Longstone Parish Council (near Monsal Head) has argued that the rail will disrupt the local’s quality of life because of all the pollution, which will come from the trains. There will be air pollution, noise pollution and visual pollution. They are also concerned at where the funding will come from and not be a burden of the locals. Research also shows that trains are an unpopular form of transport, which is why only 2% of people use them. The trains will be a damage to SSSI also. On the other hand it will be good for business, as it will bring in more tourism. Overall Longstone Parish Council is against the re-opening of the railway.
The Peak District National Park Authority (PDNPA) have noticed that re-opening the track will mean better transport links and more tourism, increasing jobs in the area and overall income, also a reduce in the cars using the A6 which are all benefits but think that the negatives out-weigh them. Trains will cause pollution of the area, which is supposed to be of natural beauty. They will ruin a peaceful environment. There will be no Monsal Trail, which is the most accessible footpath for everyone. Also more tourists will have an adverse effect on the environment. PDNPA are against.
Sheffield Car & Stroll Society are against re-opening of the London-Derby-Manchester rail line because the Monsal Trail is a footpath suited for most people including the less-abled, it links key areas of interest around the Peak District. The Car & Stroll Society is one where visitors can park their car near to the trail and walk along. It would be very difficult to replace the Monsal Trail because it is a flat, even, hard track linking historic and ecological areas. They stated that the loss of the trail is not an acceptable price to pay for a railway.
Bakewell Town Council are one of the few, which are very much for the re-opening of the London-Derby-Manchester railway. Bakewell is a honey-pot area for tourists, who bring in lots of cars and coaches; it is believed that the trains will reduce the amount of traffic pollution and congestion in and around Bakewell. In a survey taken in Bakewell, 96% of the people who answered agreed that it would be a good idea to re-open the railway. Also it would help when Bakewell holds festivals such as the annual Arts Festival. The railway would also bring more jobs and more income into Bakewell. It was also suggested that steam trains could be used so it wouldn’t be such an eyesore to the Peak District and as an extra attraction.
The Ramblers Association was against. Already the Peak District sees 120,000 – 200,000 visitors per year and the rail would bring in even more tourists and the area wouldn’t be able to cope with it. Also a new trail may not be preferred because it would not be as famous and accessible as the well known Monsal Trail, therefore this, in contrast, may decrease the number of tourists and then businesses around the area would loose money. Also during the construction of the railway ramblers and other tourists would not visit the area. Pollution from the trains such as black steam would leave sooty deposits around the area and reduce the natural beauty.
The Disabled Association were against the re-opening of the railway because it is the most accessible footpath for the less-abled people linking lots of key areas around the Peak District National Park. It was stated that people who visit the national park wish to escape to the countryside away from the pressures of modern urban living. Alternative footpaths would not be suitable for disabled people because none can match up to the hard, flat, and even surface of the Monsal Trail. Also if a single-track rail were to run alongside the footpath it would severely affect the quality because they would become much narrower and unsuited for less-abled users.
The Conservation Groups are clearly against. It was stated that the clearance of the vegetation around the trail would be hard and the dry-stone walls around the area must be conserved. There would be less pollution if it were to remain closed and also less expensive. Trains would bring in more people which they don’t want as it is a strain on the environment. Also the Monsal Trail provides a safe environment for activities such as abseiling. Also the removal of the vegetation for the rail will disrupt animal habitats.
The British Mountaineering Council are against because the Peak District is a safe and challenging area for mountain sports and if the rail were to be re-opened then they would find it difficult to find new, safe areas which are just as challenging.
The Quarry Owners are for the rail being reopened because it would run very close to the Quarry. It would link the North West of the country with the East Midlands. It would provide a good condition route for the transport of the limestone and take pressure off the roads which are unfit for the large lorries which are forced to use them. Also it would create more jobs for locals.
In conclusion there are 3 committees for re-opening the rail and the remaining 6 are against.
Re-opening the rail would disrupt far to many people and make the Peak District a less desirable place to visit which would in turn decrease business, tourism and income in and around the area. It would only benefit a minority of people and the income they would receive I don’t think would replace that which would be lost.