cap 'n chris said:
Quote:It has long been established that the right to roam is not the right to cave.
Thanks for that information. I am delighted to hear that there has already been a definitive opinion on the subject. Can you also let us know by whom and with what authority?
Hi Langcliffe; I've organised a meeting with our AONB Senior Warden this afternoon to check the Access land maps for Mendip but he also confirmed the above statement. The specific clause is:
"Any person is entitled … to enter and remain on any access land for the purposes of open-air recreation…. Section (s) 2(1) of CROW, England and Wales". It's the "open-air" wording which allows climbing but not caving.
That could be interpreted either way. I wish people (from both sides of the argument) would stop expressing such certainty on the issue while the status of caves are clearly still undefined.
A google search for "caving" within www.countryside.gov.uk/ comes back with one relevant result, a question at a meeting:
Jon Beavan, Settle: "Caving and potholing open air recreation?"
http://www.countryside.gov.uk/LAR/Recreation/NCAF/16thNCAF_minutes.asp
The answer isn't recorded though!
Has anyone tried asking the Countryside Agency?