VIDEO: Thousands attend Derbyshire biker parking charge protest

Thousands of motorbike enthusiasts brought a Derbyshire town to a standstill when they gathered to protest against proposed parking charges.
Thousands of bikers ride through Matlock Bath in protest of potential parking charges. Picture: Andrew RoeThousands of bikers ride through Matlock Bath in protest of potential parking charges. Picture: Andrew Roe
Thousands of bikers ride through Matlock Bath in protest of potential parking charges. Picture: Andrew Roe

Around 4,000 bikers made the trip to Matlock Bath, a popular biking ‘Mecca’, and thousands lined the streets to watch the spectacle in the town.

Derbyshire County Council want to impose a parking charge of 50 pence per hour on bikes as well as limiting the time they can use the spaces to two hours.

Thousands of bikers ride through Matlock Bath in protest of potential parking charges. Picture: Andrew RoeThousands of bikers ride through Matlock Bath in protest of potential parking charges. Picture: Andrew Roe
Thousands of bikers ride through Matlock Bath in protest of potential parking charges. Picture: Andrew Roe
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Enthusiasts took part in a ride along on the A6 between Ambergate and Matlock Bath amid fears the new parking fees would mean less people coming to the area.

Protestor John Tatton – who has been riding since 1967 – said he comes to Matlock Bath from Nottingham about ten times a year on his 1300cc Honda Fury.

He said: “The shop owners are in uproar about the parking charges – they don’t want it and neither do we.

“None of the charges go back to the area anyway.

“It’s just a way of squeezing more money out of people.”