 If they are that worried about it, just ban it.
Like whats been said, what difference is a 'code of practice' going to make.
Will anybody take any notice, I doubt it.
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 There's a nice ad in Trail for a 3-Peak Event ("the ultimate corporate challenge") or somesuch. Can't remember the name of the charity offhand.
Most recent charity I've had a go at were a "Save the Rainforest" (destroy the UK) outfit who sent me a fairly curt reply pointing out that their event organisers said they complied with te "code of practice".
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The Lakes Parks Authority should just stop them entering Wasdale, simple.
I remember being in the area a few years ago when the 3 peaks was on, the amount of rubbish left behind made my blood boil, I haven't been a fan since.
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 I don't see why they all have to do it at once. I mean, people walk the Pennine Way, do the Welsh 3000s etc, etc, without having to do it en masse and wreck the environment.
If someone wants to do it, and raise a bit of money, then great, but they should be responsible for it themselves, rather than jumping on an organised bandwagon. I'd much rather do such a thing alone, or with a couple of friends, than be surrounded by so many other people!
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 I agree ban it, it does nothing for the local communities, causes untold damage and tonnes of rubbish.
Ban it I say.
Name and shame also.
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 They ARE named and shamed on Guy's thing. Like the Dudley Fire Brigade who ran Guy's Landy into a ditch and then denied it explicitly even though he'd seen the ruddy great sign in their minibus. Other road users have been ditched, had wing mirrors damaged or had cars damaged so badly that they've had to be towed away and had their holiday ruined.
That's just a few that I can quote off the top of me head, and they were all in the space of about a month this year.
Ban it, I say, though Christ knows how you're going to stop the traffic entering the valley...
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The Parks Authority just need to be a bit more in the face of these charities.
Maybe even threaten legal action against them, that would stop them, maybe.
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 How do you ban someone walking along a public right of way? I agree something needs to be done but I can't see how a ban could be enforced.
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 wear a red coat and ride up it. take the dogs for a walk too.
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 You don't need to ban them from walking along a public right of way, just make the walking part long enough to put off the majority of 3 peakers.
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I seem to remember it was all too easy to ban people walking a right of way during foot & mouth.
I'm sure if they wanted to ban they would work it out somehow.
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 How?
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http://www.3peaksdiary.co.uk/
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From the Whitehaven News
Mounting Nuisance: Last month, The Whitehaven News published a feature on the growing problems of the Three Peaks Race
ORGANISERS of a popular mountain race claim national park chiefs have snubbed their offers of cash to repair worn-out paths on Scafell Pike.
Leaders of the Fire Service Three Peaks Challenge say their offers have been repeatedly dismissed as “blood money” by Lake District bosses.
The claim comes as a war of words erupted between Wasdale people and the Fire Service, whose recent behaviour in the area was described as “among the worst ever” by locals.
The Fire Service has rejected that accusation, saying they are sick of the animosity they frequently encounter in Wasdale.
Ludo Macaulay, director of the Fire Service Three Peaks Challenge, told The Whitehaven News: “We are conscious that we have been blackballed. There is a definite anti-Three Peaks feeling there.
“Whenever you try to book accommodation in Wasdale, as soon as they find out you are doing the Three Peaks, you are shunned.
“People in the Lake District National Park Authority will turn down donations for footpath appeals if they come from a Three Peaks charity.
“We have tried to contribute in the past but I have heard it has been turned away as “blood money”. The authority will not cooperate in any shape or form with this event.”
Some 400 Fire Service competitors recently descended on the picturesque Wasdale valley over two nights to tackle the Scafell Pike leg of the challenge, which sees walkers climb Britain’s three highest peaks in succession.
Villagers claim the Fire Service competitors broke every rule in the charity code of conduct by:
Noisily waking up residents and tourists by arriving in the middle of the night;
Leaving piles of rubbish blowing around the valley;
Parking more than 60 minibuses on the green and wearing out fragile pathways; and
Driving dangerously on narrow country roads.
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One Wasdale businessman, who asked not to be named, said: “Generally, groups doing the Three Peaks seem to be respecting the area a lot more — but not the Fire Service.
“They are among the worst there has been. They did everything they weren’t supposed to.
“They woke people up in the hotels and campsite and filled businesses’ rubbish bins to overflowing so it was blowing around the valley.
“And there have been several complaints about their driving.”
Another Wasdale resident said: “Just because they’re doing it for charity doesn’t mean they have the right to flout the rules.
“Isn’t there something else they could do?”
The Fire Service responded angrily to the claims this week.
Mr Macaulay said: “There is no reason for our drivers to travel fast as speed between the fells is not part of our challenge.
“They are competent drivers and we always brief them about the narrowness of the roads.
“If anyone brought any specifics to our attention we would look at it – we have a yellow and red card system for anyone who breaks the rules. As for litter, they left the area cleaner than when they found it. We arrived on the Monday and some of it may have been from groups from the weekend.
“We physically hold teams back at Greengarth Business Centre and we don’t send them into the valley until first light. They are given very strict times.”
Some of the participants, who included firemen, police, doctors, nurses and members of the Armed Forces from across Britain, were raising money for charity.
“We comply with all the guidelines and cooperate with the National Trust. Other groups might not be so strict but it’s unfair to tar us all with the same brush,” Mr Macaulay added.
Emma Dewhurst, a director of the Lake District National Park Authority, said: “I don’t know of any specific offers for footpath repairs, and that is something that would be considered at a senior level in the organisation.
“But by accepting them, would we be saying, fine, ok, carry on doing it? It is not illegal to do what they are doing but it comes at such a high price for the community and the landscape.
“There must be better ways of raising money for charity.
“The National Park is a challenging and inspiring place but it cannot cope with the sheer numbers of people this challenge brings.”
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The above was published 22 July 2004
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 How do you decide who to ban?
Who is going to tell me how many friends I can walk with and at what time of day or year?
All very well saying "ban it" but I cant really see it being an enforcable ban, can you?
Yeah, we could restrict vehicualr access to Wasdale (for instance) but I doubt the local business community would appreciate most of their custom being stopped from getting to them - not to mention the legal aspect (its a public highway isnt it?).
Yes, there was a ban during foot and mouth. As I recall it was for EVERYONE, not just a group whose use of the countryside you found unacceptable. Easier to enforce a blanket ban than one specific to a type of outdoor user.....
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 I can't see how the LDNPA could enforce a ban either, especially as the eventers arrive in the middle of the night.
Scafell Pike is accessible from numerous directions, so not only would you have to prevent them from entering Wasdale, but you would also have to stop them at Seathwaite, Eskdale, etc.
The Police wouldn't want to provide any manpower for this, so the only people who would be able to do so would be the Nat Park Voluntary Rangers. As a Vol Ranger myself, I for one won't be putting my name down for that duty.
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 The only real way I can see LDNPA can have an impact is to seen each of the charities a bill for rhe years clean-up and repair. Along with adverts in the press to name and shame charities involved.
Nothing like a bit of bad publicity.
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Well don't we all live in a 'Nanny State' now? The Gov' could just outlaw it, then the Police would have to deal with it, whether they liked it or not.
Seriously the Parks Auth' just need to send a clear message to these charities that the Peaks challenge is now just totally unacceptable in the Wasdale area, and further 'Charity' visits are not welcome and no money will be taken.
There is no easy solution, granted, but we all agree something has to be done.
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