New Padlocks for CSCC Caves

The Council of Southern Caving Clubs are changing the locks on all of the caves for which they administer access. The previously used locks are now no longer available and there have been a number of issues with copied and poorly fitting keys in circulation, causing damage to the locks and not operating the locks easily, if at all.

All CSCC member clubs are being issued with at least one new key. Keys will continue to be available to borrow by arrangement from the following Mendip clubs: Bristol Exploration Club, Cerberus Spelaeological Society, Mendip Caving Group, Mendip Nature Research Committee, Shepton Mallet Caving Clubs and Wessex Cave Club.

Cavers are asked not to copy keys for the reasons above. Official keys are easily available, are fully tried and tested, and stamped CSCC for identification purposes.

The changeover will start at the beginning of March and, given the number of sites involved, will take some time to complete. To guarantee being able to get access visitors should take both the old and the new key with them until they are notified that the process is complete.

The principal behind the CSCC system is to make the caves covered by this arrangement, as freely and easily accessible as possible.

The list of caves fitted with a CSCC standard lock is being updated but currently includes: Attborough Swallet, Axbridge Hill Cavern, Balch Cave, Blackmoor Swallet (Stainsby's Shaft), Chardswell Cave, Compton Martin Ochre Mine, Conning Tower Cave, Coral Cave, Cuckoo Cleeves, Eighteen Acre Swallet, Fairy Cave Quarry car park, Five Buddles Sink, Hillier's Cave, Hobnail Hole, Loxton Cave, Loxton Quarry Cave, Maesbury Swallet, Priddy Green Sink, Singing River Mine, Sludge Pit Hole, Snake Pit Hole, Spider Hole, Star Shaft Mine, Stock Hill Mine Cave, Stocks House Shaft, Ubley Warren Pot (both entrances, but currently closed) Viaduct Sink (currently closed), Waterwheel Swallet, West Twin Brook Adit, Windsor Hill Flood Sink 1, and Windsor Hill Flood Sink 2.

Some caves have particular access requirements which it is important to comply with to maintain free access, and the Access Guide on the CSCC web site should be checked before making a visit. The Guide is in the process of being updated.

For further information, updates, and availability of keys, etc contact Graham Price via email at cscc [at] cave.org.uk.

Graham Price
28/2/2018