Reform needs to get back in the saddle on Snake Pass

It was announced last week that the Tour de France Femmes route in 2027 will pass over Snake Pass. That is fantastic news for our area. One of the world’s great sporting events will bring international attention to High Peak and the wider Peak District, showcasing our landscape, communities and everything this part of the country has to offer.

But the announcement has also shone a spotlight once again on the long-running concerns over the maintenance and safety of Snake Pass. And once again, Reform-run Derbyshire County Council appears more interested in passing the buck than getting a grip of the problem.

Snake Pass is one of the most iconic and strategically important roads in our region. It links communities across High Peak, Derbyshire, Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire. It supports local businesses, helps people get to work, and provides vital access to the Peak District for residents and visitors alike.
That is why local people are rightly frustrated that we still seem stuck on the starting line when it comes to securing the repairs and long-term investment the road desperately needs.

Anyone who regularly uses Snake Pass knows the problems all too well. It can be dangerous in poor weather, closures happen far too often, repairs drag on, and unstable ground beneath sections of the route has caused disruption for years. When the road shuts, traffic is pushed onto surrounding routes, journey times rise, nearby communities bear the strain, and local trade suffers as visitors are forced elsewhere.
The response from Derbyshire County Council, based in Matlock and responsible for maintaining the road, has been deeply disappointing. Reform’s time in charge has felt like watching a road traffic accident in slow motion.

Their approach appears to be to throw up their hands and say fixing Snake Pass will cost tens of millions of pounds. But leadership means doing more than listing problems. It means finding solutions.

The council should be preparing a serious proposal to take to Government for further support. Other areas are already bidding for funds to repair and renew major infrastructure, including roads, bridges and tunnels. 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.