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Edited as above
Im going to ride cheeky brazenly now. Explain to anyone that its not illegal AND politely tell them its open countryside. Not theft, speeding or crime so politely be quiet.
Maybe a freedom of information request regarding the cost of trail repairs. Then pass it on to Derbyshire telegraph (or whatever it might be called) and see if the people of Derbyshire might be a bit pissed off at their money being wasted.
That's a very good idea. "Council wastes £££ resurfacing Road To Nowhere whilst Hard Working Families bump over potholed roads to underfunded schools and hospitals."
From dcc website
In 2014-15, we must save £36.7m and at a meeting yesterday (Wednesday 5 February) councillors voted to:
Set our annual budget for 2014-15 at £515.5 million
generate £5 million by asking residents to pay an extra 1.99% in council tax.
And then generate a couple of hundred k on wasted trail maintenance
Commiserations to Ride Sheffield, Peak District MTB and all the rest of you guys who have tried to promote our interests, by the way.
I admire the work that you have done, and the commitment you show to the cause. To have a knife shoved in your back like this makes me want to puke.
I think those responsible knew full well this was on a 'classic' ride that many have enjoyed and hoped to enjoy in the future. They probably thought it would be a bridge too far with you guys and thought "actually, sod 'em, we'll just do this without telling anyone".
I am fairly militant about stuff like this (we recently had some 'trail advocacy' of our own locally), but I wished the guy well. What actually happened was a revitalized enforcement and crackdown by the authority that he was trying to engage with. These people are cynical, and they will look you in the eye, shake your hand, then do whatever they want anyway.
They don't want us there. It is as simple as that. Once you come round to that view, then a bit of opprobrium for riding a footpath doesn't really register anymore.
Ok. Can we can get the actual cost then hit the media in conjuction with the savings needed/% asked from taxpayers?
I imagine middle class pressure is behind the trail 'repairs'?
Might pack a spade this weekend. Whats the legal punishment if I say I feel improvements feel loose/dangerous?
I've been in contact with DCC this evening to ask them whether this was their doing. I have doubts it was anyone else and I have doubts I'll get a response. If I do I'll update this thread as well as the Peak District MTB website, Facebook and Twitter feeds.
Let's at least dig out the drop offs,for the sake of those we know who paid good money in skills courses to be able to ride them like demons
Whats the legal punishment if I say I feel improvements feel loose/dangerous?
I doubt there would be any serious repercussions unless you did it on a regular basis and made a proper nuisance of yourself. You'd probably not even be noticed, unless you were unlucky enough to be spotted by someone wearing an official hat.
More importantly, with just the one of you you'd not make much impact. It needs someone with a lot of reach in the area to name a date and get as many riders out with picks and shovels all at the same time, in order to make a point. You bury our trail, we dig it back up again. (And dump all the rubble on the road, maybe. Or turn it into jumps.)
Wonder if my wife will get chance to clear the beast in one before it goes forever. Pretty sure that will be next. It's now starting to feel like a focused attack on the classics.
Does anyone live in the area and fancy lighting a fire under their local MP?
The Beast is a bridleway, isn't it? I think it's much easier for them to do this to byways, RUPPs and whatnot, which come under the remit of Highways and are supposed to be maintained or something. That's the bad excuse I've seen used, anyway.
Who is the local MP?
There'll be some high and mighty roger red socks somewhere in the DCC that was probably "nearly killed" by a cyclist one day and is out to get the lot of us. The whole council is corrupt anyway, there's no use trying to put up an argument as it'll fall on deaf ears.
Pretty sure if they did reply it'd involve making the routes more suitable for walkers and tourists, they're blind to the idea that natural erosion takes place around here when there's cyclists and off roaders who they can put the blame on.
Unbelievable ..... wrong on so many counts.
Can't believe that whoever sanctioned this 'repair work' can be so utterly and completely stupid.
<Heads off to write angry letter to MP>
[tin helmet]
It could be argued that they are just repairing the trails and putting them back to a 'useable' condition for the maximum number of users. We have built up a hobby riding badly damaged and poorly maintained rights of way, we can still ride them, they have not stopped us.
[/tin helmet]
It may not be DCC, could be the landowner. Let's get the info & share it before doing anything that may negate anything positive being done elsewhere. Just for the record DCC is the highways authority for that part of the Peak which falls within the Derbyshire county boundary, they are responsible for the maintenance of rights of way including bridleways and byways etc.
