Back at the start of March, we updated you on the planned worked by Derbyshire County Council on Rushup Edge. (Also known as Chapelgate or Chapel-en-le-Frith Byway Open to All Traffic 144.) For the last month or so they have been undertaking some test sections on the lower sections of the route.

As reported above our understanding was that these works were to be carried out with minimal intervention, aiming to preserve the natural surface wherever possible avoiding any major construction works.

We have been continuing to contact Councillors and Officers at DCC during this process for updates on their plans. We have also been visiting the site, and we had seen little works on the ground during the start of March, despite DCC being onsite.

After a visit today (taking the photos shown), we are somewhat alarmed to see that they have been carrying out more major construction works on the route. At face value this definitely seems to contradict the “light touch” that we had been lead to believe. Subsequently, Peak District MTB have contacted the head of highways and the local councillor today to discuss as a matter of urgency. Unfortunately, the Rights of Way Officer wasn’t available for comment today (12th April). We have left messages for the Rights of Way Officer, the lead Councillor, the Chief Officer responsible for Highways and the Leader of DCC. We’ve also made the local MP aware. We await their response…

Since January DCC have repeatedly promised that their plans would be published on their website. This has now finally happened, and it seems was published just this Friday afternoon, although work was well underway on Wednesday this week.