UKBouldering.com

SW Area Zoom meeting 27 th Jan. Anstey’s issues. (Read 14657 times)

shark

Offline
  • *****
  • Administrator
  • forum hero
  • Posts: 8697
  • Karma: +625/-17
  • insect overlord #1

Ged

Offline
  • ****
  • junky
  • Posts: 922
  • Karma: +40/-1
Sorry my mistake, thought they were referring to writer of South Devon guide

kingholmesy

Offline
  • ****
  • forum abuser
  • Posts: 564
  • Karma: +47/-0
Your post was a bit confusing though Shark, 'cos you said:

The comment that “ Surely this level of environmental vandalism is a criminal offence” was from a Pete O’ Sullivan who presumably is the local guidebook writer and new router of the same name

The local guidebook writer (i.e. for the current guide that covers Ansteys) is Pete Saunders.  Pete O'Sullivan might have written a guide to West Penwith, but that was three decades ago and barely counts as local.

kingholmesy

Offline
  • ****
  • forum abuser
  • Posts: 564
  • Karma: +47/-0
Could get a topo survey and a design done for £2-3k. Not sure what the local BMC finances are like but I’m sure head office could stump this up to hopefully maintain access to a significant crag. I think getting a pro to do it will give it more credence with the land owners and also back up any design with PL and PI insurance.

Sounds like a good idea in my (uninformed) opinion.  I would rather my subs go towards this than funding people going to the Olympics or on trips to the Himalayas.

A Jooser

Offline
  • **
  • menacing presence
  • Posts: 161
  • Karma: +19/-1
Your post was a bit confusing though Shark, 'cos you said:

The comment that “ Surely this level of environmental vandalism is a criminal offence” was from a Pete O’ Sullivan who presumably is the local guidebook writer and new router of the same name

The local guidebook writer (i.e. for the current guide that covers Ansteys) is Pete Saunders.  Pete O'Sullivan might have written a guide to West Penwith, but that was three decades ago and barely counts as local.

In defence of Shark, the 1985 South Devon and Dartmoor guide was co-written by Pat Littlejohn and Pete O'Sullivan.

Oldmanmatt

Offline
  • *****
  • forum hero
  • At this rate, I probably won’t last the week.
  • Posts: 7097
  • Karma: +368/-17
  • Largely broken. Obsolete spares and scrap only.
    • The Boulder Bunker climbing centre
Your post was a bit confusing though Shark, 'cos you said:

The comment that “ Surely this level of environmental vandalism is a criminal offence” was from a Pete O’ Sullivan who presumably is the local guidebook writer and new router of the same name

The local guidebook writer (i.e. for the current guide that covers Ansteys) is Pete Saunders.  Pete O'Sullivan might have written a guide to West Penwith, but that was three decades ago and barely counts as local.

In defence of Shark, the 1985 South Devon and Dartmoor guide was co-written by Pat Littlejohn and Pete O'Sullivan.

Still have that one.

But, that one from ‘95 with the spoof “Lord of the Rings” style maps etc, is the classic (third edition, Nick White).

Edit:

Oh.

Just pulled it off the bookshelf in a fit of nostalgia.

Pretty obvious from the Empire wall topo, it was very open ( low scrub only) when the topo photo was taken.

I don’t remember at all, but I know I climbed there from about 1990 onward. I can only picture it with the trees.
« Last Edit: January 29, 2021, 09:49:33 pm by Oldmanmatt »

Oldmanmatt

Offline
  • *****
  • forum hero
  • At this rate, I probably won’t last the week.
  • Posts: 7097
  • Karma: +368/-17
  • Largely broken. Obsolete spares and scrap only.
    • The Boulder Bunker climbing centre

Bonjoy

Offline
  • *****
  • Global Moderator
  • forum hero
  • Leafy gent
  • Posts: 9932
  • Karma: +561/-8
Could get a topo survey and a design done for £2-3k. Not sure what the local BMC finances are like but I’m sure head office could stump this up to hopefully maintain access to a significant crag. I think getting a pro to do it will give it more credence with the land owners and also back up any design with PL and PI insurance.
I work for a company that do geoengineering (I'm not in that department I should add).That cost looks a bit light to me. More importantly though any 'professional ' solution is likely to be very costly to install, and presumably would only be insurable if installed by said professionals.

