Many of the members of Peak District MTB are keen participants in the British Heart Foundation (BHF) Peak District Ride. We contacted the BHF to better understand if the works currently being undertaken by DCC on the high moorland trails would have any effect upon the event in the future. The response was quite unequivocal:
“Thanks for getting In touch and for the update on your meeting with the maintenance work taking place. I am aware of this and I am in the middle of looking at options for different routes if the event is to go ahead in 2015. At present I don’t anticipate that this event will take place in 2015 if the work continues as it affects so many of our routes and we have also been advised that numbers will need to be much lower.
This year the event was capped at 550 MTB Riders and has already raised £36,000 out of the £40,000 target for the charity. It is our only MTB ride in the events portfolio and I really enjoyed delivering it, the feedback has been fantastic too.
Please keep me updated with the outcome.”
It is also likely that there will be an economic impact if this event is cancelled. It occurs over a weekend and it is likely that revenues for campsites, B&Bs, cafes and local shops will be affected.