In reply to Euan Todd:
Believe the A3 grade is old aid grading rather than N/W A3.
In which case, it gets the grade out of the awkwardness of horizontal roof aiding even if you are going bolt to bolt. If you understand the theory of aid climbing, you’re general physical conditioning is good enough, and you’re prepared to be slow and faffy, a horizontal roof on bolts isn’t the most ludicrous proposition for a first aid route.
A New Wave A3 may have successive tenuous moves gear, hook and nailing moves a long way above your last solid piece. Falls would be safe, but large >15m. So, advising someone who to jump on a N/W A3 as their first aid route may just be a little cruel.
However, my understanding of the turn of the screw is that the truly scary part is the unprotectable mandatory U.K. 4c/5a climbing above the lip of the roof which you may be doing in your aid boots trailing all your aid paraphernalia. Only more so the case, since it seems like many opt to solo the thing.
I’d suggest trying to find someone who’s climbed it recently, I think the guy who runs Dicks/Rope Access Ltd in Bristol has been up it. May be worth contacting him...?