Councillors welcome £25,000 lines to tackle dangerous parking in Derbyshire

As part of a £25,000 project, Derbyshire County Council has painted double-yellow lines on roads around Carsington Water reservoir and on two routes close to Middle Peak Quarry in Wirksworth.

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Even though there is a car park at Carsington Water, visitors often leave their vehicles on nearby roads – leading to congestion and obstruction.

In Wirksworth, people have been parking at the top of Green Hill and The Dale to visit Middle Peak Quarry.

Councillor Peter Slack, who represents Wirksworth on Derbyshire Dales District Council, said the volume of traffic and yobbish behaviour there had caused ‘great difficulties’ for residents.

"Many come to access Middle Peak Quarry to go swimming in the large lagoon,” he added.

"This is totally dangerous and on private property – so the double yellow lines will help to stop congestion and anti-social behavior.”

Coun Irene Ratcliffe, who represents Wirksworth on the county council, said a number of organisations had worked together to tackle the issues.

She added that people in Carsington Water ‘appreciate the need for regulations’.

Coun Simon Spencer, the county council’s cabinet member for highways, transport and infrastructure, said it was ‘galling’ the authority was having to use taxpayers’ money to paint the double-yellow lines – but insisted it would help to keep people safe.

He said: “We’ve seen some ridiculous scenes across the county over the past few months.

"People have just been abandoning their cars wherever they like with no regard to other people or their own safety.

“By putting down these double-yellow lines our parking officers will be able to visit regularly and we will issue tickets to those who park on top of them.

“If there is space in the car park at Carsington then people should park there. The fee is only small and by paying for your parking you are helping to pay for the very attraction you are visiting.

“No one should be visiting Middle Peak Quarry – it’s private land and not somewhere people should be going.

“I hope the action we are taking here stops people causing a nuisance to local residents.”

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