UKC

'Stand Up For Stanage' Say the BMC

© Alan James

The British Mountaineering Council (BMC) are worried about the future of Stanage Edge, and they're calling on climbers, walkers and everybody with a love for Stanage to sign a petition to help safeguard it. Here's Tina Gardner of the BMC with more:

Stanage is the most popular crag in Britain – maybe in the world – and a classic walking destination for millions of people who visit the Peak District every year. But decisions are being made that could change it significantly – and we need your help to state our case.

A busy Stanage High Neb  © Alan James
A busy Stanage High Neb
© Alan James

Right now, the Peak District National Park Authority (PDNPA) is deciding the future of the North Lees Estate, which contains a large proportion of Stanage Edge and the surrounding moorland. The PDNPA is short of money and wants to generate more income from North Lees. We are concerned that could become its priority, over and above conservation and freedom of access.

Stanage was all but given to the PDNPA in the early 1970s by General Sir Hugh Beech on the understanding the estate would always be somewhere everyone could enjoy quiet recreation. We fear such freedoms could be threatened if the PDNPA tries to develop the estate’s commercial potential – an estate acquired with public money for public benefit.

We're asking people to Stand up for Stanage by signing our petition calling on the PDNPA to acknowledge and accept our Stanage Charter (below).

There has been no recent public consultation on the future of this public land, yet the PDNPA seems set to make far reaching decisions without having set out a sustainable vision for this iconic landscape. The nearby Eastern Moors Partnership is an excellent template for involving the public and setting out a plan for the future. The PDNPA is missing the opportunity to use it.

So the BMC is offering its own charter for Stanage; a charter for the future management of Stanage – whoever owns it. We are asking you to sign up to it so we can make the voices of all who care about Stanage heard by the National Park Authority.

The nine points of the Stanage Charter are:

  • This publicly-owned estate must be retained forever for everyone. It should never be fragmented.
  • North Lees Estate is on Open Access Land. Any commercial enterprise must not impede the spirit of access for all.
  • Key stakeholders – recreational users and the local community – must be consulted before decisions are made. There must be transparency in decision-making.
  • Caring for conservation, wildlife and landscape is paramount. There need be no conflict between this, adventure activity and quiet enjoyment.
  • People value Stanage as a wild area kept free from intrusive developments. This must be safeguarded.
  • The cultural and archaeological heritage of Stanage must be preserved.
  • Any revenue raised from the estate should be reinvested in the landscape.
  • Shooting rights should not be exercised.
  • The local economy relies on preservation of these values and open access.

Stanage  © Kerry Cooper
Stanage
© Kerry Cooper

Please support the charter by signing the petition

 

 


This post has been read 13,950 times

Return to Latest News


29 Aug, 2013
Does anyone have any info on what the Peak District National Park Authority are planning to do?
29 Aug, 2013
Selling the leases to the land, possibly in pockets, with groups like shooting concerns interested. It's been an ongoing issue at BMC Peak area meets for a couple of years now. Likely to star in the Glossup meet on the 11th Sept now as well I guess. https://thebmc.co.uk/stand-up-for-stanage https://thebmc.co.uk/stanage-on-the-auction-block https://www.thebmc.co.uk/peak-park-seeks-partner-for-stanage
29 Aug, 2013
What's the point of having national parks if they can be sold off when the authority that runs them is short of cash. What's the authority for if not to protect the park?
29 Aug, 2013
In fairness National Parks are not primarily land owners, they are a planning authority (with bells on), so land ownership isn't really their role - Almost all of the park is owned by private individuals and the likes of the national trust or private estates. So it makes sense for them to not own North Lees. HOWEVER..... They shouldn't be concerned with maximising the econonomic return from the estate at the expense of public quiet enjoyment either - they are faced with unprecedented economic pressures, so the temptation must be to milk the cash cow, and in this respect it's the job of the BMC/ NT/ RSPB/ WTs etc to make sure that they don't
29 Aug, 2013
Easy Option. Bolt the whole place, then charge 5 pounds for parking. The increase in traffic should see lots of money raised, maybe even enough for a cafe.
More Comments
Loading Notifications...
Facebook Twitter Copy Email