Stepping up safety at social media’s fave cave
NEW MEASURES AT THOR’S CAVE AS DAYTRIPPERS FLOCK TO BEAUTY SPOT
PLANS have been approved to create steps up to a dramatic natural feature that has become the darling of the Instagram set.
Throughout the pandemic, daytrippers have been flocking to Thor’s Cave, in Wetton, to scale the challenging climb up to the ancient formation, which has placed pressure on the village and led to regular callouts for mountain rescuers.
But a planning application submitted to the Peak District National Park Authority will see the creation of steps and improvement of surfacing to one of the heavily used rights of way, along with the installation of new “access furniture”.
The application was put forward by the trustees of the Devonshire Maintenance, and now planners at the national park authority have given their approval to the project.
A supporting statement by Charlotte Leech, deputy estate manager at Chatsworth, said: “The works proposed at Thor’s Cave are to improve public access to a popular site.
“Thor’s Cave has always been well visited, but during 2020 and 2021 visitor numbers and the associated pressures have increased rapidly.
“One of the main routes of access is a concessionary footpath from Wetton village.
“This is a concessionary right of way granted by the trustees of the Devonshire Maintenance Fund.
“The condition of this path has deteriorated, which is leading to visitors straying from the path and extending areas of erosion.
“Visitors also want to access the head of Thor’s Cave which has limited formal access, and visitors do not remain on the designated route.
“The access is currently steep and there is a large scar of erosion from visitors.”
Some of this area is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and so requires improvement to the management of people to reduce erosion.
The planning application was supported by an application to extend the public access to the top of Thor’s Cave to open access land.
Ms Leech added: “I was approached by the Peak District National Park Ranger Service to discuss how we could best manage people pressures in this area.
“The planning application is supported by Rose Clarke, the area ranger.
“If successful the proposed work will result in a FIPL (Farming in Protected Landscapes) application and this is supported by Rebekah Newman – Peak District National Park Authority farm advisor and Suesmith – PDNPA Access and rights of way officer.”
In a consultation process, Wetton Parish Council, said: “The parish council finds this to be a constructive proposal by the applicant, demonstrating their recognition that the recent significant increase in visitor numbers is damaging the environment.
“Accordingly, the parish council supports this application and hopes that it is just the beginning of a series of further projects to manage pedestrian and vehicular access to this popular attraction and normalise
the residents’ peaceful enjoyment of their homes and surroundings.”
A report by Andrea Needham – senior planner – South, said: “Local residents who have commented on or objected to the scheme have raised wider concerns about the proposed scheme.
“There has clearly been a significant increase in the number of people visiting the cave in the last two years and it appears that many of them park within the village of Wetton, as well as approaching the cave from the Manifold Valley to the north.
“Residents report that this is causing significant problems in terms of congestion, blocking of the highway, anti-social behaviour.
“Some residents are of the view that by improving the surface of the path (and therefore making the cave more accessible) this may encourage yet more people to visit the area and park in the village.
“Some suggest that it would be better for the applicant to close the concessionary path from Wetton altogether.
“These local concerns are fully acknowledged and understood. The increases in visitor pressure since the beginning of the pandemic is an issue that is being faced at popular tourist destinations across the National Park.
“However, the concessionary path from Wetton has been in place for around 40 years. It is a well publicised route and forms a circular loop.
“The cave is also heavily promoted on social media sites. The applicant has stated that there is no public footpath to the top of the cave, but that it is accessed regularly, regardless, and in great numbers.
“We concur with their view that people would still arrive and try to use the route, even if it were closed. This, in turn, could lead to trespass onto the neighbouring private land.
“Our view is that the current scheme is unlikely to have any significant impact on the wider issues of visitor pressures on the village, and that broader matters of visitor management in the area, while recognised, fall outside of the scope of this planning application.
“As an aside, it is understood that it is proposed to improve way marking and signage to the cave as part of the scheme.
“The proposed footpath improvements are essential in order to secure the effective management of this area of the Natural Zone and would improve the footpaths in question in accordance with policies.
“It is considered that impacts on the amenity of local residents is likely to be neutral.”