Peak District roads shut due to ‘selfish’ parking

The owners of cars parked on a clearway at Winnats Pass will be prosecuted, said police

Derbyshire Police Three parked cars along a snowy stretch of road with one driving past — The owners of cars parked on a clearway at Winnats Pass will be prosecuted, said police

Roads in Derbyshire’s Peak District have been closed by police over “poor parking”.

Both Winnats Pass and Rushup Edge, near Castleton, were shut by police on Sunday afternoon.

The force issued a warning that dangerously parked cars were set to be towed while the owners of badly parked vehicles would face fines.

People who had planned on visiting the Winnats Pass area have been told to find an alternative place to visit “and, when you do, please park appropriately” by the police.

The closures follow reports of “about 200” parked cars blocking gritting lorries and emergency services trying to respond to an injured walker near Edale on Saturday.

Drivers left their cars in the way of gritting lorries on Saturday

Derbyshire County Council Cars along both sides of a snowy road high up in the Peaks — Drivers left their cars in the way of gritting lorries on Saturday

Hope Valley police teams said that 21 drivers who parked on the clearway through Winnats Pass on Saturday would be prosecuted.

“Parking like this isn’t just an inconvenience, it blocks the way of ambulances and fire engines responding to potentially life and death emergencies,” a Derbyshire Police spokesperson said.

“So if you were intending to travel to Winnats Pass today then you will need find an alternative place to visit and, when you do, please park appropriately.

“If you can’t find a space where you first intended to visit then don’t simply dump your car, your selfish actions could be difference between someone receiving life saving care or not.”

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