NORTH EAST MEP CONVENES BRUSSELS SUMMIT
TO COUNTER THREAT TO OUTDOOR PURSUITS
North East Conservative MEP Martin Callanan convened a high-level summit in
Brussels on Tuesday 27th April 2004 with a view to securing the future of
UK outdoor pursuits centres. In response to concerns expressed by Tim Blakemore,
an outdoor activity leader from Hexham in Northumberland, Martin Callanan
has been campaigning to make sure that the implementation of the EU Work at
Height Directive does not adversely effect outdoor pursuits centres, such
as Dukeshouse Wood in Hexham.
Martin has arranged for Tim Blakemore, deputy head of Dukeshouse Wood, to put his case forward at the meeting in Brussels. Senior representatives from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will be present as well as people from the industry body Mountain Leader Training UK* and the leader of the Conservatives in the European Parliament Jonathan Evans MEP.
EU Directive 2001/45/EC (Temporary Work at Height Directive) is causing enormous
concern within the outdoor activities industry as they fear jobs will be lost
and many legitimate climbing and caving pursuits threatened due to a mountain
of expensive and unnecessary red tape. For example, the legislation will require
signs to be posted to remind climbers that they are up high or on loose ground
and extra people will have to be employed to fulfil new personnel requirements
for climbing and abseiling.
Speaking in Hexham ahead of the meeting Tim Blakemore said:
'I welcome this meeting and in particular appreciate the continued efforts and
support of Martin Callanan MEP. The HSE have had nearly three years in which
to consult with the sports national governing bodies, and have continually failed
to recognise and implement the good working practices which have been suggested.
Common sense should have prevailed long ago, and we can only hope that after
all the time, money and effort that has been invested by the industry that it
eventually will.'
Speaking in Newcastle ahead of the meeting Martin Callanan said:
'I am delighted that I have been able to secure this meeting in Brussels, but it is now vital that it produces a postive result for Tim Blakemore and his colleagues. I hope that the HSE will listen to the legitimate concerns of the outdoor pursuits industry and respond accordingly. '
'We are now looking for either exemption from the directive (in line with the
rest of Europe) or in the very least written assurances from the HSE that the
industry's good practice be recognised. Without this Dukeshouse Wood Centre
and many like it will cease to exist.'
