Peak District: 'I learned the hard way about parking near beauty spot'
A woman who drove to the Peak District for a hike - only to return to her car to find it damaged and with a parking ticket - is warning others to learn from her mistakes.Chelsea Coltart, 28, was visiting Mam Tor on 18 January to catch a glimpse of the sunrise, after seeing videos of the beauty spot on social media.After completing a circular route, the marketing manager discovered the fine, along with the damaged car that had been parked in a no stopping zone."Following other cars on the day was probably my biggest regret and I'll never do that again," she added.
Roads in the national park have recently been blighted by parking issues, including on 11 January when "around 200 cars" prevented gritting from taking place.On Friday, calls were made to bring together MPs, councils and emergency services in order to tackle the problem.Chelsea, from Milton Keynes, said she initially did not notice any clear signage when trying to find a space. "I don't think there is enough guidance on where to park but... we've all passed our test and we should know the signs," she added.Chelsea believes her car was damaged by a large vehicle trying to pass."They must have hit me from the front because the wheel was actually protruding. I got a quote for repairs and it was £2,000," she said.Chelsea filmed the moment she found her damaged vehicle and posted the video to her TikTok channel.
"I was looking for a space from 07:30 - just going back and forth doing U-turns - and then parked where all the other cars were at 07:53 and then I got back at 12:30," she said."You couldn't park anywhere. Every car was up the side of the road. There were cars everywhere. It was awful to be honest."According to the Highway Code, a clearway sign means no stopping.While she admitted accidentally parking next to such a sign, Chelsea believes there is not enough parking provision at the beauty spot and accepts the "frustration" locals must feel."I think if places are becoming more popular, which, again is a Catch-22, they need more infrastructure in place such as car parks or more signage," she said."You don't want to build car parks and damage the natural environment, so it is such a hard balance."
Since Chelsea's £70 fine and original TikTok video - which has been viewed more than 2.4 million times and attracted more than 1,500 comments - she started to point people in the direction of nearby free parking in the national park.Those posts prompted a response from Derbyshire Police's TikTok account, which asked Chelsea to report the incident and said the points she raised were "brilliant".Chelsea reported the incident to police, which later said it could not investigate without further information.Addressing some of the negative comments she received on the social media platform, Chelsea said: "I know emergency vehicles were able to get through, it's just bad parking."You go to a new place and get stick because it's your first time but you've got to start somewhere with everything."Everyone has their own struggles in life, you don't know what someone's going through."Social media, either way, you're always going to get hate. I do marketing for a living, I know what it's like. You've just got to do damage control."
A spokesperson for the Peak District National Park Authority said: "Dangerous or disruptive parking can affect not only those going about their business in the local area, but also restrict emergency services access or highways maintenance."Over 80 car parking locations comprising thousands of spaces are listed on the national park authority website including sat-nav postcodes and other navigation information such as What3Words."A spokesperson for Derbyshire County Council added: "We continue to have our parking wardens out in those very popular areas which can experience parking issues, such as Mam Tor, seven days a week."Blocking roads causes issues for the emergency services, buses, bin lorries, gritting lorries and mountain rescue and we would appeal, yet again, for people to park considerately and in accordance with the highway code."Derbyshire Police said it was continuing to work with local councils and partners to devise a long-term solution to the ongoing parking issues in the area.A spokesperson said: "Most people do manage to park safely, but we have seen dangerous and irresponsible parking from some people in recent weeks, bringing roads to a standstill and hindering emergency services."If the parking spaces are full, parking your car dangerously is not an option."Reflecting on her experience, Chelsea said she would do "a lot more research and be more considerate of the people that are living in the area"."You know, if you don't plan, you plan to fail," she added.
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NBC News
a day ago
- NBC News
He was biking across Iran and documenting it on TikTok. Then war broke out.
