Resurfacing work on the Rushup Edge track was suspended after protests

Resurfacing work on the Rushup Edge track was suspended after protests

A mountain bikers’ group has accused a county council of misrepresenting its views over a controversial bridleway in the Peak District.

Peak District MTB said Derbyshire County Council has been selective in a report produced for a meeting today to discuss the Rushup Edge route.

Cyclists were joined by the British Mountaineering Council and other outdoor groups in protesting about the resurfacing of the route between Edale and Chapel-en-le-Frith. Work was halted by the county council while consultations took place.

The report recommends repairs to the track in the High Peak which campaign groups have described as unjustified, a waste of money and lacking sufficient consultation.

Chris Maloney, Peak District MTB committee member, said: “We have attempted to correct, fully explain and provide context around the points raised in the officer’s report.

“At all times we have endeavoured to be open, democratic and transparent in our approach – even when comments and responses haven’t fully supported our own position,

“We urge councillors to look in depth at the information in the report and the details held in the appendices before they make a decision which will affect thousands of concerned and angry trail users.”

Peak District MTB said: “Until recently, Rushup Edge was a byway open to all traffic, meaning any capable vehicle could use it.

“An earlier, unrelated campaign resulted in a traffic restriction [sic] order preventing access to the path by motorised vehicles.

“Shortly after the TRO was implemented, Chapel Gate, part of the track over Rushup Edge, was resurfaced by Derbyshire County Council. This work was widely criticised by users of the track, local landowners and others for being out of keeping with the surrounding area, unsightly, impactful on the surrounding environment and dangerous as it encouraged increased speeds.

“In October 2014, DCC began work on the remainder of the track, apparently taking the same heavy-handed approach to repairs with zero consultation with user groups who had assumed that the previous works had seen them completed.

“The groups accept work does need to be done. But they demand that they, as groups passionate about the Peak District, are listened to and that their opinion, skill and knowledge is used.

“They are not simply recreational outdoors enthusiasts, but also experts in a range of fields.

“They invited Derbyshire County Council to work with them openly and collaboratively to ensure every interest party is listened to and respected and that together the groups protect the Peak District for future generations.

“DCC suggested they would do this, but ultimately have ignored the input of the very groups they promised they would listen to.”

A Derbyshire County Council spokesman said: “We realise the Peak District national park is an area which is close to many people’s hearts and they feel very passionately, as we do, about its protection and maintenance.

“The report is recommending that we continue with the repair work we started, as it is clear that most interest groups are in favour. We will take care to use materials sensitive to the local environment, which was what we originally planned to do.

“We have read the comments from Peak District MTB and they will be taken on board by councillors when they look at the issue later today.

“We’re in a difficult position. We know that mountain bikers enjoy the challenge of the Chapel Gate route, particularly the steps. We’re not killjoys and don’t want to stop people having fun, but we have a legal obligation to maintain our routes.”

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