Peak District - needs a trail centre

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May 22, 2012, 05:23:44 PM

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Total Voters: 287

[curly]

I live in the middle of the peaks and some would say it's perfect for mountain biking. It's certainly a beautiful place to live but there's a massive lack of singletrack and the Peak Park authority were all born with a hatred for anything with 2 wheels and mud!

They're doing a review of recreational users to the park at the moment and asking people to take part in a short survey. If anyone's got 5 mins to spare could they fill it in. If we could get a trail centre there it would be a stunning place to ride with natural height a distance in the plenty. link to the website:

http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/consultations

[Vic-Tim.com]

Thanks for the heads up...as I live on the edge in Stockport I have added my views.

Tim S

[Steve P]

Cut Gate Bridge is a classic example, in places on the moortops that path must now be nearly 10 metres wide!

Do you mean Cutthroat Bridge?  But agree with your sentiments.

The last thing the Peaks needs is a Trail centre - keep it natural, thats what makes the riding there so attractive

If a Trail Centre means developing new tracks then that's fine.  Otherwise not needed.  Not even sure where you would put one in the southern peak.

[Graham T]

Peaks needing a trail centre?
God I hope not, the main thing the peak district needs is more awareness between all users, and that the authority accept the mtbs do not cause as much damage as some (the red sock brigade) make out.
BTW I put that in my survey comments

[Tomm]

My initial reaction was 'we don't need a trail centre'.  However, if it gives beginners a place to ride whilst simultaneously reducing traffic / erosion on the 'real' trails, then that can only be a good thing I suppose.

[simonm]

The last thing the Peak district will ever get is a trail centre.  There are too many authorities looking after other users intrests, walkers etc that it will never happen... and really its not needed. I know you can look at the hills and think there could be a wicked bit of singletrack across there... but  there are other areas to do that.

What I really believe though is that all footpatch in the Peak should be open to MTB Riders... Every footpatch to be converted to a permissive bridleway.

There should aslo be a concerted effort up there to stamp out MX riders riding bridleways.

[curly]

Thanks for the comments guy's.

I didn't want to open a can of worms regarding the which is best? natural or trail centre as I agree we need both and there are lots of great natural trails in the Peaks which incidentally I love to ride. I don't think I got my point across properly in my initial comment.

The point I wanted to make is that why do the Peak's have to be one or the other and not integrate both. If there was a trail centre it'd bring the mountain bikers closer to the Peak Park so they can understand us better, this in turn would mean we'd work closer together and may lead to more natural trails being opened for us to use which we could develop and have a hand in maintaining which can only be a good thing for the Park and us.

As Iain1775 pointed out, the figures for the population that can easily get to the Peaks is incredibly high so from a local economy perspective it can only be a good thing. They have the basis & potential to build something fantastic which lots of people can enjoy so why not give it a go. We could have trail centre singletrack with natural, technical challenging trails. There's definatly space there for something.

[simonm]

There is a group in the Peak district working with the Peak park and other land owners.  The group is called ride the peak,  http://www.ridethepeak.com/  The group has reps of local bike shops, Peak park rangers, riders and various other land owners, Chatsworth - FE etc.

They are working exactly on what you state below, drop them a mail for more info.

ta.

[bromski]

Living in the peaks i would disagree that the peaks needs a trail centre. There is plenty of great, natural, riding without the need for going round in circles in some forest somewhere with a few jumps and a cafe. As for beginners the natural terrain and extreme weather teaches people to respect the hills and be prepared for different circumstances and respect for others using them. Lets keep the peaks raw. My only complaint would be lack of open access from land owners.

[curly]

Iain

Thanks for posting the link.....very interesting.

That's got to be a good thing for the park. Hopefully we'll see some recovery in the trails rather than the mud baths that have been created in some areas.

Going back to original point of the thread I want to thank you all for your comments. With what looks like overwhelming support for a trail centre to be built we should be able to enjoy some man made trails soon.... lol   .

[simonm]

tis about time that the Police lifted a figure to stop the widespread abuse of other Bridleways etc in the Peak.. If you look at the Byways that don't usually link well with other trails. That encourages MX riders to head off over the bridleways.
Wonder how this effects the (stoopid) application to make the track up to locker brook a Bridelway ?

[Steve P]

Lockerbrook Farm ?
Which track?
I thought it was already a bridleway that runs past Lockerbrook.

[simonm]

yes but they want to turn it into a BYWAY that goes all the way over to Fair homes.  A Byway is accessible to motor vehicles.

[Steve P]

Sorry, misunderstood the difference.  You did say bridleway though.
Vehicles can already travel up past Rowlee Farm to get to Lockerbrook, but to extend that in any way (either up the zig zags or down the other side) would be a terrible idea.

[simonm]

oops, sos. Yeh its just and invitation.. There were notices of change posted on the zig zags tied to posts etc... I guess there is a change now///