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--- start [18 Jun 2020 15:19]
cookie [About] Added link to BCA covid information
+++ start [10 Jan 2021 00:17]
cookie [Home] Covid Lockdown Mk3
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-<panel type="danger" title="FROM MENDIP CAVE RESCUE. Cave Rescue and Corona Virus">
+<grid>
-Following on from the Prime Ministers statement on Sunday re the easing of restrictions some people have asked about caving.
+<col xs="12" sm="6" md="4" lg="4">
+<panel type="danger" title="CSCC: Coronavirus Lockdown Mark 3">
+Dear Southern Cavers,
-Firstly I will stress that it is not Mendip Cave Rescues job to tell cavers if or where they should go caving.
+As all of you are now no doubt aware the UK is now in the throws of the third national lockdown and this places severe restrictions on our hobby. I would draw your attention to the statement made by the CNCC a few days ago (reproduced below), which provides some excellent advice and is applicable down south as it is up north. The CNCC advice reads;
-However, the following should be bourne in mind.
+//"The third national lockdown is upon and this sees a return of the Government message to 'Stay Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives' as the country tries to stop the spread of the virus and prevent our hospitals from being overwhelmed. As with the March 2020 lockdown, leaving home is now only permitted for a limited number of reasons.//
-The PM made it very clear that you can meet one friend outside keeping 2 mts distance. Caves are not outside and the caving code states a minimum of 4 in a group. So unless it is a family living together its difficult.
+//Some of you will be wondering about provisions for exercise, potentially including caving, during lockdown.
+The restrictions include provisions for exercise during lockdown to help people maintain fitness and to support wellbeing. However, this exercise must only be taken alone, with your household/ bubble, or with one other person, and it must be in your immediate local area (defined as your village, town or part of the city in which you live).//
-The only pastimes allowed are golf, tennis and those where social distancing can be maintained. It cannot be maintained in caving.
+//For the vast majority of us, who either prefer to cave with a group of friends, or would need to travel away from our immediate local area to go caving, this means venturing underground is sadly off the cards for the duration of this lockdown. Instead, we advise that the next several weeks provide a much better opportunity to repair oversuits, clean equipment and plan your summer adventures instead.//
-MCR have made certain preparations if we are called out but the practicalities of wearing PPE in a cave would make any rescue prolonged. In addition we have protocols issued by BCRC where all equipment needs to be treated with disinfectant.
+//For the small number of people who live on the doorstep of our caves and are intent on visiting them as part of your exercise, we urge you to respect the restrictions on who you can exercise with, and to ensure your exercise regime is low risk and well within your capabilities.//
-Of course we would not hesitate to attend a call out but it could take longer than normal with some cavers self-isolating. Not only would rescuers be putting themselves at risk of contracting the virus from a casualty but the casualty would also be at risk from the rescuers.
+//We can't wait to bring you better news over the coming months and to see a return to caving in our region very soon."//
-The goodwill we have with landowners on Mendip could well be put in jeopardy if cavers start arriving. The club huts are all still closed as are most caves. The two longest caves, St. Cuthberts and Swildons Hole are closed to cavers until the lockdown is lifted.
+As before it is up to the individual to decide whether or not it is possible for them to cave, but in addition to the following CNCC advice please be aware of the potential impression you may be making on landowners and local residents. We rely upon their goodwill for continued access and it would be terrible if the actions of a few result in reduced access once national restrictions start to be lifted.
-Finally caving and British Caving in particular gained enormous praise from the public and great PR following on from the Thailand rescue in 2018. One rescue will put the current positive profile that caving has back for years.
+Ed Waters (CSCC Chairman)\\
+th Jan 2021
+</panel>
+</col>
-So please stay safe.
