Row over caves care after campaigner locked out

A heritage campaigner has said she is "very angry and very upset" after being blocked from maintaining a set of caves in Nottingham just days after being told she could take care of them.

Janine Tanner volunteered to look after Sneinton Hermitage shortly after the city council cleared vegetation which had grown up after years of neglect.

But after initially being given permission to oversee the site, the authority changed the locks and said she could no longer have access.

Nottingham City Council said handing over the keys had been a mistake and the caves needed "specialist oversight".

Sneinton Hermitage is what remains of a row of houses, gardens, pubs and even a ballroom, which were cut into the soft stone of a cliff.

After becoming a focus for homeless and anti-social behaviour, they were sealed off and became overgrown.

Following talks with the council, Ms Tanner said she went to the caves to meet staff who had to break off the locks as keys could not be located.

New locks were fitted, which she was given keys for, but a short time later these were changed again by the authority.

"As far as I was concerned, I was sort of caretaker for the caves and that's what I would be doing," she said.

"I would be cleaning them up, sweeping them up, weeding them and making sure they were clean and tidy and presentable for people coming to have a look at.

"I just wanted them to be part of the Sneinton community so people could come down and have a look and think 'wow this looks lovely, it is being looked after'."

Ms Tanner has organised tours and exhibitions of Nottingham's heritage and is currently spearheading the partial restoration of Long Stairs - a survivor of the city's once numerous medieval walkways.

But this was not enough to stop the council having a change of heart over the Hermitage.

She said: "I got a phone call and the gist was 'you should never have been given the keys, we have changed all the locks and you will no longer have access to the caves'.

"I'm very angry and very upset. I've only be there a couple of weeks but went down there three or four times to clean up.

"And it just makes me so angry because I've done everything I could to promote the history of Sneinton Hermitage and had so many people from Sneinton messaged to say they want to come and help."

A council spokesperson said: "It appears that keys to one of the caves were handed over in error, and we're currently reviewing how that happened.

"The council is responsible for managing and maintaining these caves, many of which are sensitive heritage assets requiring specialist oversight to ensure their safety and protection.

"We are in the process of clarifying responsibilities and access arrangements, and will be contacting those involved to discuss the matter.

"We appreciate everyone's enthusiasm and want to ensure that any involvement from volunteers or community is properly supported, safe, and appropriate for such unique sites."

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