Personally I will be just a little miffed if it is DCC after all the efforts made to engage with them and assurances made.
More than a bit annoying as therefore plenty of actual roads that need fixing around Sheffield...
The chapel gate sanitisation was carried out to protect a SSSI from being damaged by the run off from the old track. Can't think where the SSSI is near Rushup?
P.P ranger told me the excess run off on chapel gate was effecting the pH causing damage to some protected plants on the SSSI. Surely all the runoff from rushup ends up on the road?
As well as Peter White from DCC I've also been in touch with Jim Dixon to ask what is going on. He is the current chief executive of the Peak District National Park and is quite active on Twitter (@PeakChief). I've already had a response from him saying he'll look into it, so fingers crossed and watch this space...
We don't yet know for sure that this is DCC. Let's keep the momentum and disquiet going with this, but let's not throw pitchforks until we are 100% sure of the target.
I remember the decent from curber edge to baslow being "resurfaced" years ago. It was one of the first. We've lost some gems since then. Just wish we'd been more vocal and more active then. Much more of ththis and it's cross bikes all round.
Roger, is it possible to put together a map of what's happened? I'm sure each one will have its own excuse/justification but the result for us is the same.
I have the attention of Peter White from DCC who looks after rights of way. It would be very useful to have some more precise details of location e.g. grid references.
I won't be able to keep checking on here so if you can please email them to me. Email in profile.
Thanks
Dan
The work carried out on chinley churn was the wall builders (possibly paid for by 'Rural England' - I think CPRE)
The wall is nice. The trail is shocking. They dug up the stable almost-bedrock with a digger first, then threw unused stone off the wall down, no resurfacing. The result after a few weeks is stagnant watery mud with loose boulders lying around: almost impassable.
Is it this one?
[img] 
[/img]
🙁
Would it be classed under the same BOAT stretch as Chapel Gate on the other side, and perhaps be a continuation of those works, hence no notice?
This is really sad. Another excellent descent done over for no real reason. As others have said, I'll be surprised if that top coat of gravel lasts more than a winter without becoming a mess.
F%*&%*ing disgusting.
I'm glad we had a really good blast down there 2 weeks ago.
Thing is it's done now, isn't it? Even if they shrug their shoulders, shuffle, look embarrassed like naughty schoolchildren, say "sorrywon'tdoitagain", it's too late. Always easier to ask forgiveness than permission.
It's happened in less than 2 weeks (I rode it a fortnight ago), presumbaly less than a week, as it would have been spotted last weekend otherwise. Where did the backfill material come from? It's a decent length bit of track with some big steps, so there's a lot of volume needed. Getting that in quick would have taken some planning. You can also bet the bedrock underneath will have been mashed by the plant doing the work. At least one big backhoe, a road roller or 2 and gravel trucks reversing up and down the track.
Although I applaud the efforts of RS and PDMTB, my personal view was/is that they will always be on a hiding to nothing as there's nothing to be gained for DCC by even acknowledging we exist. Even if you take into account the "money brought into the area by tourist mtbers", it's still chuff all.
It would be interesting to see a close analysis of the bank accounts of the members of DCC highways dept and a corresponding one done on the contractors involved.... (is it always the same contractors??)
Can we make a FoI request to see who requested the works to be undertaken? (Horsists/walkers/random solo "disgusted of derbyshire"?)
But who is all this work actually for? I was talking to some locals in Holmesfield where the bridle way by the side of the woods was motorwayed a few years ago. The awful bodge carried out annoyed everybody from dog walkers, horse riders, serious rambler types as well of course mtbers. Same as Houndkirk, I was talking to some t'old lads on there who were furious about the vandalism ( their words ) on the track. So back to the original question, why?
All users seem to hate it, yet these works carry on. I think it shows as someone said earlier a total disregard for consultation and user input. Oh, unless you are the Hallam Riding Society who seem to get whatever they want.
🙁
Think I've only ridden down it twice and now it's gone. I keep reading it'll be back after a decent storm etc. but I've not seen this on the others that have been flattened.
The only way it would come back is if vehicles were allowed on it.
They aren't.
As others have said, let's find out exactly who is responsible first.
It won't be back as we knew it for many years.
