Derbyshire Caving Association Information Circular 2003/1, January - March 2003

NEXT DCA MEETING

DCA Council Meeting - Sat. 26 April 2004 at 10am at Monyash Village Hall

(The DCA Annual Report for 2002 and the Minutes of the 2003 AGM will be circulated with the agenda for this meeting.)

The Hall will be open from about 9.30am with tea, coffee and biscuits on tap. The Old Smithy Cafe, next to the Pub, does an excellent breakfast from about 9am.

2 further DCA Council meetings will be arranged for late summer and autumn 2003, dates to be notified.

DCA AGM 2004 - Sat. 21 February 2004 at 10am at Monyash Village Hall

DCA OFFICERS FOR 2003/2004

• Chairman: Bob Dearman
• Secretary/Treasurer: Jenny Potts,
• Conservation & Access Officer: John Taylor,
• Access Officer: Iain Barker
• Conservation Officer, Conservation / Training Liaison Officer : Dave Webb
• Legal & Insurance Officer: Pete Mellors
• Training Officer: Nigel Atkins
• Equipment Officer: (Post vacant)
• Newsletter Editor: (Post vacant)
• Cave Registry Secretary: John Beck
• Planning Liaison Officer: David Mycroft
• Assistant Secretary: Chris Broome

Cave Discovery Fund Panel for 2003/2004 - Iain Barker, Terry Jackson & Boyd Potts

CONSERVATION / ACCESS

If you have any queries or problems relating to access or conservation in the region you can e-mail ALL the DCA Conservation and Access Team members on access @ theDCA.org.uk. Team members are :

• Conservation & Access Officer, John Taylor: Tel. 01663-734918
• Access Officer, Iain Barker: Tel. 0114-2530112
• Conservation Officer, Dave Webb: Tel. 0115-840-1109

HERNE HILL CAVE - MALTBY
Following persistent vandalism of the padlock on the cave gate the padlock has now been removed and replaced by a new system - there are now a pair of nuts which require 2 adjustable spanners to undo them. A secure gate is required because the entrance is in a supermarket car park and thus easily accessible to children, so it is hoped that this will provide a more permanent solution. If you visit the cave, please report any damage to the gate or the closure mechanism to DCA Access Officer Iain Barker as soon as possible.

EDITOR FOR 'THE DERBYSHIRE CAVER' WANTED

After a 2-year stint as DCA Editor Alan Keen has had to drop out but is willing to help a new Editor get started and has offered to help with templates on disc or CD. If you are interested in taking on this post yourself, or if you think you know someone who may be interested in producing 4 issues per year, please contact Alan Keen direct: Tel. 01530-264199 or E-m. alan @ wkeen.freeserve.co.uk; or alternatively, please contact DCA Secretary Jenny Potts.

DCA CAVE DISCOVERY FUND GRANTS AVAILABLE

There were no applications for DCA Discovery Fund for the period up to 1st. March 2003. The next round of applications can be made at any time up to 1st. September this year and the total funding available at that point will be at least £236.07. This means that any one project put forward can attract a grant of as much as £118.04.

The Aims of the Fund are stated as:

• 1.1 To encourage the discovery of new caves and cave passages in the Peak District and associated areas.
• 1.2 To offer financial aid to Derbyshire Caving Association individual members and member clubs to help offset expenses incurred in the discovery of new caves and cave passages in the region.
• 1.3 Under exceptional circumstances to offer formal recognition to DCA Individual Members and Members Clubs where such recognition may aid the furtherance of projects in accordance with Aim 1.1.
• 1.4 To ensure that conservation and access interests are properly considered in the exploitation of such discoveries.
• 1.5 To ensure that discoveries are fully documented and recorded.

If you think you have a project which may qualify and would like advice on making an application, please contact DCA Treasurer Jenny Potts, on 01335-370629 or e-mail dca @ theDCA.org.uk.

E-MAIL ADDRESSES FOR DCA OFFICERS

• dca @ theDCA.org.uk - the DCA Secretary and general enquiries
• access @ theDCA.org.uk - the DCA Conservation & Access team
• equipment @ theDCA.org.uk - the DCA Equipment Officer
• training @ theDCA.org.uk - the DCA Training Officer

FOR YOUR NEWSLETTER / NOTICEBOARD

www.theDCA.org.uk dca @ theDCA.org.uk

6th March 2003