UKC

On the morning of the 28th April we are planning a clean up operation in conjunction with the local Countryside Warden. The aim is to remove rubbish from below the carpark and generally smarten the place up as part of the preparation for the Olympic events later this summer. Climbers have been asked to help out as the area will need to be accessed by rope and many heavy items of rubbish will need to be hauled out.

If you are planning to be on the Island this Saturday and you can spare an hour or so before the sun hits the west coast your help will be greatly appreciated. This is a great opportunity for us as climbers to score brownie points and helps greatly with ongoing accesss negociations. Thanks to those locals who have already offered to help.

I should be able to provide enough ropes so you won't need to worry about knackering your equipment.

In reply to nealh: I'll be working away that day Neil but I'll let the shed gang know about this,
Rob

In reply to nealh: We'll be there! I'm happy to bring ab rope, jumars etc Whats your start time?

In reply to nealh:

Count me in... I'll bring a rope and jumars too (forgotten how to use them though).

In reply to nealh:

Hi Neal / Steve

*Might* be able to make it...like Steve, have jumars, can't remember how the hell to use them!

In reply to nealh: I'll be there Neal, with suitable gear. I'm happy to bring my static line if it helps.

In reply to nealh: me and the missus will be there.

In reply to Adam Perrett: Thanks all of you I was thinking kick off for ten
Lyn will try and arrange a skip and bags, good to see a local response shame we don't get much help from the hoards who are happy to turn up and clip our bolts, by maybe there's still time or maybe i'm an optimistic fool

In reply to nealh: currently working that day... will work some magic and shift work around. Shouldn't be too much of a problem. Would like to come help out

In reply to nealh:

Sorry Neal won't be able to make unfortunately as I'm working, if you are doing anymore please let me know soonest so I can put them in the diary.

In reply to nealh:
apologies, I'm away from dorset at the moment.

In reply to nealh: News article by the lovely Ed Douglas here: http://www.thebmc.co.uk/portlands-olympic-cleanup

In reply to nealh:
On a stag do but bumping this up to the top! Much respect for doing this guys.

In reply to nealh: Would love to get out on the cliffs but I have a broken knee!

In reply to JIMBO: would that be the rum coctails in the hot tub?
Sorry to hear that, get better soon

In reply to nealh: I'm working but Julie will be there with a static rope to help.

Al

In reply to nealh:

I (we) won't be around otherwise we'd be down to help. Let me know if you're planning other clean up days.

In reply to nealh: Had a look yesterday you gonna have your work cut out lets hope lots of people come and help.

In reply to alan ashmore:

I'll try to get there to help , but would mean heading over pretty much straight from a long shift in bristol ( 6 or 7am finish ) then nr 2 hour drive after dropping lads off all over south west. Shall try my best though .

Leon

In reply to nealh: I will be there

In reply to IainAM: Its really good of so many of you to let me know you cant make it and hey we all have busy lives,

But what would be really good to hear would be more of the masses who will no doubt be clipping bolts on the isle next weekend, saying that they will spare us a couple of hours from their day to come and lend a hand, wadda ya say?

In reply to nealh: I'll try and take a few local hostages and drag them down.
John.

In reply to johnl:

I'll be around Neil, 10am cheyne, let me know if needing ropes, ascenders etc. alan

In reply to abetts: Hi Al, Thanks for the support bring whatever you are happy using. Thanks John also, let pray for good weather, (not that it ever rains on Portland).

In reply to nealh:

Neal - sorry, just learned we need to be elsewhere...good luck and hope to catch up soon.

Nic

In reply to nealh: By way of a bump it is also the George Inn beer festival all weekend (top of Reforne in Easton), so at £2.50 a pint and a large selection of ales and ciders it should be good for a post clean piss up.
John.

In reply to nealh:

See you there at 10:00am

Is anyone climbing afterwards?

In reply to steve taylor: Forcast is a bit iffy for the afternoon, however if its dry I hope to get out

In reply to nealh:
will be there at 10am. Will it go ahead even if weather is poor, will you guys post here to confirm in the morning? Not climbing just coming to help with the clean up for a couple of hours if that is ok.
zo

In reply to Ducks Rock: Weather looks pretty fair for most of the day, just a chance of a short shower.
Had a scout around there yesterday - it seems mostly to be litter (cans, food wrapper, bin bags), a lot of the big stuff that used to be there has gone although there looks to be a couple of car seats well down at the north end. Gloves and granny grabbers might be the most useful equipment.

