Safety warning as dozens ignore trail closure signs

The Peak District National Park Authority said there were about 100 trail closed signs in place, as well as barriers

Peak District National Park Authority The Monsal Trail covered in snow with a red barrier and a "stop trail closed sign" at the front of the photo. Behind the signs, is a tree on the ground. — The Peak District National Park Authority said there were about 100 trail closed signs in place, as well as barriers

A safety warning has been issued after dozens of people accessed a trail that is shut while trees are felled and maintenance work is carried out.

The Peak District National Park Authority said people had been climbing barriers and ignoring signs on the Monsal Trail in Derbyshire.

The route closed on Monday for six weeks, on weekdays, while about 1,500 trees with ash dieback disease are felled, and fencing is installed to support a stretch of "dilapidated" dry stone walls.

Matt Freestone, from the authority, said on Tuesday, about 100 people accessed the trail, which he said was dangerous and slowing down workers.

A safety warning has been issued to reinforce that the Monsal Trail is shut, as a number of people are still using it

Peak District National Park Authority The Monsal Trail covered in snow, with a tractor on it lifting two tree trunks — A safety warning has been issued to reinforce that the Monsal Trail is shut, as a number of people are still using it

Mr Freestone added the signs along the trail, as well as pedestrian barriers at key access points, were "pretty hard to miss".

He added: "We have had people climbing over the fences, refusing to stop and continuing to walk through the work area.

"That means contractors have to stop work, deal with the people, and that delays things, causes an issue for the contractors and takes up a lot of their man power."

He said contractors had experienced people refusing to follow their instruction and being quite rude.

As well as trees being felled, big vehicles are travelling up and down the trail

Peak District National Park Authority Machinery on the Monsal Trail where tree felling is taking place — As well as trees being felled, big vehicles are travelling up and down the trail

Mr Freestone, corporate property manager at the authority, added the work they were doing was dangerous.

"Trees will be chopped down and falling on to the trail," he said.

"The contractors also have quite big vehicles that will be travelling up and down the trail, they will be using chainsaws, there will be kit on the ground.

"There are a number of risks to the public that they might get hurt from that work.

"We are also doing maintenance work on dilapidated dry stone walls so we have contractors moving around at high level above the trail.

"They are at great risk of dislodging material down on to the trail so anyone in that vicinity would be at massive risk."

The trail is currently fully closed but sections will start to open as soon as possible, said Mr Freestone.

All signs have QR codes which link to the authority's website, where there will be updates on when sections of the trail open

Peak District National Park Authority The Monsal Trail covered in snow with a red barrier and a "stop trail closed sign" at the front of the photo. — All signs have QR codes which link to the authority's website, where there will be updates on when sections of the trail open

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