe clean air! It was a great They didn’t want to deny anyone a home escape and has been one of my favourite and their alternative proposal was to build a places ever since. new township at Mosborough instead. A long In 1963, it seemed like karma therefore public inquiry was held and the result went when, at the age of 19, I started work at largely their way. The Minister at the time, the Sheffield offices of the Council for the Richard Crossman, said that he was ‘in no Preservation of Rural England. At that time doubt that the Rivelin Valley should remain its amazing protagonists Ethel and Gerald a permanent open space along the western Haythornthwaite were putting all their approaches to the city’. Fortunately, so it considerable energies into a campaign to remains. The Rivelin Valley is as popular today Mayfield Valley ©Julie Gough protect the Rivelin Valley from the ambitions as ever… and you can still travel there by of the Sheffield Corporation to build 3,300 tram – Supertram! Sheffield City Council recently announced However the delay in producing the new a new schedule for the publication of plan also means that, without a five year its long awaited draft Local Plan, which housing supply, the likelihood of speculative will define the future extent of, and ‘off-plan’ applications increases. encroachment into, the green belt. We Working with local communities, fear that government pressure to provide we are currently fighting two such more houses will mean unnecessary loss of inappropriate proposals – one at Hollin important green belt and green field sites. Busk above Stocksbridge and another However, in letters to us and in the press, near Mosborough at Owlthorpe Fields. SCC have made clear their intentions (a) At Owlthorpe, we are working closely to retain as much green belt as possible with the council, Clive Betts MP, the local and (b) to review how more housing can action group, Friends of the Earth and be provided in the city centre and on the Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife brownfield sites. Trust to get a better outcome for the We applaud this approach and their area. We objected to the application understanding that in order to reduce the for 72 houses on part of the site due to current housing crisis it is necessary to concerns over poor design, density and provide a mix of housing types (with much lack of sustainability and are calling instead more social and affordable housing) and for a moratorium on development until a ©Tim Mackey not just aim to meet numerical targets. masterplan for the whole area is produced. 8 Peaklandguardian Peaklandguardian 9 Matlock-Buxton railway Dunford Bridge re-opening – is it a runner? Undergrounding strongly support National Grid’s project. It will enhance both the national park and the openness of Barnsley’s green belt. There are some significant adverse but temporary impacts on the local community and the environment but measures have been adopted to limit and mitigate them. However a major project such as this At last National Grid’s proposed should produce more nature than it harms undergrounding of overhead high voltage resulting in net biodiversity gain. With the loss lines east of Dunford is before us as a planning of 2% of the locally unique Wogden Foot application. Eight pylons including the very and a change to the habitats adjacent to the intrusive tower above the Woodhead tunnel Trail, there is a net loss of trees and scrub, would be removed, 1.8 kms of electricity so important to the willow tit. This must be wires would be buried beneath the Trans compensated. ©Phil Sproson Pennine Trail east of Dunford Bridge, and a new sealing end compound would be The Matlock to Buxton railway line closed At present, limited information is available developed in the valley below Carlecotes. in 1967, severing direct rail connections to us but there are two big issues of concern. The Trans Pennine Trail would require between Manchester, Derby and London St. The first is that this would entail major diversion north of the River Don, with a haul Pancras. Now, the possibility of re-opening development in the Peak District National road on the north slopes and a change to the the route is being pursued by a consortium Park and for it to proceed exceptional car park layout – but these changes would be of quarry companies for a freight and heritage circumstances must be demonstrated and it temporary. steam railway with Peak Rail, and separately must be shown to be in the public interest. The Friends have a long history of trying by the Manchester and East Midlands Rail We ask: do the proposals constitute a national to reduce the impacts of powerlines on Action Partnership for freight and passenger need in terms of UK considerations? Are landscapes, starting in the 1960s when we got services. there alternatives routes for railways which the transmission line between Stalybridge and In principle, transfer of freight from would not cut through the national park? South Yorkshire concealed in the Woodhead road to rail is welcome and could have a Secondly, the hugely popular nine-mile tunnels. More recently we campaigned significant impact in reducing environmental Monsal trail - the track bed, used by walkers, for undergrounding of lines in all nationally and congestion costs. Rail is more energy cyclists (60,000pa), horse riders and people designated landscapes, which resulted in the efficient per tonne of freight moved than with disabilities - would have to be replaced. development of a national scheme with four road transport and, in order to meet net Topographical and ecological constraints make potential projects, Dunford being one of zero carbon by 2050, lorry mileage needs to it virtually impossible to create a replacement them. This application is therefore for us the be reduced by 10%. Then there are the 10 trail of equal character and quality. So there fruition of a decades long campaign. million visits made to the park annually, the are some big challenges to face before trains It would mean that the TPT, also the track majority by car, one million of which might be pass over the historic Monsal viaduct again. bed, could not become a railway again unless persuaded to transfer from car to rail if this the cables were moved elsewhere. But with railway were to be reinstated. no immediate plans for rail re-opening we
10 Peaklandguardian Peaklandguardian 11 INFORMATION SHEET
Site location
Proposed exploration well: Land to the south of Dinnington Road, Woodsetts Doncaster falls short INEOS Shale is the division within INEOS Upstream Limited dedicated to exploring for gas within the Doncaster Council recently published the final draft shale layers of rock which lie 2,000 to 5,000 metres deep underground. With extensive licence interests across North and South Yorkshire, the East Midlands and Cheshire we are now ready to move into an of its Local Plan – the document guiding planning and operational exploration drilling phase. This leaflet
provides information on a proposed well in Petroleum Exploration and Development Licence (PEDL) 304. We development in the borough until 2035. We responded Site size: The site is approximately 1.2 hectares excluding the access track. plan to submit a planning application to Rotherham The diagram below is indicative and for illustrative purposes only.
Metropolitan Borough Council in the near future. nd to the consultation on it which closed at the end of Location of well: The proposed well site is situated on
land to the south of Dinnington Road, located to tora e or s op the west of the settlement of Woodsetts, Rotherham.