Dave Tyson
Member
Cave Access Limited has an agreement with National Resources Wales/Welsh Government to permit registered cavers and mine-explorers to visit sites listed in the agreement and this has worked well for the last 5 years. Recently CAL has become aware of a restriction being placed on Rhiwbach Slate Mine - CAL has not been officially notified and we are seeking urgent clarification. The code on the padlock has been changed and currently Go-Below are the only organisation permitted access. It should be noted that Go-Below do not have any issues with independent cavers/mine-explorers using the mine under the CAL agreement, or Outdoor Pursuits Groups who are similarly affected. The real bogeyman here is NRW. :icon_321:
The issue which triggered the lock-out seems to be the (IMHO farcical) idea that humans could transfer covid to the local bats, who would then conjure up a new strain and re-infect humans. There is zero scientific evidence for this and it seems to be propagated by a conspiracy theory group of bat lovers who think that people shouldn't go underground. NRW (who have a lot of bat huggers on their staff) seem to have fallen for this hook, line and sinker.
For the present could cavers/mine-explorers avoid going to Rhiwbach Mine until further notice. Since CAL hasn't formally been notified of any restrictions on other sites, we assume that access is still permitted. I was in Cae Coch Sulphur Mine last weekend and saw zero bats...
Dave
one of the three CAL directors
http://www.caveaccess.co.uk
The issue which triggered the lock-out seems to be the (IMHO farcical) idea that humans could transfer covid to the local bats, who would then conjure up a new strain and re-infect humans. There is zero scientific evidence for this and it seems to be propagated by a conspiracy theory group of bat lovers who think that people shouldn't go underground. NRW (who have a lot of bat huggers on their staff) seem to have fallen for this hook, line and sinker.
For the present could cavers/mine-explorers avoid going to Rhiwbach Mine until further notice. Since CAL hasn't formally been notified of any restrictions on other sites, we assume that access is still permitted. I was in Cae Coch Sulphur Mine last weekend and saw zero bats...
Dave
one of the three CAL directors
http://www.caveaccess.co.uk