As we all know England and Wales is getting (/has got) access land (Scotland have faired considerably better having a superb open-access agreement!) - the question has no doubt been aired numerable times at numerbale different points, but something occured to me today regarding "closed seasons".
In the Dales places like Leck, Fountains, Allotment all have these closed seasons - come May the Dales will gain this open-access land - is it right that we should retain our closed seasons under this new access climate?
Bearing in mind that the land where the caves exist is more than likely going to be access land (my local hill region of Bowland is all grouse moorland and mostly all open for access!) then is it right we should continue to be excluded from this land for a number of months per year?
Under the agreement - AFAIK land can be closed for a maximum of 28 days a year - hardly 3 months+ that caving rights are removed... Considering an average caver follows a single path to a cave whereas a walker can wander at will surely our sport impacts less on the land and that should count for something......
From what I've seen dogs can be excluded completely for 5 years(as they have in Bowland in certain places) but must be kept on short lead between 1st Mar-31st Jul for livestock matters.. That means open-access is still available between those dates..
Your thoughts and views on this matter?
In the Dales places like Leck, Fountains, Allotment all have these closed seasons - come May the Dales will gain this open-access land - is it right that we should retain our closed seasons under this new access climate?
Bearing in mind that the land where the caves exist is more than likely going to be access land (my local hill region of Bowland is all grouse moorland and mostly all open for access!) then is it right we should continue to be excluded from this land for a number of months per year?
Under the agreement - AFAIK land can be closed for a maximum of 28 days a year - hardly 3 months+ that caving rights are removed... Considering an average caver follows a single path to a cave whereas a walker can wander at will surely our sport impacts less on the land and that should count for something......
From what I've seen dogs can be excluded completely for 5 years(as they have in Bowland in certain places) but must be kept on short lead between 1st Mar-31st Jul for livestock matters.. That means open-access is still available between those dates..
Your thoughts and views on this matter?