http://www.cwmorthin.co.uk/

Cwmorthin slate mine lake level audit entrance has recently and very quickly become very dangerous. Being the only proper entrance bearing the load of 100s of tonns of slate spoil it could go at any minute and with someone inside.

Before Christmas members of www.c**tplaces.co.uk www.mine-explorer.co.uk and www.simplyexploring.co.uk gathered to repair the audit were we met the land owner.

Discussions with the land owner have resulted in an aggreement for us to repair the entrance fully. However the landowner has asked only BCA or other liability insurence owners access the mine and that once repairs have been done a gate is placed on the entrance. Friends of Cwmorthin will hold the code to the lock which will be given out to people with insurence only. However to make it very clear, no permit system will be used and you dont have to belong to any club.

Please read the website fully.

http://www.cwmorthin.co.uk/

Despite pinching myself several times, this thread has not disappeared, so it must be true. Darkplaces has negotiated an access agreement that requires third party insurance as a condition of access!

Seriously though, this is excellent news for the caving and mining community as a whole, and I congratulate the group for sorting it out.

Well done.

Thanks; It was a group effort, www.mine-explorer.co.uk and www.simplyexploring.co.uk members as well.

As much as I dislike insurence it was that or nothing and the owner would have let it close up natrually.

We have made the point though that we want access to be easy and unrestricted for insured people. No permits, no letters of request, no keys to go and collect from someone who is only home every 15th sunday in July.

We just have to spend some money kindly donated by people and repair a very unstable entrance.

Good work chaps - I applaud you.

Well done Mr. D and colleagues - good work all round.

Same here - well done!

An example of where access can be maintained by agreement of all concerned.

Yes, well done, good effort

Looking at the web site I followed a link to:

http://www.mine-explorer.co.uk/

What a cool site, can't believe I haven't come a cros it before..

Its a whole culture of mine explorers you have just stubled accross. A few who stumble into the odd cave but feel more at home in man made substrata. The websites involved hopefully bring together individual explorers without getting all 'offical'. Small groups form as a result but most are very keen on keeping it all very loose and many dont want to be tied to a club or a location.

Splendid that Cwmorthin Lake Level adit is to be saved from collapse

But tragic that another mine is lost to Insurance and Gates

The Gate has been installed but not locked yet!

The usual suspects turned up powered by Jagmans range Rover and Danger Badgers welding kit. For two and a half days Danger Badger welded while Jagman cut, and everyone angle grinded, smacked and painted and cut more bits. Thanks to Smurfette and Hobbit for providing the workforce with food and drinks. The spoil was racked out and dumped along a walkway. We put in one supporting bar under a broken sleeper. Stage one of the audit (the gate) has almost been finished but it has cost a LOT of money so please please now you see were the money is going we need more.

Please visit www.cwmorthin.co.uk and donate via paypal.
Discussion @ c**tplaces.co.uk - http://www.c**tplaces.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=4335 - you need to have an account to read/post to this topic.

Here is the finished gate - Looks good yeah

Damn fine, professional looking gate. Good effort.

I have to concurr with Mr Darkplaces on this one.

Please visit www.cwmorthin.co.uk and donate via paypal.
Discussion @ c**tplaces.co.uk - http://www.c**tplaces.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=4335 - you need to have an account to read/post to this topic.

Was in the area last week and saw the addit before the gate went in and met the construction team on a different trip, a donation was made on the spot. It is an impressive way of preserving a mine that allows everyont to benfit, :bow: :bow:

c**tplaces said:

Stage one of the audit (the gate) has almost been finished but it has cost a LOT of money so please please now you see were the money is going we need more.

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Paypal donation from me on its way.

It's not my department, but I don't see why BCA's conservation and access fund should not make a contribution towards this, though it would be done through Cambrian Caving Council. Have you considered approaching them?

Nick.

Why thankyou very much Sir.

We have contacted cave/mine rescue and the police and 'local' clubs purly to spread the access arrangments but not sure if we poked the the CCC for any funds. Its one of these projects were its off our own back (with land/mine owners permission) so we will make then aware they can contribute if they wish, thanks.

Were looking at keys with combination and inbuilt key over-ride.

From the makers of "Miles Does an Abseil" with such praise as "I dont think I would have done it like that" comes a new movie to cap all others.

Its "Cwmorthin Gate Installation" the feature film.....    :bow: 

http://www.mine-explorer.co.uk/videos.asp - Will take you to the general video page.
http://www.mine-explorer.co.uk/video_play.asp?video_file=gateinst_lofi - Direct to the page which automaticly opens the video you can right click safe as a filename on the page.

Men at work! This video shows elbow grease being used to install the Cwmorthin gate over the August Bank Holiday.

Click to expand...