An MP has demanded action on careless parking at popular locations in the Peak District, which he claims is being fanned by a TikTok frenzy.

According to Derbyshire's High Peak Labour MP Jon Pearce, people have been swarming to the area to witness the dawn and sunset at Mam Tor.

The Parking Crisis: A Rising Challenge

The rise in tourists has had an impact on the roads; in recent weeks, several instances of poor parking have made headlines. About 200 double-parked cars prevented gritters from using the road at Rushup Edge, near Mam Tor, on January 11.

“I understand a lot of the issues we're having at the moment is because there's a TikTok craze for going and seeing sunrise/sunset on Mam tor and that's caused the peak in the parking issues we've got at the moment,” Pearce said to the BBC. “But that has at least given us the heads-up that we've got to be prepared for the summer.”

In a letter addressed to the Peak District National Park, Derbyshire County Council, Derbyshire police and High Peak Borough Council, Pearce said the “increasingly untenable parking situation” had increased since early February.

“Living in the Hope Valley, I am personally aware of the issues, but the volume of complaints from my constituents continues to rise,” according to him. 

“Residents are rightly alarmed that current parking restrictions are failing to deter motorists from irresponsible parking.”

Contextualising Illegal Parking

According to his letter, solutions might include greater enforcement methods such as increased fines for illegal parking, improved signage, and an assessment of potential parking infrastructure expansion.

A Derbyshire County Council meeting earlier this week heard that boulders might be placed on either side of the road near Mam Tor to help reduce illegal parking.

Labour councillor Damien Greenhalgh emphasised the significant issue of road closures during winter, affecting blue-light services and causing escalation. He noted that fines were imposed on a series of days when 300 or 400 tickets were handed out in a day, indicating a persistent problem. The escalation is not a one-off issue.

In short, the Peak District National Park Authority has addressed Jon's concerns in his letter, stating that the park's management plan prioritises a 'area management' style approach, supported by accurate and timely data, and addresses the needs of various stakeholders to tackle these complex issues.

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