MP attacks council for not having 'credible plan' to fix crumbling Snake Pass into Sheffield
“With the Tour de France Femmes coming and the eyes of the world soon turning to our area, there is no excuse for standing still”
An MP has attacked a council claiming it does not having a “credible plan” to fix the crumbling Snake Pass into Sheffield.
Jon Pearce, MP for High Peak, claimed Derbyshire County Council was more interested in “passing the buck” than getting a grip of the problem.
The A57 Snake Pass is a major link between Sheffield and Manchester. It has four landslips and two sets of temporary lights, where the road is down to one lane, and a 7.5 tonne weight limit.
The state of the road came up again after it was announced the women’s Tour de France will use it next July.
Mr Pearce said Reform, which runs the council, had to prepare a serious proposal to take to Government.
He added: “Other areas are already bidding for funds to repair and renew major infrastructure. Unless Reform gets its act together, Derbyshire risks being left behind.
“The Government has already committed £7.6 million for safety and improvement works on the route. On top of that, I have joined with local Labour mayors Claire Ward, Oliver Coppard and Andy Burnham to establish the Peak Partnership, which is making the case for investment across our area. One of its clear priorities is Snake Pass.
“But we cannot make the strongest case for further funding unless Derbyshire County Council does its job, identifies what needs doing, and comes forward with a credible plan.
“With the Tour de France Femmes coming and the eyes of the world soon turning to our area, there is no excuse for standing still.”
In April, the Department for Transport appeared to reject calls for funding and directed East Midlands Mayor, Claire Ward, to use existing monies, saying the route was for Derbyshire and the East Midlands to resolve.
Coun Charlotte Hill, cabinet member for potholes, highways and transport, at Derbyshire County Council said they were undertaking feasibility and technical studies to fully understand the extent of the issues on Snake Pass and the options that may be available.
She added: “This work is essential before any detailed proposals can be developed and discussed with funding partners, including the Government.
“Our focus is on ensuring any future proposal is robust, evidence‑led and deliverable. The technical work currently underway is a necessary step to make sure we are in the strongest possible position when opportunities for funding arise.
“We are working with the East Midlands Combined County Authority to explore opportunities that could help secure the long‑term resilience of the A57. “Discussions with partners are ongoing and form part of the wider work currently being undertaken.”
A permanent, long‑term repair was unlikely before the Tour de France, but they would do their “utmost” to ensure the route was safe for the event.
She added: “Our focus is on managing Snake Pass safely and responsibly, and on doing the necessary work to identify sustainable long‑term solutions.
“The local MP’s support in providing long term partnerships from a central government and mayoral commitment would be most welcome and would positively add to our previous lobbying.”
The Snake Pass is scheduled to close completely between June 15 and July 3 for ‘intrusive ground investigation’ works near the summit.
Another landslip – known as Alport – is said to need hundreds of millions of pounds to repair.