simonrl
  • simonrl
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15 years ago
Quoted from the Clash of the Titans thread.

"Vanoord" wrote:

Just for the record, it seems that the security guards are now keeping people away from their 'sets', which has already caused a few climbers to get a bit huffy at being kept away from their pitches...However, there have been some suggestions in the climbing world that First Hydro may be looking to enforce access restrictions in future...



Apparently (I haven't seen it first hand) a large 8' fence has appeared around the Dali's Hole area with signs saying no climbing, no biking, keep to the paths etc. This being the start of it.

The suggestion on the climbing forums and press was that the temporary access restriction applied for filming would be used by First Hydro to restrict recreational use of the quarries and allow access only along the single marked footpath.

This will certainly annoy a lot of people. How they'll enforce it across a whole hillside is anybody's guess, but it certainly seems another situation of heavy handed tactics affecting perfectly legitmiate activities.

my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by
Vanoord
15 years ago
It wouldn't surprise me.

Someone from First Hydro will have been having kittens at the thought of someone falling into Dali's Hole or falling from a rockface.

It won't have been helped by the thought that the area will become a lot more popular with tourists when the film is released.

A quick search of the interweb suggests that First Hydro have been chasing climbers away in the last few weeks.

Once again, Health & Safety rules supreme and it's decided that we're not capable of taking responsibility for our own actions.

I wonder, incidentally, if First Hydro have planning permission for a fence - if it's as big as is claimed, then it may well require permission... :bored:
Hello again darkness, my old friend...
blondin
15 years ago
I do hope that access does not become restricted in this fascinating environment,but having said that,I could understand the Health and Safety issues that govern First Hydro,as leaving the quarry open must leave them liable to a great extent.I believe they own part of the quarry,with Gwynedd County Council owning another part,and a small portion is private land.The museum also owns parts in a small area surrounding.Not too sure which bits though,obviously the obliterated Hafod Owen belongs to First Hydro,as do the obvious vents and converted A5 incline (to carry cable conduit).
At the top of the quarry is a large mesh fence and barbed wire to protect the surge vent for the power station.
An amazing landscape with many relics,Dinorwic would be greatly missed if closed.
AndyC
  • AndyC
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15 years ago
Oh for the days of 20 years ago when I was a h&s rep - and h&s was about common sense.

The status quo at Dinorwic until recently was common sense. There was a fence. There are signs forbidding you to enter. I would say that is enough.

Should you choose to ignore the signs and cross the fence, the the landowner has discharged his responsibility and should be beyond any claim for negligence.

As I say, that what would have happened when common sense directed things 😞 .
Been injured while at work and are not to blame?

Get over it.
ICLOK
  • ICLOK
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15 years ago
Andy, but now a risk assessment will have been done by an outside company who to justify their vast fee will say what he thinks the owners will want to hear (otherwise why did they ask?), who will then imediatley over re-act accordingly... :thumbdown:
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh Creeper!!!!!
blondin
15 years ago
Just looking at Gwyns photos of the new fencing at Dinorwic.
Intresting to see on the sign `entrance to dinorwic quarry entirely at own risk`.Yet access is `strictly forbidden`.Are there security guards?
Will there be more fences?They are big fences in a small area.Is the gated tunnel the other side of the flooded pit something of importance to First Hydro?Or will the whole quarry end up like this?
Anyone who has been to Dinorwic will know of lots of dangerous areas (some quite terryfying),and one would imagine the whole site to be eventually out of bounds.
Would like to know if anyone can add any more to this and the future of the site.
JohnnearCfon
15 years ago
There seem to be a number of ambiguities about that sign! Depending on where it is placed it could even be illegal in itself!

🔗Dinorwig-Slate-Mine-User-Album-Image-42566[linkphoto]Dinorwig-Slate-Mine-User-Album-Image-42566[/linkphoto][/link]

If it is near the footpath that goes through the site:-

Firstly, do children need to be supervised on a public footpath?

