What perspectives do you expect to get?
Well I've not climbed here for a decade and don't know the details. There was a fair amount of support on the UKC thread - the stuff removed was immediately replaced. What is guaranteed not to help matters is getting into a bolt war where stuff is continually removed and replaced. There is a wider issue here too - there is loads of similar at Stoney, for example, which personally I don't like - if I want convenience and fixed gear I go sport climbing.
As suggested above, there is potentially a compromise solution where much more limited fixed gear can still allow access for those with a clipstick. What cannot continue is a knotted rope down a Hard Severe - they won't agree to that on the grounds of visible tat or the potential for little Jimmy to get into big trouble. I can't see much of an issue where climbers go as a competent pair, but Ed seems to be suggesting he would prefer to be able to turn up alone? As much as that might be what happening it seems a bit of bonkers precendent to be setting.
The same landowner who is content to have over a 100 dogs on a dog walking meet on a summers afternoon like we witnessed last May.
I'm sorry but some perspective is required here.
You should do some access work. It is an educational experience to sit in a stakeholders meeting representing climbers and find that the majority view is that, a) climbers are not special (who knew - I mean wtf?) and dogwalkers have an equal seat at the table, and moreover, 2) landowners and conservationists are united in their view that an activity like a one off mass dog walk is considered less damaging (if they stick to main path etc.) than climbers being on the same route 3+ nights week for several hours.
Birders/ wardens tend to keep different hours to climbers, but also creep about, carry binocs etc and see a lot more than you might imagine. It's easy to get into a bit of an ownership mindset, when working a route like this and seeing next to nobody, that you can do what you like and no one sees, let alone cares. But in place like this if they're not watching directly there will be someone noting less nests in the area compared to previous years. The sound of a power drill is highly unlikely to go unnoticed. These things might not be enough to trigger contact, but they do get pulled out in meetings to weaken your negotiating position.
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