Snake Pass closures need to be tackled say mayors

Regional mayors are trying to find a solution for the Snake Pass as frequent landslips keep closing the key route between the north's biggest cities.

The 12-mile section of the A57, which connects Manchester and Sheffield, is managed by Derbyshire County Council (DCC) but it has warned it cannot afford to keep repairing it.

South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said the frequent closure of the road was an example of poor transport links in the north.

Burnham said: "They [DCC)] are not particularly concerned about whether people can get from Manchester to Sheffield - it's not their main priority."

The Department for Transport said highway maintenance funding was given to DCC and it had to decide how best to spend it - whether on local issues such as potholes or on more major repair works to Snake Pass.

DCC said it was being forced to make difficult choices with a limited budget and it has called on the government to create a national landslip fund.

The mayors said the government needed to invest more in transport in the north.

Speaking on BBC Radio Sheffield, Coppard said: "We need a new plan for connecting South Yorkshire and Greater Manchester.

"Andy Burnham and I are going to involve the East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward to figure out a solution.

"It is a big problem.

"Sheffield and Manchester are growing really quickly. They are two of the biggest cities in the north and they are connected by that road."

Burnham said all the roads connecting Sheffield and Manchester were unsuitable.

"You have the Woodhead but you can't rely on that for the main connectivity between two major northern cities," he said.

"You can go around the M1 and M62 but that is a pretty big detour.

"It's the same old story - there is never enough money to finish things properly in the north.

"We need better road and rail connectivity between Manchester and Sheffield for certain."

Councillor Charlotte Cupit, cabinet member for highways and transport at DCC, said Snake Pass was a priority.

"There are 30,000 vehicles using it every week and it connects the regions but is also a really important local route."

She said the road was critical to economic growth but that funding was limited.

"We need to maintain what we already have," she said. "There is simply not enough funding.

"The council looks after 3,500 miles of road and the Snake Pass alone could take the whole highways budget but we have 200 other landslips."

The Department for Transport said the government was committed to securing long-term funding so councils could invest in their highway networks.

A spokesperson said: "We understand the disruption and frustration landslides on Snake Pass can cause for drivers and local communities.

"While DCC is responsible for the road, we have provided £75m to the East Midlands Combined Authority for 2025/26 to help support them in maintaining their local roads."

Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North