Town hall chiefs have forked out £25,000 of taxpayers’ cash painting double-yellow lines by beauty spots to crackdown on selfish drivers.
Derbyshire County Council took action after becoming fed-up of seeing “ridiculous scenes” of drivers abandoning their cars on grass verges during the lockdown.
Officers from Derbyshire Police shamed motorists by taking pictures of hundreds of cars crammed close to beauty spots.
Officials fear similar scenes this summer with the likelihood of thousands of people flocking to the Peak District to enjoy staycations.
In a bid to stop the Peaks being overrun with visitors the council has spent £25,000 painting miles of double-yellow lines near the most popular areas.
Carsington Water
Double-yellow lines now surround Carsington Water, Foremark Reservoir and Middle Peak Quarry.
Cllr Simon Spencer, Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Infrastructure, admitted it was “galling” taxpayers were being forced to foot the bill.
He said: “We have seen some ridiculous scenes across the county over the past few months.
“People have just been abandoning their cars wherever they like with no regard to other people, or their own safety.
“This has meant there have been some accidents at these places.
“By putting down these double yellow lines our parking officers will be able to visit regularly and we will issue tickets to those who park on top of them.
“It is galling that we are having to spend taxpayers’ money on these lines, but we must take action to keep people safe.
“If there is space in the car parks at Carsington or Foremark then people should park there.
“The fee is only small and by paying for your parking you are helping to pay for the very attraction you are visiting.
“No one should be visiting Middle Peak Quarry, it is private land and is not somewhere people should be going.
“I hope the action we are taking here stops people causing a nuisance to local residents.”
Police swooped on Foremark Reservoir last month during a crackdown on dangerous parking and drivers were hit with fines and penalty points and officers also seized some cars.
Must be a limit
Residents living near the areas most affected are calling on the council to force selfish drivers to pay the taxpayers’ money back.
Retired engineer Alfred Johnson, 60, from Matlock, said: “Everyone who lives in the Peaks understands tourists come here and we don’t mind that and encourage it for the
local economy but there must be a limit.
“Having literally hundreds of cars lining the verges near Carsington Water or other popular sites is ugly to see and dangerous for other motorists.
“If the car parks are full then some people think it’s absolutely fine to leave their car on a grass verge. There is no respect.
“I do resent paying for the yellow lines to be painted, especially because I abide by the law.
“If it was up to me, these idiots would pay the money back through fines.”
Ashbourne resident Chris Spence, 40, said: “At a time when money is tight, it’s a shame taxpayers’ have to pay for the selfish acts of others.
“One of the great attractions of the Peak District is its unspoiled but with double-yellows everywhere it starts to look more urbanised which is a real shame.
“The rubbish some of these people leave behind is appalling too.
“I’ve noticed a definite decline in moral values when it comes to litter over the past few years.”
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