Back'o'Whitehall

 Out on the bike this morning, with the intention of checking out a local lane that Derbyshire County Council re-surfaced last summer. I hadn't been along there since the work was done and I decided it was high time that I did.

The lane, a BOAT (Byway Open To All Traffic), runs from the A5004 Long Hill road and goes behind Whitehall Outdoor Centre, hence the title of this post. It's known as the Roman road and is marked as 'Old Road' on my OS map. It's also part of the National Cycle Network.

The surface was originally tarmac, but has been allowed to decline over the years with the tarmac crumbling away in places. Both ends are steeply inclined, and have been repaired in the past with bricks, kerbstones etc., making for a short but tough ascent and a fun descent. The higher ground in the middle gives excellent views across the Goyt Valley.

DCC have tarmaced the entire length of the lane, a move unpopular with local mountain bikers (horseriders don't use it as there is a tricky exit onto a main road). The idea is to provide a safe alternative to Long Hill for cyclists as part of a package of improvements along that road. The issue for us mountain bikers is one of sanitisation, after all we've made a hobby out of riding knackered rights of way. There's also the problem that DCC could have inadvertently built a rat-run for drivers wanting to travel between Buxton and Whaley/Combs. Both these issues were discussed with representatives of DCC when they held a public consultation. Myself and a few others put forward a proposal to only tarmac one half of the width of the route, this would give a smooth surface for leisure riders whilst keeping us mountain bikers happy. It would also prevent the lane turning into a short cut for car drivers. I firmly believe that the consultation was merely a box-ticking exercise, DCC had already made their mind up as to what they wanted and had no intention of listening to anyone else's ideas. This is of course just my opinion.

The problem that we mtbers have is that the lane is part of the National Cycle Network, and I have seen people struggle along it on road bikes and even folders, so for those riders it needed to be improved. But, it's a shame that a local section of off-road riding has been sanitised when an alternative solution was offered. However, knowing the kind of quality job that DCC does I'm sure it'll be back to its old self within a few years. The process seems to have started already...

First section of resurfacing, at the Long Hill end. Note the un-tarmaced strip in the centre.

This used to be a muddy climb.

Plenty of cross-drains in evidence.

Further along, tarmac across the entire width.

Downhill section behind Whitehall. Again a strip has been left in the middle, which is now getting washed away.

Cross-drain choked with gravel washed down from the unsurfaced centre.

Centre section washing away.

How long will that drain last?

These photos were taken so that I can moniter just how long these repairs last. To be fair tho', all DCC have really done is restored the old surface.

Paul.