Winter storms will probably cut a narrow, deep winding channel down it that *will* be dangerous. Then DCC will have to come out and do the job "properly" ala Chapel Gate or Stanage with big rain bars, spunking a whole load more cash to outside contractors in the process
Is it this one?
Dont do that, its like posting up pics of a really good looking ex doing something spectacularly dirty 🙁
really sad if they've flatted out this stretch, I love that bit of trail, especially after the terrible boggy section of field on the way to it, you cross to the sandy track and blast down, and its totally weatherproof as a descent 🙁
love the little drop offs too, its really annoying they keep sanitising everything
ive actually never seen anyone walking on it anyways, the walkers tend to use the grass verge above that runs along side it 🙁
Can we expect [url= http://www.v-publishing.co.uk/files/downloads/VP-Kinder-All-Weather-MTB-Download.pdf ]this whole route[/url] to be flattened over the next few years? Chapel gate, the climb up to jacobs, and now the sunken road descent all gone 😥
Is there actually anything that can be done about this happening again? I feel like the whole situation is utterly helpless.
It is DCC; there is a van up there right now. One of the Peak District MTB lot is up there taking pictures and finding out more information and I'm grilling Peter White for more information.
Frustrating as it is for many of us to lose technical features from our trails, remember that others would prefer it easier. I've heard huge support for the Stanage Causeway works from other users for example. Those of us who want it technical are probably a small voice but we try and make a lot of noise.
Remember:
If you have an enquiry about Rights of Way or you would like to report a problem email: eteprow@derbyshire.gov.uk or phone Call Derbyshire on 01629 533190. Alternatively you can use the online reporting facility here: [url= http://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/leisure/countryside/Access/rights_of_way/default.asp?VD=rightsofway ]Rights of way: Leisure and culture - Derbyshire County [/url]Council
Outrageous and really saddening. That was one of my favourite descents and climbs in that area. I could climb all of the steps up except one.
I can't think of any other printable words 😥
I'm sure we can all spare 10 minutes to give them a call for a polite chat.
I hope the whole bloody lot washes away over the winter and wastes their money and time!
Just how much exactly is it to hire a small digger for a couple of hours? 😈
remember that others would prefer it easier
But there are plenty of other places for those to walk and ride (I know this, with my 6yo son I'm one of them!). There's tons of landrover tracks and quiet lanes all over the place. Stuff like the sunken road, legal, interesting riding, is a scarce resource even in the Peak District.
It's good to make the great outdoors accessible to as many people as possible, but do we have to do it by destroying unique, irreplaceable features like the sunken road? I don't believe we do.
This is very sad. Been thinking for a while now we should have a Kinder Trespass equivalent. Last few times over stanage causeway I've had my own little protest up over High Neb which was a lot of fun. I'd not ridden it for over 20 years out of respect but my patience has gone and since ridden it a few times.
So back to the original question, why?
This is a byway/RUPP? So the council is responsible for its maintenance?
So if an MTBer seriously injured themselves on one of the drop offs, they could sue the council for not maintaing the track. (like you would be entitled to do if you hit a pothole on a tarmaced road).
So perhaps te council have had a claim against them, or are just covering themselves agains future liability claims.
Sounds ridiculous, but its a possibility.
Because the new 'ultra fast' smooth sections are so much safer for all users?
I imagine some serious speed can be gained on it now, interesting if you are an oncoming walker.
So if an MTBer seriously injured themselves on one of the drop offs, they could sue the council for not maintaing the track.
I suppose that's a marginally better argument for it, but I still don't buy it. If they really cared about that aspect of it they could get some decent legal advice and save a lot of money and hassle by sticking some warning signs up telling people to ride it at their own risk. Anyway I dispute the idea that the trail will be any safer with that surface on it, as people will tend to go much faster on it than previously, not to mention the fact that gravel like that is loose and unpredictable, and it's going to get rutted and washed out in no time.
this doesn't do anything but rile me, and in protest ill be riding more and more footpaths in the peak
I usually don't ride cheeky stuff in the day (mostly anyways), but seems as there is a complete disregard for mtb'ers I have absolutely no time for any rules anymore, I couldn't give two shites if its footpath or non b/w at all now
childish im sure some will say but for me, this is just what its come too
they keep taking away legit, decent mtb trails, sanitising them, all it does is makes us ride even cheekier stuff more and more that we're not suppose to be on?!?! where is the logic in that?!
**** footpaths and **** the council