CNCC
Well-known member
The following statement has now been published on the CNCC website (click the 'Caution > Capability > Considerate' banner above).
The UK government have announced a new lockdown for England from Thursday 5th November to Wednesday 2nd December. The details of this lockdown can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-national-restrictions-from-5-november
The guidance emphasises staying at home, but with a few exemptions, including ?to exercise outdoors or visit an outdoor public place - with the people you live with, with your support bubble or, when on your own, with 1 person from another household...?. In terms of travelling you should ?avoid travelling in or out of your local area, and you should look to reduce the number of journeys you make? but you may travel ?for exercise if you need to make a short journey to do so?.
Clearly there are lots of subjective terms in this (?local?, ?short? and ?exercise?) which leaves interpretation to the individual.
However, the allowances for outdoor exercise and travelling to public places seems to suggest a desire to keep the nation enjoying safe outdoor recreation, perhaps in the belief that the risk of virus transmission between those participating in outdoor pursuits only within their household is low, and the physical and mental health benefits of ourdoor exercise are high.
Caving, being an outdoor activity and exercise, and one which can take place in public places (including all caves on CRoW access land) could reasonably be considered a permissible activity.
If you are continuing caving over the coming month, what is clear is that it must be within a household, bubble, or between two people from different households, and we suggest that it should be within your nearest caving region.
We suggest avoiding caves where obtaining permission would typically involve calling on the landowner, or the approach means passing through farms or residential areas. There are plenty of great caves in our region that can be visited within these suggestions. Use the online booking system for Ingleborough, Leck and Casterton Fells to help avoid meeting others in your chosen cave.
Finally, remember that a rescue under the current circumstances would be complicated and would expose our cave rescue volunteers to high risk from the virus, particularly as the R-number is high in our region. Cave sensibly, pick a trip that is within your capabilities and presents few hazards. Pay particular attention to weather forecasts as winter is upon us and water levels are high.
Stay safe!
CNCC
The UK government have announced a new lockdown for England from Thursday 5th November to Wednesday 2nd December. The details of this lockdown can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-national-restrictions-from-5-november
The guidance emphasises staying at home, but with a few exemptions, including ?to exercise outdoors or visit an outdoor public place - with the people you live with, with your support bubble or, when on your own, with 1 person from another household...?. In terms of travelling you should ?avoid travelling in or out of your local area, and you should look to reduce the number of journeys you make? but you may travel ?for exercise if you need to make a short journey to do so?.
Clearly there are lots of subjective terms in this (?local?, ?short? and ?exercise?) which leaves interpretation to the individual.
However, the allowances for outdoor exercise and travelling to public places seems to suggest a desire to keep the nation enjoying safe outdoor recreation, perhaps in the belief that the risk of virus transmission between those participating in outdoor pursuits only within their household is low, and the physical and mental health benefits of ourdoor exercise are high.
Caving, being an outdoor activity and exercise, and one which can take place in public places (including all caves on CRoW access land) could reasonably be considered a permissible activity.
If you are continuing caving over the coming month, what is clear is that it must be within a household, bubble, or between two people from different households, and we suggest that it should be within your nearest caving region.
We suggest avoiding caves where obtaining permission would typically involve calling on the landowner, or the approach means passing through farms or residential areas. There are plenty of great caves in our region that can be visited within these suggestions. Use the online booking system for Ingleborough, Leck and Casterton Fells to help avoid meeting others in your chosen cave.
Finally, remember that a rescue under the current circumstances would be complicated and would expose our cave rescue volunteers to high risk from the virus, particularly as the R-number is high in our region. Cave sensibly, pick a trip that is within your capabilities and presents few hazards. Pay particular attention to weather forecasts as winter is upon us and water levels are high.
Stay safe!
CNCC