Visitor resting at the top of Stanage Edge in the Peak District

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Could we tarmac off-road tracks or charge for their use?

These are two of the questions students from Lady Manner’s Secondary School in Bakewell asked of representatives from the Peak District National Park Authority.

Following a school trip to North Lees Estate and Stanage Edge with Geography Teacher, Piers Miller, and Authority staff, the students put together a series of challenging questions and ideas on how to tackle some of the issues raised during their visit.

The Authority’s Youth Engagement Officer, Alex Sinclair, then arranged for John Herbert, an Authority Member, and Mike Rhodes, the Authority’s Access and Rights of Way Manager, to meet the students at Lady Manner’s School to respond to their questions.

In particular, students were keen to hear how the Authority intended to manage the difficult balance between conserving this internationally precious landscape whilst ensuring people, especially young people, have the freedom to enjoy the countryside of the Peak District National Park. Students raised questions about the presence of 4x4 vehicles & dirt bikes on Long Causeway and put forward suggestions for reducing the impact of different recreational activities on the natural environment.

Hear the students question John Herbert and Mike Rhodes by clicking the links below.

To download the files to your Windows computer, right click on the links below and Save Target As...

Podcast 1 (5.50mins 2.7MB MP3)

What do you think about different ways of transport go off the path?
Is going down the Long Causeway in vehicles allowed?
Can you restrict use of Long Causeway by vehicles because of weather?
Can you tarmac the Long Causeway?

Podcast 2 (5.35mins 2.6MB MP3)

Could vehicle drivers be made to put something back into the environment?
Could you charge for vehicles to use Long Causeway?
Will future peak park directors have the same views as current peak park directors?

Podcast 3 (6 mins 2.8MB MP3)