News: Cavers Threaten Legal Proceedings Against Landowners

Ogof Draenen - should this be the only entrance? Photo: Paul Fairman
Ogof Draenen – should this be the only entrance? Photo: Paul Fairman

Cavers Stuart France and Nigel Rogers are involved in the on-going dispute over closing or gating the Drws Cefn entrance to Ogof Draenen in South Wales.

On the 20th November 2015 their solicitors, Richard Buxton of Cambridge, wrote to Natural Resources Wales, sending copies to the Pwll Du Management Group and also to the landowner. Stuart France later published the letter online.

The letter threatens NRW with judicial review proceedings, and also threatens an injunctive remedy against the landowner, if any attempt is made to restrict access.

In the debate that led to the CRoW poll carried out by the British Caving Association there were warnings from many cavers that legal action against landowners could seriously damage the goodwill built up between cavers, farmers and landowners over many decades. These concerns were played down by proponents of CRoW. Despite this, only a year later are we seeing the first signs that those fears may be justified.

Will many cavers who voted for CRoW to apply be happy with these latest developments?

You can read the full letter here.