Above: Cow slurry was sprayed across the entrance gates to the railway track to deter walkers when we started gathering evidence to have the route recognised as a right of way.
Several people have asked where things stand with the application to make the old Cromford & High Peak Railway track from Macclesfield Old Road on the outskirts of Buxton a public right of way. Here’s a summary, based on documents Derbyshire County Council (DCC) recently provided.
In short, DCC has decided in our favour, but because objections were lodged, the decision now rests with a Planning Inspector. A public inquiry will be held on 23 and 24 March 2027, from 10am at the Palace Hotel, Buxton. There hasn’t been a hearing yet – this is it.
How we got here
- September 2020 – the Peak & Northern Footpaths Society submits the application, with 58 user evidence forms
- August 2023 – after public consultation, DCC decides to add the route as a footpath
- September 2025 – the order is advertised; three objections follow, so it goes to the Secretary of State
- October 2026 – the inquiry date is set
The objections
A neighbouring resident cited privacy, safety and the existing footpath that runs in parallel, past Plex Farm and through Shay Wood. DCC has replied that the law doesn’t allow these to be considered. The only question is whether a right of way already exists.
The Byways & Bridleways Trust objected for the opposite reason: it thinks the route should be a bridleway, open to cyclists and riders too.
The landowner says walkers have been challenged since 1987, that there were ‘Private Road’ signs and closed gates, and that the route was shut during Foot and Mouth in 2001.
DCC’s response is that a ‘Private Road’ sign reads as a ban on vehicles, not walkers. It says the gates never stopped anyone on foot, because there was always a gap or stile beside them. It also says the Foot and Mouth closure was a temporary pause for disease control, not an attempt to stop public use.
DCC adds that it has seen no evidence of what the landowner’s other signs said or when they went up. None of the 57 users whose forms it accepted recalls being challenged before spring 2020. It has asked the Inspector to confirm the order.
What happens after the inquiry
There’s no verdict on the day. The Inspector will send a written decision weeks or months later, and may confirm the order, refuse it, or change it – for example to a bridleway, which would mean a further round of objections.
There’s no appeal in the usual sense. Either side can go to the High Court within six weeks, but only if they believe the Inspector got the law wrong.
What you can do
The inquiry at the Palace Hotel next March is open to anyone. DCC will call six witnesses, but others may speak or send a written statement. If you filled in an evidence form in 2020, please complete the short inquiry supporters form so we can tell the Inspector numbers in advance.
If you’ve used the route but didn’t fill in a form, please get in touch through the contact page. We’re particularly keen to hear from anyone who remembers when the gates went up, what any notices said, or the spreading of the slurry across the track gates.
Even a short written statement helps. Stick to what you remember yourself: when you walked the route, how often, and whether anyone ever stopped you. I’ll post more as I hear it.