teestub

Offline
  • *****
  • forum hero
  • Posts: 2574
  • Karma: +166/-4
  • Cyber Wanker
I work for a company that do geoengineering (I'm not in that department I should add).That cost looks a bit light to me. More importantly though any 'professional ' solution is likely to be very costly to install, and presumably would only be insurable if installed by said professionals.

We aren’t widening the A1, we aren’t talking about shotcrete, sheet piling or soil nailing. The area isn’t carrying any load. It just needs some safe slope design for the loose stuff and maybe some gabions full of the loose blocks to support the terraces (rather than a spoon and some branches!).

The insurance would be for the design, so as long as the works are carried out to the design then that insurance is valid. I agree though that as it’s going to be works on third party property, you’d want someone suitably qualified to guide any volunteer efforts. IMO this wouldn’t need to be more than a general groundworks company though.

kingholmesy

Offline
  • ****
  • forum abuser
  • Posts: 564
  • Karma: +47/-0

In defence of Shark, the 1985 South Devon and Dartmoor guide was co-written by Pat Littlejohn and Pete O'Sullivan.

OK fair enough.  I was only 3 yrs old in ‘85 though so let me off!

Have just looked at my copy of the Nick White guide (quirkiest guide ever?) and it was surprisingly open below Empire Wall.

BrutusTheBear

Offline
  • ****
  • forum abuser
  • Posts: 568
  • Karma: +59/-3
  • Certified socialist talking head of this world.
Must have been quite a rant?
I saw it yesterday, after locking but before removal. I presume the comment that got it locked was someone suggesting the work should be considered a criminal offence. The only other comment post meeting was a bit of a moan about democratic decision making, but seemed fairly innocuous (to me at least).

There was a pro Ecologist at the meeting, familiar with some of the legal implications of such actions in such a place. I think, given the honest intentions of the person who started the work and their genuine desire to benefit the community, they deserve as much support, even protection as that community can muster. I think lessons have been learned.
It’s not as if this was intentional vandalism, it was well meaning. I think people need to make that distinction and understand the degree of generosity to the community, that was intended and, frankly, the Herculean effort made by that individual. A  misguided attempt, is not the same a malign endeavour.
It is my understanding that R was acting totally in good faith and with entirely positive intentions to create something to improve the crag.  Initially he was fiercely defending his actions. However, I am also aware that he was going to attend the meeting and had a statement prepared.  He has expressed regret, apologised and said he will not do any more to the crag.
Given the sharp attitude of some individuals in attendance it is probably for the best that he didn't attend.  Consideration should be given to his wellbeing and mental health in all of this. People firing shots no little of his story or circumstances and I'm sure he would never have started if he could foresee the shitstorm it would create.
I am hopeful that a positive outcome can be achieved, that Jamie P will be able to smooth things with the landowners. There is a group of climbers down here that are ready and willing to be proactive. It is also a positive that the attention and resource of the BMC is being drawn to the SW.

Tony S

Offline
  • **
  • addict
  • Posts: 146
  • Karma: +7/-8
Ignorance is a mitigating circumstance, not an excuse.

Being ready and willing got us into this mess; skilled and capable might be better.

shark

Offline
  • *****
  • Administrator
  • forum hero
  • Posts: 8697
  • Karma: +625/-17
  • insect overlord #1
Tried to cut and paste the minutes but it didn’t work well.

Link is here: https://community.thebmc.co.uk/GetFile.ashx?did=3470

Mike Highbury

Offline
  • **
  • addict
  • Posts: 118
  • Karma: +4/-0
Tried to cut and paste the minutes but it didn’t work well.

I think one can boil them down to, they had a meeting and are going to set up a working group.

 

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2024, SimplePortal