Walk-throughs, comments, experiences, pictures please!

I know that access is controlled by GCC for this, and due to United Utilities undertaking they have asked cavers to stay out, but does anybody (ie any members of GCC) know if it is simply locked down indefinatley or are things moving forward. Its a fantastic place and I am looking forward to getting back if we can

What is the point of the GCC if they simply lock down a location. Remember caving clubs DONT control access, the landowner does and clubs or organisations have no authority what so ever. If the GCC dont play ball, bypass them, they will soon learn to play with others. The GCC are an example of empire builders like Moles and the Forest of Dean clubs who assume too much.

Quite simply the reason that the GCC is not forthcoming with a response about when we will get access to the OG shaft is because quite simply we do not know!

Communications are ongoing but currently there is no news yet about when cavers will be allowed back in. Until then just keep your fingers crossed that access will again be allowed.

Until then illegal trips down, that break off the locks or try bending the lid open so as to gain access are doing nothing to improve the situation. If you know who is doing this can you make sure that they stop otherwise we may lose access completely.

Cheers
Karl

Since the GCC were asked not to go down Olwyn Goch by the utilities company, the lock has been removed twice, if I have heard correctly.

The GCC has no idea who is responsible for doing that, and my comments are in no way whatsoever to be taken as an accusation against UCET or anyone else registered on this forum. This forum was simply a place to voice a concern.

Hopefully we will get access returned to us in due time, we all just have to be patient.

Karl

UCET don't want to jeopardise the access situation to the OG/Milwr tunnel and would not tamper with any lock on the shaft. It's a trip we particularly enjoy as many of our members live local and are interested in the mine/caves under the mountain. I'm interested in the Milwr tunnel because I'm a Halkyn resident and the tunnel runs near my house. I'm confident that no UCET member would undermine this as it would be unfair to our newer members who can only hope to go down there when/if access is sorted out again. As a bona-fide club we have always willingly provided the required details in order to go down there legitimately.

Who on earth is this "DarkPlaces" wassock who stated the following (see his post above)..........

"What is the point of the GCC if they simply lock down a location. Remember caving clubs DONT control access, the landowner does and clubs or organisations have no authority whatsoever. If the GCC dont play ball, bypass them, they will soon learn to play with others. The GCC are an example of empire builders like Moles and the Forest of Dean clubs who assume too much".

A) He spouts off without knowing the facts.
B) He advocates 'bypassing' (presumably breaking the entrance lid) the one group who have done so much in maintaining access all these years.

It is the owner (NOT GCC) who have 'locked down' access. All visitors have simply been asked not to go underground until a decision is made.

If the owners are now considering whether or not to allow caver access, such moronic outpourings will almost certainly result no access at all. Lets face it, if you owned the land, would you grant access to an irresponsible and selfish person such as DarkPlaces? I know I wouldn't.

It should be remembered that in the days before ANY access agreement for the Milwr Tunnel, Cavers were exploring unofficially. The moment the owners discovered what was going on they immediately sealed off the entrance and banned all further visits. It is known that they would have happily sealed the entrance with concrete if visits were continuing. It was at this point that GCC took the only possible route: Start talks with the owners.

DarkPlaces is one of a breed of selfish cavers, and thank god they are small in number, who believe the World owes them a living, and that all holes in the ground should be unrestricted for then to explore. Get a life! Smell the sodding coffee! Join the real World!

On the other hand, he may have posted simply to wind people up............ in which case he's succeeded.

I Burrows

Now now! I Burrows is GCC getting all wound up. you refer to darkplaces as a irresponsible and selfish yet he is only expressing his dismay at the ongoing dissapointing empire building that GCC have established over the last 20 something years. You say that GCC have negociated with land owners for permission for access to explore mines on there land? yes and well done to them fcuking crying shame they wont share with the 80 odd percent of explorers who arnt members of any clubs (check threads and posts on this site), and i do believe "correct me if im wrong" that as part of the access agreement with Welsh Water at the time was that GCC had to be seen to be taking others from clubs or groups with interest down Olwyn Goch with stipulation that explorers had BCA insurance.

Your reference to Darkplaces as being small in number how very wrong you are the forum has nearly a thousand registered members nearly 12000 historical pictures nearly 36000 posts and is very popular with the exploring community. hmm dont see your website bud

oh and in answer to letter A above in your post. we know all the facts.

Regards Marty

I remember trying to join Grovenor early last year! I spent 3 months constantly emailing club officials asking how to join blah blah..............and do you know what?????????

Not one reply!!!!!!!!

Move over granddad Burrows! Its your view thats in a minority. No club tells me to keep out but I'll follow 'reasonable' access rules which the Grovenor dont have a clue about implementing. Is the closure more likely due to the fact they are all too old and knackered and have had so many complaints over the years the owners are fedup with them, as is the majority of the mine exploring community.

My points about bypassing are about looking after these places FOR THE GOOD OF ALL and not just you and your cronies, which seams to be the mindset of such people as the Grovenor and Moles.

You want to come to Wiltshire and visit our holes, you will find access easy and reasonable, research is done and shared to EVERYONE. people will offer trips and guides and help. Sadly that mentality doesn't exist everywhere.

So move over Grandad, the next generation (yeah ok were all approaching middle aged) are coming and we have ideas to surpass your closed to others mentality.