+<col xs="12" sm="6" md="4" lg="4">
+<panel type="danger" title="CSCC and MCR: Joint Statement on Coronavirus Lockdown Mk 2 and Caving in the South">
+Dear Southern Cavers,
-Martin Grass\\
+As most all of you will be aware, the government announced on Saturday that new lockdown measures will be introduced from Thursday 5th November in an attempt to control the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic. The details of these measures can be found at [[https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-national-restrictions-from-5-november#travel]].
-Honorary Secretary\\
-Mendip Cave Rescue\\
-May 2020
-Latest from [[https://www.facebook.com/mendipcaverescue/posts/1726167680840409|Mendip Cave Rescue]]
+One of the issues as regards caving is that you can only leave home for specific purposes, one of which being;
+**"to exercise outdoors or visit an outdoor public place - with the people you live with, with your support bubble or, when on your own, with 1 person from another"**
+If caving is considered to provide a form of "outdoor exercise" it will be up to individual cavers to decide whether or not they can or should go caving whilst meeting both the letter and spirit of the new national restrictions. Cavers should think carefully whether a caving trip meets the latest travel restrictions, noting in particular that as of 2nd November;
+  * **“You should avoid travelling in or out of your local area, and you should look to reduce the number of journeys you make.”**
+  * **“you can and should still travel for a number of reasons, including … exercise, if you need to make a short journey to do so.”**
+Further points to consider are that some landowners may not feel comfortable in allowing cavers onto their land during lockdown. In these cases please be understanding and respect their wishes. The Council of Southern Caving Clubs (CSCC) will try to maintain a list of lockdown access arrangements, but given the fast-moving nature of the situation it is possible that cavers will come across restrictions not previously reported. In these cases please respect the landowners wishes and inform CSCC so that we can advise others. It is quite possible that local residents will be wary of visitors, and as such cavers should be discreet and avoid caves close to private residencies. If cavers are seen, or suspected, of breaking the national restrictions this could have serious long-term impacts upon our relationships with the communities we rely on for amongst other things access to our caves.
+A rescue during the lockdown would be a major issue for Mendip Cave Rescue (MCR). Whilst they will remain ready to come to the aid of anyone in need underground, the process will be complicated by lockdown restrictions which may slow response and wearing of PPE to minimise infection risk will hamper underground operations. As such please chose your trip carefully to ensure that it lies well within the abilities of all members of the party.
+We cannot advise you whether your trip, if you intend to cave, falls within government guidelines or not, but if you do decide to cave please think carefully about the potential consequences of your trip and ensure that you are complying with the latest government advice. The situation is evolving quickly and CSCC will continue to do our best to keep you informed of how the situation is affecting caving in the south via the [[https://cscc.org.uk|CSCC website]].
+Ed Waters (CSCC Chairman) & Martin Grass (Hon Secretary MCR)\\
+nd November 2020
 </panel>
+</col>
-<panel type="danger" title="BCA INFORMATION ON CORONAVIRUS AND CAVING">
+<col xs="12" sm="6" md="4" lg="4">
+<panel type="primary" title="Annual J’Rat Digging Awards – 21st Nov 2020">
+{{ :jrat_awards_poster_2020.jpg?direct |}}
+\\
+Owing to COVID19, there will not be an event held in the Hunters for 2020 for the presentation of the Silver Shovel for Mendip and Scotland finds, but we don’t want the finds since 1st November 2019 to 31st October 2020 to go unrewarded and unnoticed!
-BCA have issued a series of useful updates on the coronavirus and how it related to caving. See the [[https://british-caving.org.uk/wiki3/doku.php#coronavirus-and-caving|BCA Website]].
+Our plan is to create a short video for release on the 21st November announcing the winner and celebrating this year’s digging efforts in what can only be described as unusual times.
+We would like to include some footage or photos/text or short powerpoint presentation including a survey of the larger finds, but also to invite any digging teams who wish to send over a short update of theirs too as a bit of a general digging update/Mendip and Scottish roundup. Please contact Estelle Sandford – [[estellesandford@gmail.com]] – with information on anything you would like us to include.
