Access procedures for Landenouse (Dept. du Lot) / infos as of 05.06.2004
(translated from the German text)
| The organiser of the yearly "Stages Spéléo Suisses" *), Beat Müller, member of the CMAS Cave Diving Working Group, had the opportunity to be invited to the house of the landowner of the Landenouse and to have a long talk with him on future access, parking problems and the doubtful behaviour of some cave divers. The author also had the chance to have a look onto the plan cadastral. *) The cave diving section of the Swiss federation CMAS.CH runs such "stages de formation" since 1988, has certified approx. 180 cave divers of all levels and carried out approx. 4000-5000 training dives without any incident in the Dept. du Lot. |
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| The owner was VERY upset that there are still cave divers of different nationalities (foreign and french) who seem to have missed some important parts of their education. An example: most recently a group of such people refused to re-arrange their cars and to let the farmer pass by, thus blocking the access to his own property. Only after he told them that a call to the gendarmerie at Cajarc would cost them much more than a few minutes of their time... they were reluctantly willing to put their cars aside. It is hard to believe such arrogance and stupidity! |
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| Also the wonderful yellow ladder (we all love it and fortunately the farmer's kids love it too) and the fixation for a pulley system on the wall towards the street have been installed without asking or prior consent of the landowner. Fortunately again we were able to convince him that both installations were important safety measures, reducing the risk of an incident. |
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| With this background in mind, one must not wonder that the landowner has planned a judicial prohibition of any access to his property! | |
| The most important points: | |
| 1. | The whole area of the cave (incl. the walls) and a long strip of land with a width of approx. 30m belong to the family residing in the house besides the cave, thus is private property. The same holds true for the trail leading downwards to the fields. |
| 2. | The access to the fields below the street via the trail leading down has to be free of any vehicles on a width of approx. 4m. A maximum of 2 cars may be parked right at the entrance, as much as possible at the outer edge of the corner on street level. Our recommendation: go with the lowest possible number of cars! |
| 3. | If the farmer asks you to rearrange your cars, you should follow this request IMMEDIATELY and with smile on your face! It is HIS property and he has not to explain his request to you. |
| 4. | In case that more cars should be parked somewhere, first download your cars besides the cave. Then walk to the house, introduce yourself and ask very politely where these vehicles may be praked (max. 2). |
| For the sake of future access to this and other caves in the Lot area we kindly ask any involved organisation and any individual cave diver: a) to strictly apply these rules b) to communicate these rules to further members of the cave diving community c) again, as with the St. Sauveur, please show a decent attitude and the behaviour of well-educated people and NOT that of huns in neoprene! |
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| In the words of the landowner, one more unpleasant incident as described above may immediately lead to a judicial prohibition of any access to his property around the cave and a heavy chain will then block the small entry to the field trail. | |
| Each car parked aside the road, in front of the buildings nearby or any person present on the property will then automatically lead to a short phone call to the gendarmerie in Cajarc and a prosecution, if not to a confiscation of the equipment. | |
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Beat Müller |
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| For any further information please contact the author (Beat Müller) |
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