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National parks consider congestion charges to halt environmental damage
The Peak District, which attracts 22 million visitors a year, is set to be the first national park to introduce barrier charges for car-users.
A spokesperson for Derbyshire County Council said one road leading to a particularly popular reservoir area in the Upper Derwent Valley area, has been taking 3,000 vehicles a day at peak times. Car park facilities are inadequate for the increased number of cars and drivers choose to park on grass verges or wherever they can find a space. 'In effect people are spoiling the very countryside they have come to see,' the spokesperson said.
The council's plan to set up a barrier and charge vehicles is to be set out in a public consultation document with the aim of making a traffic order late this year and the introduction of the scheme next year.
Sites are still being identified for a park-and-ride service and the charge rate is still to be set. The public transport infrastructure is to be improved including provision of a new cycle lane and a disabled access ramp at Bamford railway station.
The government has awarded £750,000 for the project, the only one to so far operate in a rural area.
Visitors are likely to be charged at weekends and bank holidays in the spring and summer seasons. Details: www.derbyshire.gov.uk
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