Peak District roads shut after 'poorly parked cars' block emergency access

Derbyshire County Council complained that cars had been double parked. Now officials have shut roads to limit tourists who have flocked to see the wintry scenes.

Sunday 12 January 2025 16:58, UK

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Drivers have had their vehicles towed or received tickets after around 200 cars parked up in the Peak District, blocking emergency access and gritters from treating roads.

As temperatures around the UK have plummeted, Derbyshire has been covered in ice and snow in recent days, prompting tourists to flock to the county to see the wintry scenes.

But the county council said that double parking blocked gritters from accessing a road that led to Edale, the entrance to the picturesque Pennine Way walking route.

Now police have closed the bottom of Winnats Pass and Rushup Edge at Sparrowpit End.

In a statement, the council said: "Some vehicles have received tickets and others have been towed away. Please avoid this area."

Separately, several roads remain closed due to snow or ice including: Goyts Lane, off A5004 near Buxton; Rylah Hill, Palterton; Back Lane, Youlgrave and part of Curbar Lane, Curbar. Flooding has also shut other routes in the county.

The council said: "We're expecting another very cold night and crews will be out all afternoon gritting primary routes and then secondaries, before going out again from 4am on Monday to treat primary routes."

In a post on X on Saturday, the council had urged motorists to move their cars and said a bus or fire engine would not be able to get past.

"We have issues with cars double parked on Rushup Edge and Man Nick on the road down to Edale," the council said.

"Our gritters cannot get through with around 200 cars in the area. Please move your car if you are in the area. If we can't get through neither would a bus or fire engine."

The route is near Mam Tor, a popular beauty spot for hiking which offers views over the Edale Valley to Kinder Scout and the Derwent Moor.

It comes as the UK recorded its coldest night for 15 years on Friday, with temperatures in the Scottish hamlet of Altnaharra dropping to -18.7C (-1.66F).

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