Manor Farm Swallet

[Les W]

The land owner at Manor Farm Swallet, Mr Jeffries, has asked me to pass on the following.
He has been disturbed in the early hours several times by people leaving the cave at all hours. He is not too happy about it and has asked that people are out of the cave by 10pm at the latest, unless prior arrangement is made with him.
Also, people have been going down the cave without seeking permission from him. He has said that if this continues he will look into locking the cave so that people will have to see him for the key.

Please respect the landowners wishes and remember that it is only by his consent that we are able to visit.
Latest information is, as always, on the CSCC web site

 

[whitelackington]

Isn't the entrance on a public footpath?

 

[mrodoc]

It wouldn't actually be on the foot path so he can lock it if he wants to!

 

[nickwilliams]

Just because its on a footpath does not mean that someone does not own the land or what is under it.

 

[graham]

Isn't the entrance on a public footpath?

If it was actually on a public footpath then it would be an obvious danger & should be filled in immediately.

 

[graham]

And what's wrong with being courteous anyway?

 

[badger]

as in many cases it is a few who spoil it for the majority, the majority do not seem to have a problem with the access arrangements, lets hope the minority will follow the simple access arrangements

 

[Laurie]

Just because its on a footpath does not mean that someone does not own the land or what is under it.

The state owns the 'land' under it. (Mineral rights etc..)

 

[Ouan]

Just because its on a footpath does not mean that someone does not own the land or what is under it.

The state owns the 'land' under it. (Mineral rights etc..)

The state only owns Crown minerals: gold, coal, oil and gas.
A landowner owns the ground to the centre of the Earth, but doesn't have the right to extract the Crown minerals.

The mineral rights can be sold and held separately, so the mineral rights may have a different owner to the surface landowner. This situation is common in old metal mining areas.
When I bought my house in the centre of Shepton Mallet I asked the solicitor to check that I held the mineral rights. He thought it an odd request, but did confirm I own these rights.