I'm a sometime fell runner (and also horse rider and mountain-biking widow) in the Peak District and thought this might interest some of you. Somebody has taken it upon themselves to lay tarmac on part of what now gets called the Black Harry Trails, in between Calver and Stoney Middleton - the track in question forms part of the Calver fell race. On finding out about this random stretch of tarmac - about 1km of the stuff - I emailed the PD authority - assuming they were at least in part responsible. I got a reply saying they neither did it nor authorised it - and neither did the Highways Authority. They 'suspect' they know who did, but aren't sure. Someone in the planning dept is going to get back to me - though what they're going to say I don't know. You're probably aware of the ongoing issues around green lanes, boats, trial bikes and 4-wheel drives etc etc. and also difficulties faced by farmers. It's all very complex - and I have no idea who laid this tarmac nor why. But I do feel strongly that people can't just go round doing stuff like this - there's a reason we have national park authorities and planning rules etc. I guess I'm posting to make people aware that this has happened - changes you see might not have been authorised or made by those entitled to make them - and to encourage people to keep an eye out, to report, to complain, and to play a role in protecting this beautiful place we love. cheers.
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Originally Posted by hat
