The Sandstone Open Meeting will take place in the bar at Bowles Rocks, Sandhill Lane, Eridge Green, Tunbridge Wells, TN3 9LW at 18:30 on Sunday 7th October 2018.
This is your opportunity to have your say and join in the discussion about sandstone related issues.
A buffet will be provided by the BMC.
The format for this meeting is two separate 1-hour meetings:
Firstly, the Sandstone Open Meeting: A ten minute report by the chair on sandstone issues followed by an open discussion.
Secondly, a meeting chaired by the BMC’s Land Management Group. Since the HRMG recommendation to install a bridge to access the isolated Buttress at Harrison’s Rocks, concerns have been raised by a number of individuals. Having regard to potential legal implications, LMG members consider it necessary that they inspect the site and hear directly from climbers at this meeting.
Please read the full statement in the Harrison’s Rocks section of the minutes of the SOM held in May 2018 reproduced below. (The full minutes are available here: https://docs.google.com/uc?export=download&id=13P8PoUjODEvCBn8_hcAhPbTA... ).
An article by Rob Dyer of the BMC outlining some of the pros and cons of the proposed bridge may be found in the article on the Isolated Buttress on the BMC’s Southern Sandstone page here: https://www.thebmc.co.uk/articles/tag/southern%20sandstone
All Welcome.
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The Isolated Buttress. HRMG made a decision to build a bridge in December. However, following the BMC Land Management Group (LMG) on 19 April) LMG chair, Martin Wragg, had issued the following statement, which would also be on the BMC website:
'Following the removal of the loose boulder, previously used to step across from the mainland to the Isolated Buttress at Harrison’s Rocks, climbers HRMG and BMC have been deliberating about the best course of action for future access to the buttress.
The issues are complex, and are summarised in the document prepared by Rob Dyer last autumn outlining the pros and cons of installing a bridge to access the Isolated Buttress. In December 2017 the HRMG, a group of keen local climbers who volunteer to help manage the Rocks, recommended that a bridge should be installed following a long period of analysis of arguments made from both sides, balancing these arguments against the BMC’s legal responsibility.
The landowner is the BMC subsidiary company and charity, BMC Land and Property Trust, the directors/trustees of which are the BMC President and two members of the LMG well as the BMC itself. They have ultimate responsibility in law in the event of any allegation of breach of duty under Occupier’s Liability legislation or Health and Safety regulations and this duty cannot be avoided or delegated.
LMG manage the BMC land holdings on behalf of the Trust and BMC Land Holding Ltd. HRMG are a sub-committee and the chair reports to the LMG. Since the recommendation was made, concerns have been raised by a number of individuals. Having regard to potential legal implications, LMG members consider it necessary that they inspect the site and hear directly from climbers at a Sandstone Open Meeting in the autumn. The day after the Open Meeting, the LMG will meet and unless there are compelling reasons to come to a different decision, LMG will endorse the recommendations of HRMG. There are a number of construction, planning, legal and cost questions that need to be addressed prior to the Open Meeting, including Occupier's Liability and Health & Safety and these will continue to be investigated by the LMG as part of a feasibility study to ensure that if the decision is endorsed, installation is possible. The date for the Sandstone Open meeting has been provisionally set as Sunday 7th October 2018.'
