Red routes to tackle Peak District parking problems

Red routes and new double yellow lines are set to be introduced at a popular Peak District destination to combat "inconsiderate parking", Derbyshire County Council has said.

The new measures covering the Castleton and Mam Tor area are being installed to manage traffic and promote safe parking, the council said.

The double red lines, which prevent parking at any time, will be brought in at Old Mam Tor Road, off the A6817 Buxton Road, Old Mam Tor Road to Blue John Cavern, Rushup Edge Road to Rushup Edge Farm, and Winnats Pass to Sparrowpit.

The council said the red routes were the first to be introduced in the county and would be installed after 5 May.

Motorists who ignore the double red lines will face a fine of £70, reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days.

Problem parking has been an ongoing issue in the area and the restrictions follow feedback from a public consultation which was held last year.

New double yellow lines will also be introduced on streets within Castleton, including How Lane, Weaving Avenue, Bargate, Back Street, Castle Street, Pindale Road, Milbridge and Hollowford Road, to tackle "obstructive parking", the authority said.

The lining and signing of these new parking arrangements will begin on 27 April.

Changes are also being made to the payment process for parking bays at the lower end of old Mam Tor Road, which will be pay by phone only.

While two new solar-powered parking machines will be introduced for the three bays on the south side of Buxton Road from July.

Each bay will have a maximum stay of 4 hours, with no return within 1 hour and will operate between 09:00 and 17:00 daily.

Outside these times the bays are free to use and unrestricted, the council said.

The 55 existing parking bays at the far end of Old Mam Tor Road will also remain free to use at all times, the authority added.

The unmarked lay-bys along the roads leading to Blue John Cavern, Rushup Edge Farm and Sparrowpit will remain unrestricted and free to use.

Charlotte Hill, the county council's cabinet member for potholes, highways and transport, said: "With these measures we have listened carefully and tried to balance the needs of local people, business and visitors to this beautiful part of our county.

"It's essential residents can rely on emergency and other services to reach them no matter the time of day, which can be difficult when people have doubled parked or blocked driveways.

"At the same time, we want to encourage sustainable visitor numbers, reduce congestion and deliver the best outcome to what is one of the most highly visited and outstanding areas in Derbyshire."

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