UKC

Several people have pledged money if the BMC decide to purchase Wilton Quarries off United Utilities.

The latest is a whopping £2,000.

Read more at http://www.ukclimbing.com/news/

In reply to Mick Ryan - UKClimbing.com:

i just hope it doesnt make other council/ owned areas to think about selling up too to make a little profit from climbers!

In reply to philo:

Has anyone (except a brewery) ever made a profit out of a climber!!!!!!

In reply to Henry Iddon:

When I saw it my thought was, wow you cold make that a lovely climbing venue, maybe build a hut and charge a modest fee to clubs/ individuls, all of which could contribute to the ongoing maintenance (no profit making).

UU might even be willing to part with them to as a charitalble donation as hey will be able to write this off on their balace sheet. Is the BMC a charity?

It will be great if this leads to a good venue being preserved and actively managed as a sucessful venue, it could really set a precedent for other similar crags, many of which are owned by UU.

In reply to Mick Ryan - UKClimbing.com:

Are you being sarcastic?

£2,000 is hardly whopping when the price is £45,000!

In reply to Alison Stockwell: you have a point but thats 2000 more than most of have donated

In reply to Mick Ryan - UKClimbing.com: Turkeys voting for Christmas.

In reply to Anonymous: think its a sad state of events when we get to the point where we have to pay to use the outdoors.ive never been to wilton so cant really comment but am sure if caley was in the same situation i would try and do what i could to keep it public

In reply to peterjb:
, maybe build a hut and charge a modest fee to clubs/ individuls,


charging for access?



OK, it has occured to me that there was a heavy dose of irony in this post, and apologies if I'm rising to the bait, but My biggest fear is that this COULD set a precedent - privatised crags with charges... sounds dangerously like an indoor wall to me.

In reply to toad:


Or enclose the quarries under a large glass roof and make it into a well managed climbing wall, have a feeling this may have been done elsewhere?

In reply to Alphin: I don't think that is going to happen here

http://www.thebmc.co.uk/News.aspx?id=2147

In reply to toad:
The BMC does already own or assist in management at a number of crags with various access arrangements:

https://thebmc.co.uk/Feature.aspx?id=1148

In reply to Alan Beard: yes, but to the best of my knowledge, it doesn't charge for access.

In reply to toad:
I think you missed the words "build a hut"?
I assume the reference to charging was for use of the proposed hut, ie the same that happens for all club huts including those owned by the BMC.

In reply to Simon Caldwell: yes,I meant charge for use of the hut, the climbing would remin as is and would be free as always, but the hut would help generate revenue to help with ongoing maintenance.

In reply to Simon Caldwell: fair point

In reply to Undertow:

Ah sorry. I misunderstood the OP. I thought £2,000 was the total not a single pledge. Hats off to the person who offered that.

In reply to Jon Dittman:

Well done BMC, another good reason to join I would say.

In reply to philo:

UU are a water company, who, like Yorkshire Water, are generally committed to making a profit out of their land despite a 'committment' to public utility. Some councils eg Stalybridge, actually manage their land for climbers - the great Hobby - and are (hopefully) a bit more switched-on about this sort of thing.

In reply to Yorkspud:

Maybe the key issue here is why should we try to buy back something that was previously owned by the state anyway before the privatsations went ahead. If UU have any sort of corporte social responsibility they should dispose of these bits of land, where there is the demand, in a way that is of public benefit and not at public cost.

In reply to peterjb:

As idealistic as that is, the reality is UU are in it to make money, but in this instance they seem to have pulled back and all credit to the BMC and to UU lets hope it
continues.