A route connecting Manchester and Sheffield could cost more than £100m to repair, according to Derbyshire County Council, which is responsible for maintaining the A57 Snake Pass through the Peak District.
The council said the provisional estimate to investigate and repair four active landslips along the route is in excess of £100m, which it says is beyond its means. The landslips are located at Doctor’s Gate, Alport, Gillott Hey and Wood Cottage.
Funding and responsibility
The council received a one-off government grant of £7.6m last year to help deal with the landslips, but it says maintaining the long, winding road costs millions every year. The Department for Transport (DfT) said it has no intention of taking over responsibility for the route.
High Peak MP Jon Pearce has been campaigning alongside the mayors of Greater Manchester, South Yorkshire and the East Midlands for a long-term solution. He said the Prime Minister, in his previous role as Mayor of Greater Manchester, argued that Snake Pass should be considered key national infrastructure.
Council defends action
Councillor Charlotte Hill, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for highways, said the council recognises the importance of the route but faces complex challenges due to its geology, topography and exposure to severe weather. She said the council recently completed a feasibility study for the Doctor’s Gate landslip and has agreement to repair it using some of the £7m DfT grant, alongside installing safety measures.
The council said it is actively working on repair options for all other landslip sites, including Woodhouses (Cowms Moor), Alport and Gillot Hey. Maintenance work includes wall repairs at Doctor’s Gate, inspections, road patching, safety barrier upgrades, white lining and removing overhanging vegetation.
Future of the route
Responsibility for the road will transfer to the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) when Derbyshire County Council is abolished in 2028. The EMCCA is in receipt of £2bn of devolved Transport for City Regions funding for 2025/26 to 2031/32.
A DfT spokesperson said: “While it is Derbyshire County Council's responsibility to maintain this iconic road, last year we announced a £7.6m boost to make life-saving improvements on the route.” The spokesperson added that the DfT is providing the EMCCA with £2 billion in Transport for City Regions until the 2030s.
Around 300,000 people use Snake Pass annually, despite signposts directing drivers to the more northerly Woodhead Pass route.
