Report by Local Democracy Reporter – Jon Cooper
Desperate Buxton residents are growing increasingly concerned about a deteriorating footpath that has been closed for nearly 15 years and is in a state of limbo due to a private unrepaired and dangerous wall along the route.
The Derbyshire’s Neglected Roads Facebook group highlighted one resident’s concerns for the ‘High Path’, on the A6 Bakewell Road, at Buxton, who described it as an ‘absolute mess’ and that it looks ‘awful’ for those entering the town, and that there is a ‘real danger of a complete collapse of the retaining wall’.
However, correspondence from a Derbyshire County Council representative revealed that despite efforts to address the matter the council has had to close the public path for public safety reasons until the private owner of the nearby land and dilapidated wall can repair the structure because it has collapsed in short sections and other areas are showing signs of deterioration.
The resident stated: “The public footpath has been closed for getting on for 15 years with little or no progress being made. The full length of this thoroughfare is an absolute mess and looks awful to anyone entering Buxton from the south.
“There is also the very real danger of a complete collapse of the retaining wall bringing massive disruption to the area.”
Derbyshire County Council has investigated the situation after concerns have been raised by the public as well as the Facebook group Derbyshire’s Neglected Roads with hopes for the walkway to be made safe and reopened.
The Reform UK-controlled council stated in correspondence with a concerned party that some tree works have been undertaken to remove dead or diseased trees on the private land above the wall which were also posing a potential risk to highway users.
Derbyshire County Council had also been facilitating opportunities for Buxton Civic Association to potentially take over ownership of the private land but due to the ongoing risks and remedial costs to repair the private wall this is no longer being pursued.
The council also met with the landowner, according to correspondence with a concerned party, and advised them to speak with High Peak Borough Council to see if the borough council could offer any support or guidance or grant funding to help pay for repairs.
Derbyshire County Council has also stated that it feels it would not be prudent to use highways funding to undertake works to a private wall on private land.
The path will have to be kept closed, according to the county council, until the owner of the wall commits to a significant investment to repair the structure and to prevent any collapse.
Derbyshire County Council stated there is another footpath on the other side of the A6 and, in the meantime, the county council has shared its internal wall structure report with the land and wall owner.
A county council spokesperson said: “Our local members and council officers have been working for many years to help get this issue resolved and we understand how frustrating it is for everyone involved.
“As the retaining wall and the land behind it is privately owned, the responsibility lies with the landowner.
“Until the owner undertakes the work to reduce the risk of collapse, we will keep the ‘High Path’ closed. In the meanwhile, we continue to monitor the path and regularly keep it clear of fallen branches and dead wood.”
Derbyshire County Council has been reported as being reluctant to buy the land and the wall which had been subject to an auction in December 2022.
Buxton Civic Association has stated the state of the wall and the closed path is also harming Buxton’s image on the approach to the town.
Conservative High Peak Borough Cllr Adrian Hopkinson said: “‘The High Path’ on Bakewell Road has been an eyesore for many years. The land in question was sold by Derbyshire County Council in 2008 to a private buyer.
“Since then, it has deteriorated to the state it is in now. Over the years there have been attempts to resolve the situation.
“Councillors Linda Grooby and Tony Kemp have spent countless hours lobbying Derbyshire County Council which resulted in funding being made [available] for a clean up of the area a couple of years ago, based on public safety as well as the negative impact on visitors to the town.
“The land is privately owned and understandably Derbyshire County Council are reluctant to use public money to rectify a privately owned problem.
“I hope that all councillors can work together to bring this finally, to a satisfactory conclusion for the residents of Buxton.”
The concerned resident who commented on Facebook stated that the county council appears to be ‘powerless’ and the resident fears Buxton will have to put up with the closed path and dilapidated wall for years to come after describing the situation as a ‘civic embarrassment’.
The raised path next to the A6 Bakewell Road, in Buxton, is known locally as the ‘High Path’ and it is about 500metres long and runs alongside the A6 in an elevated position as it enters the town from the South.
It was closed in 2011 after safety concerns regarding overhanging trees causing parts of the walls bordering the footpath to collapse.
The private wall that retains the private land is to the rear of the footpath and the wall extends along the whole length of the path varying in height from about 1.5metres to four metres and it has collapsed in short sections and in other areas there are signs of deterioration, according to the county council.
Derbyshire County Council has stated that it understands the value of the private land is minimal at the moment due to the current risks and liabilities relating to the wall which needs significant investment to ensure ongoing safety.
The council added that it’s highways department will keep the ‘High Path’ closed until the owner of the wall undertakes works to reduce the risk of collapse and the council has shared its own internal structural wall report with the owner.
High Peak Labour MP Jon Pearce said: “Residents have waited nearly 15 years for the A6 Buxton ‘High Path’ to be sorted. That is far too long.
“Four years ago, Derbyshire County Council said it would work towards a solution. Yet the path remains closed, there is still no clear plan to reopen it, and residents are no closer to getting this important route back.
“I recognise there are complications involving private land and the condition of the wall, but complexity cannot become an excuse for doing nothing indefinitely. This is an important route for people in Buxton and a highly visible gateway into the town.
“The previous Conservative administration had years to resolve this, and the current Reform administration now has responsibility for getting a grip on it.
“Residents deserve answers. Derbyshire County Council should set out exactly what options it has explored, what discussions have taken place with the landowner, and – most importantly – what it is now going to do to finally get the ‘High Path’ reopened.”
