More than 20 drivers face prosecution after parking illegally and causing ‘chaos’ at the top of Winnats Pass on Saturday.
The whole of the 1-in-5 gradient road is classed as a ‘clearway’, meaning vehicles can’t stop on it unless there is an emergency.
A spokesperson from Hope Valley Safer Neighbourhood Team said: “Upon our arrival, we were met with chaos as traffic was at a standstill in both directions.
“In order to clear the traffic, we had to temporarily close the top of Winnats Pass for approximately 20 minutes. This was necessary due to nearly 30 vehicles being parked illegally at the top of Winnats Pass, all the way to the junction at the top.
“As a result, we spent an hour and a half managing the traffic flow and 21 drivers will be receiving a Notice of Intended Prosecution for parking on a ‘Clearway’.”
Police also confirmed similar issues around illegally parked cars leading to the nearby Mam Tor car park, although they conceded most of the double yellow lines were covered by ice and snow.
There were also up to 200 vehicles double-parked along Rushup Edge, preventing gritters from reaching Edale.
“We understand that these incidents cause frustration for both residents and ourselves,” the spokesperson continued. “Rest assured, we will make every effort to address these parking issues while managing all the other responsibilities we have.”
There are reports of similar scenes today (Sunday January 12), with cars parked in thick fog on Rushup Edge and at the top of Winnats Pass.
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