This is very frustrating and obviously both very annoying and sad.
This is not, however, a simply case of someone breaking into a mine.
The leaseholder of the mine has gone to great lengths to ensure ease of access. He started with the basis that the landowner wanted to demolish the entrance (thereby there being no access to anyone at all) and he persuaded him to agree to a gate.
The gate was no ordinary gate either.
Firstly it used a combination lock and the code for the lock was freely available on an automated email reply (notes on the gate how to get it and a mobile phone number to ring when you were stood at the gate without it). It was also advertised on the website for the mine.
Secondly, the gate simply lifted off the hinges. The reason for this was precisely to avoid vandalism and the need to have to repair it afterwards. In other words, if you really didn?t want to go to the bother of obtaining the gate code you could lift the gate off and enter anyway.
Historically there has been many incidents of vandalism including throwing the gate in a nearby lake, grinding off the lock, bars etc. None of this was necessary and it is quite clear that the ?sustained? vandalism has a very dark undertone and the leaseholder is clearly right to pursue the matter with the police as it is evident this mindlessness will continue no matter what he does.
It certainly isn?t the case a ?miffed? explorer just wanted access and took matters into his own hands.
Ian