Secondly FH are responsible for safety of persons on the public footpath.

Any idea what this is protecting?
🔗Dinorwig-Slate-Mine-User-Album-Image-42571[linkphoto]Dinorwig-Slate-Mine-User-Album-Image-42571[/linkphoto][/link]

Gwyn
  • Gwyn
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15 years ago
The enclosures (3 off) are to protect newly planted Beech trees, Fagus sylvatica. These were planted to replace the trees that were cut down for the filming of Clash of the Titans. In my professional opinion, a remarkably poor species choice for the site, poorly sited and poorly planted.
JohnnearCfon
15 years ago
Which variety were cut down then Gwyn?
Gwyn
  • Gwyn
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15 years ago
I didn't do a prior site survey but I would deduce naturally regenerated Birch (Betula pendula or pubescens), Willow (Salix, probably, caprea), Oak (Quercus, probably, petraea) and Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia). I've no problems with cutting or removal, but replacement with suitably sited, appropriate species is most important. Beech (Fagus sylvestris) is, in my experience, not a suitable replacement species for such a site.
hymac580c
15 years ago
Rhododendron seems to grow well on slate tips.
Bellach dim ond swn y gwynt yn chwibian, lle bu gynt yr engan ar cynion yn tincian.
JohnnearCfon
15 years ago
"hymac580c" wrote:

Rhododendron seems to grow well on slate tips.



Until some idiots (like NT etc) come along and spray them and kill them off.
Manicminer
15 years ago
Rhodedendron and beech trees should be exterminated where possible as they will kill off everything else nearby. None are native species and things like the Atlantic oak are more beneficial to the environment as they provide a home to rare mosses/litchen and many species of insects which in turn provide a meal for the birds.
Gold is where you find it
JohnnearCfon
15 years ago
But Rhodos look nicer! 😉
AndyC
  • AndyC
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15 years ago
"JohnnearCfon" wrote:

But Rhodos look nicer! 😉



For all of one fortnight each year.
Been injured while at work and are not to blame?

Get over it.
JohnnearCfon
15 years ago
"AndyC" wrote:

"JohnnearCfon" wrote:

But Rhodos look nicer! 😉



For all of one fortnight each year.



They are not that bad the rest of the year either, better than dense conifer plantations which exclude everything else to an even greater extent..

:offtopic:
Gwyn
  • Gwyn
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15 years ago
http://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/t.php?t=374753 
The above link may be of interest regarding access at Dinorwig.

Rhododendron ponticum is an alien, invasive weed species, which once established, has considerable implications for native flora and fauna. It is also the host for the highly aggressive and invasive pathogens Phytophthora ramorum and P. kernoviae. Interestingly, honey from its flowers is toxic.
You have been warned!
carnkie
15 years ago
Seeing we are off topic they have been looking very seriously at tree planting in the extensive abandonded coal areas of the US.http://www.wvu.edu/~Agexten/landrec/treerec.htm 

And remember this interesting story from last year. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7604721.stm 
The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.
LAP
  • LAP
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15 years ago
Ah big shame about this, does the fence prevent access to all of the area around Dali's pit, or is it still possible to use the steps from one of the above levels?
Kein geneis kanaf - Cain gnais canaf
Byt vndyd mwyhaf - byth onddyth moyav
Lliaws a bwyllaf - Líows o boylav
Ac a bryderaf - ac o boryddarav
Kyfarchaf y veird byt - covarcav yr vairth
Pryt nam dyweid - poryth na'm dowaith
Py gynheil y byt - Pa gonail y byth
Na syrch yn eissywyt - na soroc yn eishoyth
Neur byt bei syrchei - nour byth bai sorochai

Gwyn
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15 years ago
There were two climbers on the Dali slabs when I visited, so clearly the area can still be accessed.
Access is still being discussed, read the ukclimbing forum, so a modicum of discretion by all site users is probably not a bad thing.
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