‘This has scared the living daylight out of us’
Sophie Fagone Buscimese Trainee Reporter
04:00, 11 Dec 2025
Cheryl and Simon opened their cycle hire centre in 2010 and are now worried about its survival.(Image: Blackwell Mill Cycle Hire)
A family-run business in one of the Peak District’s most popular hiking destinations fears for its survival after plans for an authority to open a competitor just a stone’s throw away.
Cheryl and Simon, who have been running Blackwell Mill Cycle Hire on Monsal Trail near Wye Dale Station for 15 years, said they believe their business would feel a “detrimental impact” if the plans were approved.
Peak District National Park has submitted a planning application to open a cycle hire centre at Millers Dale Station, which would be the authorities’ third cycle hire centre on the 8-mile stretch.
According to a planning application, the centre aims to rent out around 150 bicycles, almost double the number Blackwell Mill Cycle Hire has on offer.
“Millers Dale Station is only a bit over a mile from us, and the opening of a cycle hire centre there will most definitely be catastrophic for us,” Cheryl said.
“We supported and attended the opening of a cafe at the station, and at the time were assured the authorities wouldn’t open a cycle hire centre there.”
She added: “This has scared the living daylight out of us. We have put everything into our family business, it’s been a very happy place and we have invested so much into building our reputation and being a welcoming spot for people to come to.”
The couple explained that they had already seen footfall decrease over the last few years, which they believe is due to families having less disposable income.
“We are already seeing less people come to us, families just have less money to spend,” they said.
“That has already been a source of concern, and now we are going into winter scared for our survival.”
Cheryl said she and Simon are also concerned about the high volume of cyclists already on the trails.
She explained that many visitors had taken to review sites such as Tripadvisor to complain about the busy trails, which are frequented by many cyclists, horse riders and hikers during the summer months.
“Adding even more bikes to the mix just doesn’t make sense,” she said.
“Even if the National Park needs money, I don’t understand why it has to be raised this way, it feels like an attack on us.”
Peak District National Park told Derbyshire Live that a new bike hire centre would help authorities rake in much-needed funding, which is used to maintain the trails.
A spokesperson said that keeping the trails “open, safe and accessible” came at a “significant and rising cost”.
“The National Park Authority currently invests heavily in maintaining the trail network at a cost of £400,000 each year.
“Visitors hiring bikes from a Peak District National Park Centre are vital in helping to fund the essential maintenance that benefits everyone who enjoys the trails.
“Whilst other local bike hire centres benefit commercially from our trails, they do not contribute to the ongoing upkeep of the trail network.”
The spokesperson also confirmed that the authority was facing “substantial” financial challenges due to their grant from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs having been cut by nearly nine per cent this year.
“Our need to generate new sources of income comes from needing to protect the National Park’s most important features to ensure they can continue to be enjoyed by everyone for years to come,” they added.
“Our proposal to open Millers Dale as a National Park Centre with a bike hiring service will help secure the future of the Monsal Trail by improving responsible use of the trails and increasing options for accessibility, ensuring there is something for everyone.
“We support local independent businesses, but we are also committed to enhancing and protecting the Peak District National Park for everyone and that now requires generating new sources of income.”
