The future of climbing, abseiling, caving and many other outdoor pursuits is under threat from an EU Directive relating to ‘work at height’ under current proposals for its implementation by the UK Health and Safety Executive. 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.
The Deputy Head of a centre that offers outdoor activities and trains young people to be leaders in Northumberland has expressed his concern about how this legislation will impact on the centre. Tim Blakemore helps to run the Dukeshouse Wood Centre in Hexham, which is a member of the Outdoor Trust charity. He says that the current proposals are restrictive and impractical to anyone trying to teach mountaineering, climbing or caving. There is a real danger that if no exemption for outdoor pursuits can be secured then centres such as Dukeswood House would have to close.
North East Conservative MEP Martin Callanan is supporting Tim Blakemore's campaign and went to see trainees from the centre in action at Corby's Crags, just outside Alnwick. Corby's Crags is one of the sites often used by the centre for its training.
Following his visit Martin said:
'If this legislation is implemented as it currently stands then activity centres, such as this one in Hexham, will be legally compelled to avoid being at a height without posting signs to tell people they are up high! This is madness - most people know that when they climb a mountain they will be up high!'
'Mountain Leader Training UK (MTLUK), one of the leading organisations in the outdoor activities industry, has put in place an excellent range of best practice policies which have been developed within the sector and these should be recognised within the legislation. This would be a much better way forward than to impose new and unnecessary restrictions which could result in the closure of some centres like Dukeshouse Wood. Conservatives opposed this legislation when it came before the European Parliament, but the Government and Labour MEPs supported it. We’re now seeing the practical effects.'
