Peak / Titan & JH - Covid 19

[ANN]

Covid 19 - Peak Speedwell System (Including Titan & JH)

Current advice from Government and the World Health Organisation is to stop non-essential contact with other people and avoid all unnecessary travel. Due to this advice and the temporary closure of the Chapel we have taken the decision to cancel Peak Cavern & Titan bookings until we receive advice from Government and the World Health Organisation that it is safe to meet up with people and travel.
Please note that JH, as part of the Peak Speedwell system, will fall in line with this until the overall situation is resolved.

 

[Madness]

May I politely ask if the this is the wish of the landowner/Rowter Farm whose land JH is on? Do Peak/Speedwell actually own JH? 

 

[Moose]

JH is on land owned by Rowter Farm and isn't owned as such by the peak speedwell system. Given the current circumstances they have been advised to restrict access to JH as the cave itself is part of the peak speedwell system.
As has been publicised there is no access to either peak or speedwell to cavers at the moment.
Furthermore both showcaves are now closed.

I would add one more note of consideration here and that is from a rescue point of view. Should the unfortunate actually happen then the scenarios of mobilising a rescue in the system do not work out in anyone's best interests. One of the main factors taken into consideration when advising on access suspension.

 

[Tommy]

When will it be appropriate to reopen them?

Who will make that call?

Will they then be responsible for subsequent rescues and media attention if the caves were reopened prematurely with respect to the impact of the Corona Virus?

 

[Fulk]

Well, Topimo, I?m sure that you know as well as anyone the answer to the questions you pose . . . and that is, no-one has a fucking clue (to all 3).

 

[Madness]

Thanks Moose for clarifying the ownership of JH.

 

[alastairgott]

1) When will it be appropriate to reopen them?

2) Who will make that call?

3) Will they then be responsible for subsequent rescues and media attention if the caves were reopened prematurely with respect to the impact of the Corona Virus?

1) It's the edge of the world and all of western civilization
2) A teenage bride with a baby inside getting high on information
3) Psychic spies from China try to steal your mind's elation

 

[gingerlycolors]

And I thought the Foot & Mouth Outbreak of 2001 was bad enough!  :yucky:

 

[alastairgott]

Probably worth a read of Derbyshire caver 111 if you think Foot and Mouth was bad for peak cavern... https://thedca.org.uk/publications/newsletters/send/3-derbyshire-caver/134-derbyshire-caver-111