From navigating tough weather in Australia to being questioned by police in Egypt, Ian Andersen has faced many challenges in his journeys biking across continents and documenting them on social media. But the American creator, known as 'ridewithian' to his 43,300 followers on TikTok, never had war on his list of possible hurdles — until last week. Amid his 29-day trek across Iran, Andersen found himself stuck just after Israeli forces began a 'pre-emptive' strike on the country. As Iran and Israel continue to trade attacks, visitors like Andersen have scrambled to find ways to safely exit the Middle East. He was among several people to document how he was able to depart the country, and he shared his journey with followers. Andersen said that at first, he was determined to continue his Iran trip 'as intended.' But then his guide, Reza, told him something that made him change course. 'I can no longer protect you,' Reza said, according to Andersen. 'If you're stopped by police, I should just wave goodbye, because there's nothing I can do.' As of Wednesday, the State Department had advised citizens to 'leave Iran now' and to have plans that do 'not rely on U.S. government help.' Other governments have also warned their citizens to leave the region as the conflict unfolds and airspace closes. The United Kingdom has advised against " all travel to Iran." Similarly, Australia has said its citizens should not travel to Israel. Major U.S. carriers like Delta and American have offered rebooking options. Some Americans in Israel have also been able to leave the region after the state of Florida and a nonprofit organization arranged a flight to bring evacuees home. Andersen said his departure was possible only because of Reza, whose last name he did not share to protect his safety, and help from the State Department. 'I had a couple weeks there in country of really positive good experiences," he said in a phone interview. "Experiencing Iran as it should be experienced.' His first vlog from Iran, posted June 2, recorded him crossing into the country from Turkey. Not unlike other influencers whose content focuses on travel, Andersen also posted himself trying different local cuisines — including a fermented yogurt drink, a Persian omelet and kaleh pacheh, a stew made with goat head — and showing the hospitality of the Iranian people. "They tried to give us for free and said we are their guests, but we had to insist," Andersen says in one video, which Reza explains is an example of the "ta'arof," a form of etiquette practiced by Iranians worldwide. As he biked around the country, he also captured the landscape and talked to viewers about the impact of sanctions, asking in one video, "What happens when a country is cut off from the global economy for decades?" The lighthearted, fun tone of his videos began to shift one week ago while he was in Chalus. Many of his followers began commenting, sharing concerns about his safety. "Actually all of us are sad because this is happening," Reza says in one video after they heard news of the attack. "But hope for world without war. ... Everybody needs a peaceful world." The two were headed toward Tehran to try to sort out a visa for Afghanistan, which was the next country on Andersen's itinerary. "It's amazing that even after such an event, you know, an emergency, that people are so friendly," Andersen says after two people eating near them bring them a meal and insist they share with them. The information that was available in Iran was initially unclear, and it left Andersen with questions. Iran plunged into a near-total internet blackout this week, limiting Iranians' ability to access and share information with the outside world. The situation soon became 'too dangerous," Andersen says in another video, and he and Reza decided not to go to Tehran. 'It ended up being a good call, 'cause there was just more and more attacks as the days went by,' Andersen told NBC News as he reflected on his past week. 'There was lots of rumors flying around about what borders might be open," he added. "Like, what, like one of the requirements once you get to the border? Like if you're able to get a visa, if you can just go through. A lifeline came through via an email from the State Department about getting into Azerbaijan." He ultimately was able to exit through Azerbaijan with help from Reza, who drove them to the border. He said he "probably wouldn't be here talking" if it weren't for Reza. "I'm out, and truly grateful for all your prayers, messages, and support," Andersen wrote in a recent video update. "It's an honor to have you following this journey and caring about my wellbeing out here in the Middle East. ... And finally, to my Iranian guide Reza—there's no one I'd rather have had by my side." Andersen said that since he left the country, his thoughts continue to be with the people of both Iran and Israel and that he is also 'thinking about all the people who don't have the option to leave, like I did.' U.K.-based influencers Nadia Akhtar and Irfan Aziz, who go by the handle "fieldofvisions" on TikTok, where they have 60,000 followers, were also in Iran when the strikes began. The couple, who were unavailable for an interview, were traveling with their young son, Zakariya. They quickly realized they were among the last to enter the country on an incoming flight and soon had a front-row seat for the attacks from their balcony. "Iranian forces were intercepting Israeli drones right above us," Aziz says in a video. "That night, we realized this wasn't normal and it's nothing like what has happened before. We needed to start thinking about an exit plan." The advice they got from officials was simple: 'Get out now." Like Andersen, they said they leaned on help from their guide, Ali, to help them get out. Aziz said that at 1:30 a.m. that night, they drove with Ali "through the night despite getting zero sleep" to get to the Turkish border. "It was when we approached Tabriz, seven hours from Tehran, the reality of the situation kicked in," Aziz says in the video, adding that they saw smoke rising in different areas around them. "Locals told us five fighter jets had bombed a cement factory at 5 in the morning. Nowhere was truly safe," he added. Akhtar and Aziz described their goodbyes with their guide when they finally reached Turkey's border as 'emotional.' "Even though we had just met, he sacrificed his own family's safety, leaving them behind in Tehran to help us," Aziz says in part two of his video series about the experience. "And for this, we will forever be grateful to him. But not everyone has the privilege of leaving like we did. Millions of people just like Ali are at the receiving end of the war that has nothing to do with them."