In reply to johnl:

Granny Grabber??? Something to be used in Weymouth at 2:00am???

In reply to steve taylor: You know, those things used by old people to pick stuff up, actually, no, maybe you're right.

In reply to Ducks Rock and everyone else who has contributed:

Hi,
Yes everything is set for tomorrow and the forecast is looking good.
If anything changes overnight we will let you know via this thread on UKC. But as everything currently stands tomorrow is go.

see you all tomorrow
Neal and Helen

In reply to nealh: It's pissing it down, where did that come from? I'll keep my eye on it for the next hour or so - someone needs to put the shields back up.

In reply to johnl: coming from Bournemouth, leaving at 9 so would be good to know if it's still on asap, pissing down here as well, but forecast says it will clear up.... heres hoping!

In reply to Ducks Rock: If Neal wants to rearrange for this afternoon I'm available all day. I will post a weather check at 9.00.

In reply to johnl: bugger only available until midday... hope he doesn't!

In reply to johnl: The rain looks like it's getting worse.

In reply to Ducks Rock: light rain in weymouth, looks same on the isle....

In reply to johnl:

Www.raintoday.co.uk says its going to be raining heavily for a while yet.

In reply to steve taylor: does that mean it will be postponed? don't mind working in the rain just don't want to get there and no one be there!

In reply to Ducks Rock:

Zoe, I'll go along anyway, just so there's no danger of nobody being there. The weather's odd - could clear up, could get worse...


Mick

In reply to Mick Ward: great, will leave now then, see you soon! I only have until 12 so will get a scoot on! will be about an hour

In reply to Mick Ward: I'll put in an appearance by 10 too.

In reply to nealh:

Hi everyone

yes it's still going ahead. Whilst its raining its not too bad. We'll be heading across shortly to start putting ropes in place etc.

thanks to everyone who is coming and see you all shortly

Neal

In reply to nealh:

Well done on the organisation front Neal. I reckon we shifted a few tons of rubbish today. There was a decent turnout - about 20 people in all and everyone mucked in.

In reply to steve taylor: Echo that and to the ranger as well. I couldn't believe the amount of rubbish that was shifted. Mind you less than one hour after we had finished someone had slung their chip wrapper down the bank GRRRRR!

In reply to nealh:

Thanks to everyone who came along today. A job well done!!! ...and a great effort by all.

Besides killing a few ropes the main damage of the day was a large dent to the roof of Lyn (the Ranger)'s car, caused when she tried to drive under the barrier with the wheelbarrow still strapped to the roof of her car and a scratch to Neal's eyeball from the brambles. (So in case you haven't guessed it's H typing this and not Neal as his vision is still blurred.)

Overall it looks like we cleared at least 70 binliners of rubbish, together with 2 fridges, a patio set, a rubber p....s, most of the component parts of a car and an I-beam.

Thanks again and see you all on the crags soon.

Heeln and Neal

In reply to nealh:

Good effort and well done to all concerned, sorry I couldn't be there (mind you, it's been so long not sure I could find my way to Portland any more...).

Still trying to figure out what a rubber p....s is?!


Nic

In reply to Nic: I think the missing letters are eni.

In reply to nealh: Looks like you did a great job well done ! i'm looking forward to climbing there again in the summer even more now -will take bags with us to keep up the good work.

In reply to nealh: Thanks to Neal, Helen, Lyn etc. who organised the cleanup. Sorry to hear about Neals eye. Hope he is OK today.

I am aching like a B*st*ard today! Must be getting old...

Did Helen or Lyn take the rubber weiner home?

In reply to Adam Perrett:

Nope - Longy took it!

In reply to nealh: good work on organising it Neal and Helen, I thought Mick had his eye on the rubber P**is.
Zo

In reply to Ducks Rock: Cheers for making it over from tother side of the county, sorry didn't get a chance to chat really appreciate everyones efforts (oh and I'm no longer blind!)
Neal

In reply to nealh: Why do we bother guys? Had a look over the car park today and it was as bad as ever - plastic bottles, coke cans, loads of McDonalds wrappers, an umbrella, cigarette packets, garden waste - no doubt give it another week and there will be a car and a couple of fridges. Is there a solution, temporary ban on parking with a notice as to why maybe?

In reply to johnl: There isn't even a McDonalds on Portland, is there?