Car Parking in the Gorge

One of the major problems of the Don Gorge relates to car parking.  On weekends, it can reach epic proportions, which are even worse when a nice weekend coincides with a fishing match.  We love having visitors and would like to welcome everyone to this beautiful area, but sometimes it's just not possible.  The present car park is very small and can be full from 8 am to 5 pm, leaving the casual visitor with nowhere to park.  The result is that some owners park their vehicles in an unsafe manner without consideration for walkers or the environment. 

Over the past few weeks, there have been occasions when things have got totally out of hand as the following photos show:

Can it be considered safe when the icecream van has to park half way across the road just before the blind bend or when pedestrians have to walk down the middle of the road because cars are parked on the pavement just round the same blind bend. 

Is it right that the verge of the woodland on Nursery Lane should be cut down so that cars can jump the kerb to park on it? 

It is fair to cyclists, pushchair and wheelchairs users that cars should block the entry way near the landing stage so that they are unable to reach the Trans-Pennine Way and the bird hides? 

The Don Gorge Community Group and the Don Gorge Strategic Partnership are currently investigating other, more appropriate areas for parking.  It may mean a little further to walk, but isn't that what people come to do on an afternoon out in the Gorge?    

We hope if we get permission to use these other sites, that people will use them and see the benefits to the environment of doing so.

In the meantime, please be considerate to the needs of other users.