Following a meeting between myself, Ron Kenyon (local BMC access volunteer) and property managers for Marshalls PLC (the landowners of Scratchmere Scar) several weeks ago, a new access agreement for the previously banned crag has been formally agreed.

Marshalls have recently agreed to allow permissive access to the crag for climbing, on the understanding that climbers accept that they are there entirely at their own risk. The BMC supports this and the organisation's view on risk is summarised in it's participation statement: "The BMC recognises that climbing, hill walking and mountaineering are activities with a danger of personal injury or death. Participants in these activities should be aware of and accept these risks and be responsible for their own actions."

Independent of the crag itself, Marshalls are concerned about their health and safety obligations at a separate and adjacent active quarry to the north-west of the crag. Therefore, agreed access is via the track from the farm below the crag and limited to the crag itself, not the land beyond. Continued access is reliant on climbers upholding this arrangement. Full access details are available as always on the BMC's RAD here. 

The BMC would like to thank Marshalls Plc for their understanding and help with this issue and look forward to continuing to build a positive relationship at the site in future.

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