+As per usual, the deadline is 31st October to send details of your 50 metres or more of cave passage found and surveyed in either Mendip or Scotland to Martin Grass – [[m.grass@btinternet.com]]
+More details of the release will follow nearer the main event...
+Estelle Sandford\\
+Oct 2020
+</panel>
+</col>
+<col xs="12" sm="6" md="4" lg="4">
+<panel type="danger" title="BCA: Information on Coronavirus and Caving">
+BCA have issued a series of useful updates on the coronavirus and how it related to caving. See the [[https://british-caving.org.uk/coronavirus-and-caving/|BCA Website]].
 </panel>
+</col>
-====== About the CSCC ======
+<col xs="12" sm="6" md="4" lg="4">
+<panel type="danger" title="BCRC: Guidance Should a Return to Underground Activity Become Available">
-The Council of Southern Caving Clubs (CSCC) is an association of Caving Clubs whose main interests lie in the Mendip Hills of Somerset. Membership is made up of in excess of 40 clubs based all over the southern part of the country and although the council is mainly concerned with Mendip, it is the Regional Body for South England, and is a constituent member of the [[http://british-caving.org.uk|British Caving Association]] (BCA).
+BCRC have issued a press release on the coronavirus giving guidance should a return to underground activity become available. See the [[https://www.caverescue.org.uk/cave-rescue-coronavirus-update/|BCRC Website]].
-The Council's concerns include maintaining and negotiating access agreements to the caves, conservation work such as repairing gates and placement of ECO hangers under the BCA scheme and dissemination of information to the member clubs.
+</panel>
+</col>
-There are no restrictions for membership to the CSCC, all that is required of a club is that they signify their wish to join by presenting their constitution and number of members, are accepted by a Council meeting and pay the annual subscription.
+<col xs="12" sm="6" md="4" lg="4">
+<panel type="primary" title="Access to caves in Cheddar Gorge">
+Further to the decision by Longleat to close the show caves and suspend their operations in Cheddar, they have notified CSCC that with immediate effect caver access to all caves on Longleat property which includes the whole south side of the Gorge, is no longer available. This includes all caves and digs, and affects sites such as Reservoir Hole, Spider Hole, Goughs Cave, Long Hole, Great Oones etc.
-Meetings of the Council are held on a regular basis and member clubs may send as many representatives as they wish, although there is only one vote per club. Officers of the Council are elected annually and conduct its business, but they have no vote at meetings unless representing a member club. Certain officers represent the Council at meetings of the BCA and its sub committee/working groups, and close liaison is maintained with other Regional Councils, the Sports Council, English Nature as well as other local and national organisations.
+Longleat are not adverse to reinstating caver access subject to an access agreement with CSCC. Negotiations to formalise an access procedure were started at the request of Longleat a few years ago but were never concluded.
+Discussions have recommenced and both parties are hopeful of a favourable and positive outcome, however in the meantime all the caves are closed.
+Longleat will be keeping a presence in the Gorge for maintenance purposes, but this is all. Approaches should not be made to Longleat or any of their representatives as permission to visit any of the caves will be denied.
+[[canda@cscc.org.uk|Graham Price]]\\
+Conservation & Access Officer\\
+th Oct 2020
+</panel>
+</col>
+<col xs="12" sm="6" md="4" lg="4">
+<panel type="primary" title="CSCC: Latest Access News">
+As far as CSCC is aware, all caves closed as a result of the coronavirus lockdown are now open.
+Restrictions may apply to some caves whilst the virus is still prevalent in the community and it is important to respect the wishes of landowners in this regard.
+Access requirements for specific sites can be found in the [[https://access-guide.cscc.org.uk|Access Guide]].
+If anyone is aware of any updates, please notify me.
+[[access.guide@cscc.org.uk|Graham Price]]\\
+Conservation & Access Officer\\
+th Oct 2020
+</panel>
+</col>
+</grid>
-\\ \\ \\ Site © CSCC 2020