Managing the use of vehicles on unsurfaced roads

The Peak District National Park is one of the most beautiful places in Britain. So it’s not surprising that millions of visitors want to come here each year to enjoy what it can offer.

The Peak District National Park Authority has a duty to conserve this beautiful landscape for future generations – while promoting opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the area by the public.

At times this can lead to conflicting use of the same land by different groups. The needs of walkers, cyclists and horse riders and those who enjoy motor sports can be very different.

It’s not an easy task. All these groups have a right to enjoy lawful access to the Peak District National Park. We are not here to support one group over another. Our commitment is to treat all users fairly while working to minimise the impact of recreational use on the Peak District National Park landscape.

We actively encourage user groups to work with us to get a consensus on the best way of doing this. If you would like to get involved in this work email rightsofway@peakdistrict.gov.uk.

 Find out more about how this issue affects you:

motor vehicle users

residents

Management strategy update

The Peak District National Park Authority, at its meeting on 2 December 2011, considered and approved a report reviewing its strategy for the management of recreational motorised vehicles in their use of unsealed highways and off-road.  It also approved a procedure for making traffic regulation orders.  

The review had been carried out by a group of members and officers who considered the views of a wide variety of groups and individuals and government guidance. The draft documents were published on the National Park Authority website in November 2011 and a public consultation was carried out on them.  This finished 15 January 2012. The outcome of the consultation will be reported to the National Park Authority meeting on 3 February 2012. A summary of the consultation responses received is available below:

Summary of Consultation Responses - 7 December 2011 to 15 January 2012 (79KB)       

Strategy for the Management of Recreational Motorised Vehicles in their Use of Unsealed Highways and Off-road – Adopted December 2011 (53KB)  

Procedure for Making Traffic Regulation Orders – Adopted December 2011 (32KB) 

Flowcharts for Making Traffic Regulation Orders – Adopted December 2011 (51KB) 

Use of unsurfaced roads by motor vehicles

One of the most contentious issues is the use of unsurfaced roads by motor vehicles. Just because a road isn’t surfaced doesn’t mean that vehicles aren’t allowed to use it.

An unsurfaced highway which has vehicle rights is subject to exactly the same rules as a normal road. So users need to ensure their vehicle is road legal (for example it is insured, has road tax, has number plates). They must also only use routes where they have legal access.

In the Peak District National Park it is estimated there are more than 300 routes that could have rights for vehicles to use them – with around 70 per cent of them in Derbyshire.

The problem is that the legal status of many of these routes is disputed or just not known. It is a long and complex legal process to decide which routes do have legal vehicle access and those that don’t, the highway authority has a duty to investigate the status of each route to determine if vehicle rights exist. Derbyshire County Council has investigated an increasing number of these routes. We will continue to suggest routes we feel should be urgently investigated to determine once and for all what rights exist.

Latest legal issues

Sensitive routes

It can be difficult for motor vehicle users to know which routes are legal and which are not. Advice on how to find legal routes can be found in the motor vehicle users section.

Stopping the illegal use of routes by motor vehicles

We take any illegal motor vehicle activity very seriously. Where it is taking place we encourage the police and highway authorities to stop it and – if necessary – take action against the people responsible. They need your help to do this.

You should ring the police if you see motorists:

• Going ‘off-road’ on to open moorland
• Driving or riding on footpaths or bridleways
• In a vehicle that is not road legal.

Derbyshire Police - 0345 123 3333
South Yorkshire Police  - 0114 220 20 20

More information

The DEFRA website gives more guidance and documents relating to motor vehicles in the countryside.

Newsletters

Vehicles newsletter - May 2009 (77KB)
Vehicles newsletter - October 2009 (172KB)
Vehicles newsletter - November 2009 (315KB)
Vehicles newsletter - August 2010 (437KB)
Vehicles newsletter - October 2010 (979KB)
Vehicles newsletter - February 2011 (108KB) 
Vehicles newsletter - March 2011 (653KB)
Vehicles newsletter - November 2011 (2014KB)