Agenda item

Sue Smith had tabled a report with updates on issues related to access in the Peak District.

Silence Mine Direction

Following a recent consultation, the Peak District National Park Authority has agreed to continue to extend the public exclusion at Silence Mine up to 30th April 2023, due to the ongoing instability on the site.  Planning applications setting out details of the reinstatement works are expected.

Accessible Peak District

The Accessible Peak District Annual Report was circulated to all Members and is available to view at www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/accessforall. Sue reported that the “Miles Without Stiles” webpage had received over half a million views over the last 2 years and that further works on these routes were supported by the Peak District Foundation, who had raised £10,000, and the repeat sponsorship from Yorkshire Water

Sue also reported that so far 36 Anniversary Gates have been installed, funded by donations to the Access Fund. More improvement works have been taking place along the length of Fernilee Reservoir as part of the South West Peak Landscape Partnership and in the Longdendale Valley as part of the Landscape Enhancement Initiative.

Access Fund

Donations had been received from the Peak District Foundation as well as from individuals including Members of the LAF, which have been used towards accessibility improvements at Conksbury to commemorate former Chairs of the LAF, Edwina Edwards and John Thompson when they stepped down as Chairs of the Forum.

24 Anniversary Gates were also funded during 2021 together with surfacing improvements and signage.

Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL)

Sue reported that 72 projects had been supported in the first year of the FiPL funding, and that a number of those projects supported access. She then went on to highlight specific projects at Thors Cave and Castleton.

Charlotte Leech reported that she will take progress pictures of the work on the access to Thors Cave, which includes work on the access paths, installation of fingerposts and signage so that Members were kept updated.