Daily Record
a day ago
- Daily Record
Drivers warned that trying to stay cool this weekend could see them fined
Motorists should be wary when using their air conditioning in the hot weather Drivers are being warned that keeping their air conditioning on by leaving their car engine running could land them in the trouble. Drivers could be fined £40 if they are caught breaking The Engine Idling Law under Rule 123 of The Highway Code . The Driver and the Environment' law states that drivers must not leave a parked vehicle unattended with the engine running or leave a vehicle engine running unnecessarily while the vehicle is stationary on a public road. And with temperatures heating up, drivers are being reminded not to leave their engines running idle. Richard Evans, Head of Technical Services at webuyanycar, an online car-buying service, said: 'Idling is the act of leaving the engine of a vehicle running unnecessarily. For example, if you're picking someone up from school and you wait outside with the engine on the whole time, this would be classified as idling. 'Also known as stationary idling, Section 42 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 prohibits leaving your engine on when it is not needed. This act enforces Rule 123 of the Highway Code, which states 'you must not leave a vehicle's engine running unnecessarily while that vehicle is stationary on a public road. 'If you do leave your engine idle, you could face a fine. There aren't many exceptions to engine idling. If you are stuck in a traffic jam, it would be expected that you would turn your engine off as you aren't going anywhere. "On a warm day, keeping the air conditioning on by leaving the engine running may seem like a valid reason, but unfortunately, it is not. One of the few valid reasons to leave your engine idling while you aren't driving is if you need to defrost your windscreen on a cold morning. However, you shouldn't leave the car unattended while you do so. 'If you think you're likely to be waiting for more than a minute, it's best to just turn the engine straight off. If you're loading or unloading goods, waiting at car parks, laybys or pick-up points, turn the engine off too." Car owners can take several steps to keep their car cool before driving, especially on warmer days Use a sunshade: Placing a windshield sunshade inside the front window can block direct sunlight and reduce the temperature inside the car. This is one of the easiest and most effective ways to keep the area cool. Open the windows slightly: Leave the windows slightly open (if safe to do so) allows hot air to escape. This helps release the trapped heat and keeps the inside temperature from soaring. Park in the shade: Whenever possible, park the car in a shaded area. Trees, buildings, or structures can provide some relief from direct sunlight and help keep the car cooler. Use reflective window covers: Reflective covers for the side windows can reduce the amount of heat entering the car from all sides, not just the front. Cover the Seats: Leather and vinyl seats can get incredibly hot. Using seat covers or investing in a cooling seat cushion can help make sitting in the car more comfortable. Park with the front facing the sun: When possible, park with the front of your car facing the sun and the back of the car facing the shade. This helps heat escape through the rear of the vehicle, which may be less insulated than the front.
Leader Live
a day ago
- Leader Live
There are lofty Euros aims for Wales and manager Wilkinson
At 1,085 metres above sea level, climbing Yr Wyddfa is not for the faint-hearted. But Wilkinson trekked to the top in under 90 minutes – 'I was listening to political podcasts that were getting me angry so I stormed up,' she said – and hopes the breath-taking vistas overlooking the Eryri National Park will be matched by on-pitch sights in Switzerland. Wales may be entering their first major tournament next month as the competition's lowest-ranked team in 31st spot, but Wilkinson – the 181-times capped Canada international with Welsh ancestry – insists her players are ready to conquer 'their Everest'. 'We've used the mountain as a theme and an image throughout this campaign,' said Wilkinson, whose ties to Yr Wyddfa run deep as her parents honeymooned in the area and her family held a ceremony on the mountain in memory of her late father. 'It (qualifying) was always going to be an uphill battle with little setbacks. As we've moved towards the Euros we've talked about the summit, the Everest part of it. That something is impossible until it isn't. 'Outside Wales people can think whatever they want. Our goal is to show up and deliver to the best of our ability. I am sure people will be looking up Wales on a map very soon.' Wilkinson's squad is a mixture of young and old, with seven players having fewer than 20 caps. There also four centurions present, with star forward Jess Fishlock – 'the face of Wales', according to Wilkinson – skipper Angharad James, Sophie Ingle and Hayley Ladd. Ingle's inclusion was the main talking point as the 141-times capped former captain has not played since suffering anterior cruciate ligament damage in September. The 33-year-old midfielder has completed her recovery work at Chelsea, although she left the Women's Super League champions last month after seven years and is among five unattached players in the squad. Wales open their campaign against the Netherlands in Lucerne on July 5 before playing France and England. Three unnamed players will be part of the training camp in Switzerland, with the squad first preparing for the Euros with a week-long stay in Portugal. 'It's felt a bit heavy,' Wilkinson said about squad selection. 'You know when you've those big decisions looming you're going to hurt someone. 'It's the worst part of a dream job. For these people it's their dream and can push them onto great things.'
