Derbyshire Caving Association

Information Circular 2005/1, January - March 2005

NEXT DCA MEETING

DCA Council Meeting (open to all DCA Members) - Saturday, 16th April 2005, 10am. Monyash Village Hall

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.

DCA Meetings for the rest of the year, all at 10am. at Monyash Village Hall

DCA Council (open to all DCA Members):
Saturday, 16 July 2005
Saturday, 22 October 2005

DCA Annual General Meeting:
Saturday, 25 February 2006

DCA OFFICERS FOR 2005/2006

The following officers were elected at the 2005 AGM:

Chairman: Bob Dearman, The Green Cottage, Main Street, Chelmorton, Buxton SK17 9SL. Tel. 01298-85594

Secretary/Treasurer: Jenny Potts, 3 Greenway, Hulland Ward, Ashbourne, Derbyshire DE6 3FE. Tel. 01335-370629, Email. secretary @ theDCA.org.uk OR finance @ theDCA.org.uk

Conservation & Access Officer: John Taylor, 189 Macclesfield Road, Whalley Bridge, HIGH PEAK, Derbyshire SK23 7DR. Tel. 01663-734918, Email. cons.access-off @ theDCA.org.uk OR access @ theDCA.org.uk

Access Officer: Iain Barker, 56 Thornbridge Crescent, Birley, Sheffield S12 3AE. Tel. 0114-253-0112, Mob. 0771-068-9704, Email. access-off @ theDCA.org.uk OR access @ theDCA.org.uk

Conservation Officer: Dave Webb, 3 De Vere Gardens, Woodthorpe, Nottingham NG5 4PH. Tel. 0115-840-1109, Email. conservation-off @ theDCA.org.uk OR access @ theDCA.org.uk

Legal & Insurance Officer: Pete Mellors, "Fairview", Station Road, Edingley, Newark, Notts. NG22 8BX. Tel. 01623-882515, Email. legal.insurance @ theDCA.org.uk

Training Officer: Nigel Atkins, Wharfedale House, Springfield Close, Midway, S. Derbys. DE11 0DB. Tel. 01283-210666, Mob. 07831-449919, Email. training @ theDCA.org.uk

Equipment Officer: Dave Cowley, 12 Norton Hammer Lane, Sheffield, S8 0PB. Tel. 0114-255-1285. Mob. 07956-560055, Email. equipment @ theDCA.org.uk

Newsletter Editor / Publications Officer: Paul Lydon, Hefford House, Main Street, Winster, Matlock, Derbyshire. DE4 2DH. Tel. 01629-650482, Email. publications @ theDCA.org.uk

Cave Registry Secretary: John Beck, Glebe Cottage, The Hillock, Eyam, Derbyshire. S30 1RB. Tel. 01433-631732, Email. registry @ theDCA.org.uk

Assistant Secretary: Chris Broome, "Carpathian", Dale Close, Bonsall, Matlock, Derbyshire. DE4 2AY. Tel. 01629-824512, Email. asst-sec @ theDCA.org.uk

Note that all DCA Officers can now be contacted on an invariant email address of the form ... @ theDCA.org.uk, which will always re-direct to their current personal email address. The three members of the Conservation & Access Team can all be contacted together by emailing access @ theDCA.org.uk.

CONSERVATION & ACCESS NOTES

YOUDS's LEVEL
Very loose walling at the far end of Jants Mine presents a potential hazard - caution is needed and notices have been placed in the entrance pipe and also with the key at the Mining Museum.

DEVONSHIRE MINE and YOUDS's LEVEL
White spray paint has disfigured sections of Devonshire Mine and 18th century inscriptions at the end of the coffin level (base of Deep Shaft) in Youds Level. Both of these sites are within an SSSI which makes damaging activity of this kind an offence in law.

KNOTLOW CAVERNS
There is a reported collapse in East Level blocking the passage about 180metres in from the Bung Series entrance. This report has yet to be fully investigated but the blockage could affect anyone contemplating a trip the other way from Crimbo. Any further information would be helpful. Also at Knotlow there are continuing disturbing reports of the effects of bad air - please take great care especially in the Waterfall Chamber area.

CAR BREAK-INS AGAIN!

Car break-ins - warning from Wayne Sheldon of TSG: There has been a spate of car break-ins in the Castleton area. A car parked on Castle Street overnight was broken into and one parked in the Peak Cavern car park was also broken into as well as a car parked near Odin Mine. If you are parking in Castleton during the day or overnight, it's probably now a good idea to totally empty your car of anything valuable to you.

INTERFERENCE WITH BOLTS / MAILLONS IN GIANTS

We have reports that some of the stainless steel maillons installed by the DCA Bolting Team on those Eco-anchors regularly used for "pull-through" abseiling in Giants Hole have been removed altogether or replaced by non-stainless maillons which have now rusted. The original stainless maillons were placed to prevent wear of the eye of the Eco-anchor itself due to the friction of gritty rope; the maillons were "locktighted" shut to ensure they stayed in place and could not come unscrewed accidentally. Their removal increases the likelihood of wear on the Eco-anchor, which will mean an expensive and time-consuming replacement will be needed. The message is obvious - check all anchors and maillons before use and please report any problems to the DCA Equipment Officer!

CHANGES IN OTHER CAVING AREAS

Access in Wales - Little Neath River Cave & Bridge Cave
Sorry to have to report that there is currently no access at all to either Little Neath River Cave or Bridge Cave, both of which formerly just required you to call on the farmer at Blaen Nedd Isaf for permission and payment of a small parking fee. Cambrian Caving Council are negotiating with the landowner and hope to get access restored, although this may take some months. The problem doesn't seem to be related to any bad behaviour or problems with cavers themselves - rather it's to do with Health & Safety and possibly with insurance. Suggest you steer clear for the present and keep an eye on the Cambrian website at www.cambriancavingcouncil.org.uk for updates on the situation.

O.F.D. Permit Secretary
The new Ogof Ffynnon Ddu II Permit Secretary took over in February: Elaine Owen, 19 Parham Road, GOSPORT, Hants. PO12 4TZ. Tel. 023 92 715 382, Em. ofdaccess @ hotmail.co.uk

Cambrian Caving Council Secretary
CCC Secretary, Ian Healey, Stafford House,10 St John St., Whitland, Carmarthenshire. SA34 0AN. Tel. 07817-642549, Email. ianhealey2004 @ yahoo.co.uk

DESCENT Magazine change
DESCENT Editor, Chris Howes, P.O. Box 100, Abergavenny. NP7 9WY Tel. 01873-737707, Email. descent @ wildplaces.co.uk

FOR YOUR NEWSLETTER / NOTICEBOARD

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

2nd March 2005