this I feel is going to be a slightly wandering reply,
firstly well done on a successful caving trip regardless to its reasons, as already highlighted a big first trip for those who have never caved.
I have always been slightly divided on my view, for or against, but due to difficulties in the past with permits in the dales would have voted for, I am not opposed to a permit system as long as it is easy and fair to all cavers, this did not seem to be the case in the dales, the system in place was out dated and verged on making it as difficult as possible for those who where not buddies, the other issue for us from the south is its a very long way to go with a permit for a said cave only not to be able to do due to wet weather, not that I know what caves you can do wet/dry without making the necessary enquiries.
I also think that the case/opinion made by Dinah rose makes a lot of sense, specially when put with the idea that NE have said you can go caving but only till there is no natural light, to me the answer is either yes or no, natural light seems to be a red herring.
People keep on harping on about the vote ( not sure what percentage voted and how it equated) but the problem with stats is on how there presented, let say only 20% voted, and out of the 20% 80% percent where pro, now does that give a mandate, because the other 80% could not be bothered to vote or is that also taken then they must be pro,
however back to topic, I have read the stuff Tim and his team have produced and would say they have put a lot of work into it, I would also like to believe that the pro team has the same concerns and issues on conservation and liaising with landowners, (me having not seeked landowners views would not know)
I too also have concerns about both, however what I don't think will happen is if crow applies your going to get the whole of the uk caving population descending upon the dales to go caving, I would suspect it will be barely noticeable, the caves that are frequently visited, will still be, those that are less visited will stay the same, I could be wrong.
To the case whether Tim is operating within his BCA remit, I have had 2 personal e-mails to this, one saying he is, one saying he is not, me I don't know as I do not know what remit he was given but by what has been said in this topic it would seem he is within the remit he set out with the BCA. maybe that an interupatation thing I don't know because I have not seen any document to suggest either way.
But like I started the ramble well done on a successful trip