Push for Snake Pass funding continues

Efforts to secure additional government backing for the Snake Pass remain ongoing, according to the Mayor of the East Midlands.

Previous discussions have not stalled, even though ministers have so far shown limited appetite for further support.

The A57 route through the Peak District is widely regarded as one of England’s most challenging roads, with sharp bends, steep gradients and a history of repeated closures caused by landslips. 

Responsibility for maintaining the road sits with Derbyshire County Council, which has previously warned that the long-term cost of keeping it open is becoming unsustainable, with repairs potentially running into tens of millions of pounds. 

Last year, a cross-regional alliance was formed involving East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard. The group has been pressing for extra investment, arguing that the route is too important a link between their regions to be managed in isolation by a single local authority. 

However, the Government has maintained that significant funding has already been provided, pointing to a £7.6 million package announced last summer aimed at safety and improvement works along the A57. That position has not changed since the joint lobbying effort began. 

Despite this, Mayor Ward said she does not believe the door to further funding has been closed. She also indicated that discussions are continuing, although she is still waiting for Derbyshire’s new Reform UK-led administration to present a formal proposal that could be taken forward to ministers. 

The three mayors argue that a longer-term solution is needed, with more shared responsibility across government and local authorities, and any future bid must be clearly defined with Derbyshire County Council playing a central role in shaping it. 

In response, Derbyshire County Council cabinet member for highways, Councillor Charlotte Hill, said work is already underway to better understand the scale of the challenge. 

She confirmed that feasibility studies are examining how four major landslip sites along Snake Pass might be repaired, alongside the potential costs involved and called for the government to become involved as early as possible. 

The Department for Transport has said it recognises the importance of the route and highlighted the £7.6 million already allocated for improvements intended to improve safety. 

A spokesperson added that Derbyshire County Council can also apply for additional support through the national Structures Fund, designed to help repair and renew key roads, bridges and tunnels. 

Snake Pass itself remains one of the UK’s most scenic driving routes, but its beauty comes with difficulty. The combination of exposed terrain, sharp bends and unpredictable weather means closures are frequent, particularly during winter months or after periods of heavy rain that trigger landslips.