The Peak District National Park Authority has closed the Peak
moors to walkers and climbers due to the high fire risk and we've just heard that the same restrictions apply on the North Yorkshire Moors.
Public rights of way are still open, but the right to go off the
beaten track onto open moorland under the Countryside and Rights of
Way Act (CRoW) has been suspended for the first time since open
access was launched in 2004.
Park Not 'Closed'
'This does not mean that the Peak District is closed,' commented a
Park spokesperson. 'People are welcome to walk all over the National
Park as long as they stick to public footpaths - there are
still 2,200km of rights of way fully open.'
The Peak District Fire Operations Group is on standby ready to
deal with any blazes and higher-risk locations on 240 sq km of
moorland are being patrolled from dawn to dusk by rangers with
binoculars, maps, two-way radios and mobile phones to convey accurate
information to fire control rooms.
Sean Prendergast of the Park Authority explained: "A fire will
only break out if somebody starts it, either through carelessness or
a deliberate act of malice.
"We want to appeal to people to take extra care not to smoke or
light fires in the area, or even throw cigarette butts out of
car-windows. It only takes a spark to cause a devastating blaze, from
which the moorland habitats and wildlife take years to recover."
Signs Up
Warning signs are being erected at access points telling walkers
about the temporary suspension which will be lifted as soon as the
risk lessens and the situation will be reviewed after the
weekend.
Climbers are still welcome to use Stanage Edge, the Roaches and
Burbage Edge, as long as they only use public paths to get there and
keep off the moorland.
If you have any queries, contact the National Park Authority on
01629 816361.
Jon Doran
