Underground thrills at new ?2m centre

[rhychydwr1]

A lifelike pothole with water and tight squeezes is to be constructed as part of a ?2 million adventure centre at Aireville Park, Skipton.

http://archive.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/2005/12/2/182944.html

Let us hope it has an emergecy exit.  I seem to remember a chap from Ingelton who got stuck in squeeze in the Welsh artificial cave.  They had to dismantle the cave to get him out.   

 

[darkplaces]

What a crock of shit. 2mil on something we already have! A FAKE cave 'for the sake of the safety of the children' with 'trained staff' my ass. Would any self respecting caver work in that place?

"caving in a controlled and very safe environment" - sums it up really, just how wrapped up in cotten wool do people have to be! I actually like a bit of danger thanks.

 

[Trog]

I have never heard of anything quite so ridiculous. Caving is a fantastic activity for groups of young people and does not need this dumbed down version. We don't need a fake cave, we have plenty of caves suitable for novices and guided groups and as DP points out, a real caver wouldn't be interested, would they?

When I take groups of children caving I spend time talking about and looking at the limestone scenery, the effects of the weather, the cave formations etc etc, there is far more to a group caving session than a three dimensional underground obstacle course.

I do however know of an even worse example of dumbed down adventure activity. A nameless outdoor centre in Yorkshire has an old swimming pool that has been filled in with an indoor plywood caving system, complete with carpet (so the little darlings don't get splinters) and electric lights!

Does anyone else out there have any other examples of this extreme dumbing down of adventure activities?

Trog

 

[Stu]

Does anyone else out there have any other examples of this extreme dumbing down of adventure activities?

Trog

Or other examples of "activities" which people might not readily have access to and therefore may never develop a passion for the real thing?

As for FAKE caves.... you mean like mines?

Why can't this be seen as something additional to the sport rather than what you appear to be implying, as the demise of?

Besides, the link appears to be for a two year old report; is this still part of the plan for Skipton?

 

[Hughie]

Don't see what's so wrong with this - if it stimulates an interest in youngsters to consider "real" caves, then it's got to be a good thing, hasn't it?

No different than going to a gym and having a walk on a treadmill.

 

[graham]

As for FAKE caves.... you mean like mines?

 

[ian.p]

it might of been more use if they built it somwhere like londen where they dont have any real ones rather than yorkshire though.

 

[darkplaces]

As for FAKE caves.... you mean like mines?

Mines are brill if you like man made history leave em alone....

it might of been more use if they built it somwhere like londen where they dont have any real ones rather than yorkshire though.

A good point. I dislike the simulation or faking something easy to do for real simply because someone doesn't understand risk and its benefit for everyone. Putting it in London's not too bad an idea.

 

[cap n chris]

Call me cynical (... "Chris, you're cynical") but isn't this just another one of those "regeneration" schemes for poor areas of the country to supposedly "create jobs" by some populist whizz-bang civil project funded by the Lotto Slush Fund which ends up being all fanfare and part-time work for pimply youth but which falls into a state of piss-stinking malaise within three years and gets boarded up, sold off to someone in the know and turned into posh flats for rich incomers?

?2million might sound like a lot but an acre of land with PP is worth about that nowadays.

By the time they've built a car park, toilets (including some for the disabled, betcha!; despite it being a caving facility - go figure!), a cafe and an access road there probably won't be much in the way of money left for kitting it out so I wouldn't expect anything too exciting, come the finish.

 

[AndyF]

Cant see its any worse than an indoor climbing wall....... yorkshire is full of those.

 

[andymorgan]

poor areas of the country

Just because it is in Yorkshire, it doesn't mean it is a poor area 

 

[cap n chris]

Correct, Andy; Yorkshire is a very rich part of the country if you've moved there but a poor one if you're born there.

 

[RobinGriffiths]

FFS, Who would let a councillor loose with some cash eh??


http://www.cravendc.gov.uk/craven/documents/LegalandDemocraticServices/Community%20Services%5CCommunity%20Services%20Committee%202007-01-04/Minutes%20of%20Last%20Meeting.doc

http://www.cravendc.gov.uk/craven/documents/LegalandDemocraticServices/Community%20Services%5CCommunity%20Services%20Committee%202007-02-28/Reports/Item%2006%20-%20Skipton%20Renaissance%20Update.doc

 

[Burt]

it might of been more use if they built it somwhere like londen where they dont have any real ones rather than yorkshire though.

it might of been more use if they built it somwhere like londen where they dont have any real ones rather than yorkshire though.

Don't see what's so wrong with this - if it stimulates an interest in youngsters to consider "real" caves, then it's got to be a good thing, hasn't it?

No different than going to a gym and having a walk on a treadmill.

A group I am currently working with is doing almost exactly this: building a mobile cave to get inner city kids fired up about doing stuff other than sitting on their arses, eating burgers and nicking cars.

 

[shotlighter]

FFS, Who would let a councillor loose with some cash eh??


http://www.cravendc.gov.uk/craven/documents/LegalandDemocraticServices/Community%20Services%5CCommunity%20Services%20Committee%202007-01-04/Minutes%20of%20Last%20Meeting.doc

http://www.cravendc.gov.uk/craven/documents/LegalandDemocraticServices/Community%20Services%5CCommunity%20Services%20Committee%202007-02-28/Reports/Item%2006%20-%20Skipton%20Renaissance%20Update.doc

Oh dear Craven seems to be run by Golgaflinchams - the way this countrys gone we probably all are!

 

[traff]

run by Golgaflinchams

Are they going to pay for it with leaves?

 

[Downer]

Cant see its any worse than an indoor climbing wall....... yorkshire is full of those.

Hmmm... The description was "a lifelike pothole with water and tight squeezes...". Practice walls are one thing, but I'm not sure what I'd feel about "a lifelike mountain side with falling rocks, howling gales, exposed traverses and handholds always just out of reach".

But will the artificial cave have raised CO2 levels?  :-\