Despite criticism that the Stanage Forum wasn't consulted, the Peak District National Park Authority gets approval for the next step in its plans for North Lees Estate.

Proposals from the Peak District National Park Authority for the future of Stanage cleared their first hurdle today. The authority got approval to explore the commercial potential of the North Lees Estate, and talk to other bodies with an interest in managing the site.

Several speakers at today’s meeting of the Audit, Resources and Performance Committee spoke of their regret that the PDNPA had not involved the Stanage Forum before the plans were published, but the committee welcomed the chance for an open discussion before a possible confidential bidding process gets underway in September.

It is still possible that the PDNPA will continue to manage Stanage. They will be looking at methods to increase the North Lees Estate’s revenue, which could mean increased parking charges or changes to the campsite, and other commercial measures.

But the PDNPA’s chief officer, Jim Dixon, stated that the national park’s statutory obligations would be top of his agenda during the next few months. He told the meeting there was “no bigger defender” of the Peak District than his officers. What was being considered, he said, was “a slight change in emphasis in favour of commercialisation.”

Dixon made clear the PDNPA’s financial difficulties as it faces up to losing almost a third of its budget. “A large asset base,” he said, “is not viable given the financial constraints,” adding that the authority must look for partner organisations. “Going to the market,” he concluded, “had served the authority well,” specifically with the Eastern Edges and the Roaches.

Although Stanage Forum member Jean Hodgkinson spoke in favour of North Lees remaining in the management of the PDNPA, this seems a tall order on today’s mood. Given the limitations on possible revenue streams at Stanage, and the size of the PDNPA’s budget shortfall, the likelihood of a third party or parties taking over the management of Stanage seems stronger.

The BMC’s Henry Folkard spoke passionately about the importance of Stanage to climbers and hill walkers, and how commercialisation of North Lees could undermine the conservation gains won by the work of the Stanage Forum and the PDNPA’s recent management.

Folkard pointed to the success enjoyed by the National Trust and RSPB on the Eastern Edges as an example of how Stanage might be managed in future. The BMC will continue discussions about a possible bid from the National Trust, the RSPB and the BMC to manage North Lees.
 

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