The latest covid regulation guidance

[Bors]

I saw a response tonight on Facebook from the NCMD that said there might be news tomorrow

Probably the news is that the death rates shot up again so everything's as it is as far as going detectings concerned.

[Oxgirl]

Probably the news is that the death rates shot up again so everything's as it is as far as going detectings concerned.

Think you are spot on - and much though I hate this lockdown and am starting to really struggle to stay positive and could do with some hope to cling to I can’t see there being any changes made to the detecting ban in this lockdown

[Bors]

I`d say your not on your own with your feelings Cath as many of us (not all though it seems) are like prisoners under house arrest. The only time I go out nowadays is to get groceries or other such necessities ; other than that I don`t venture out of the House and I honestly think mine & the other halves breathing is suffering with not having a steady intake of Fresh air coming in regularly enough .I know I`ve put a few pounds on too from Christmas and through lack of getting out and having zero exercise, so its a Lose Lose situation .

[TerraBritannia]

I'll keep my fingers crossed for some good news (well you never know for sure).

I have the week off next week and I'd love to get out detecting, but I can't see there being much change in the rules and that's fair enough. It is a bit frustrating though, knowing that I can go and visit lots of houses in a village with my job, but I can't go and walk around in a field on the edge of the same village on my own.

[Kenleyboy]

I doubt there will be any such changes until we start to see the vaccine numbers coming down and it is looking more likely to be early spring time when we get some sort of normality back in our lives . On the bright side the evenings are now beginning to get a little lighter and spring is not too far away so the doom and gloom of short dark winter days will soon be over .

[Easylife]

I doubt there will be any such changes until we start to see the vaccine numbers coming down and it is looking more likely to be early spring time when we get some sort of normality back in our lives.

If we are lucky but I wouldn't go making any plans.
"Boris Johnson refused to rule out keeping the lockdown in place until the summer and SAGE scientists warned draconian restrictions will be needed until May."
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech ... nated.html

[Steve RC]

Considering the allowances given to other pastimes to continue it seems that metal detecting has been singled out yet again for special treatment.

Now this may be as a precaution against the pay to dig brigade thinking they can bend the rules to make money or the general propensity of some detectorists to ignore any given provisions to go detecting with their mates or club members and so on. Some do not listen and as i have heard from others that some are still sneaking out at the moment.

However in the final analysis i feel that the greatest concern is that someone will find a hoard which can't be dealt with ,but then again could it. Commercial archaeological excavations are going on at the moment with their staff given key worker status. After all if the various archaeological planning permission conditions for developments are not met then the construction industry would be affected and so on.

To put that into focus what if a small developer in the local village building a few houses for which the archaeologists put in a trench of two and said that there was nothing to find, turns up a hoard or even worse an Anglo Saxon cemetery ? It does happen so what would the take be on that as opposed to the very rare chance that a reduced level of detecting turns up a hoard.

Not convinced that certain parties are not briefing the DCMS against the hobby. It would not be the first time nor the last.

[Saffron]

Considering the allowances given to other pastimes to continue it seems that metal detecting has been singled out yet again for special treatment.
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I am far from sure that the above is the case.

One of my main other interests is horse racing, especially point-pointing which is an "amateur" sport. (amateur put in quotes as officially it is but these days the bulk of horses seem to be trained by the other halves of professional national hunt trainers (although a cynic might wonder to what extent the listed trainers sees the horse and what amount is done by the professional trainer)).

When the season started in November it was behind closed doors with no spectators. As soon as the Tier system was introduced all meetings in Tier 4 areas were stopped and trainers and owners from Tier 4 areas banned from going to (or running horses in) lower Tier areas. With the current lockdown all meetings are cancelled.

The better horses would also run in hunter chases ar professional national hunt meetings, but had to be ridden by amateur jockeys. The first hunter chase of the season was this week. However, about 10 days ago the British Horse Racing Board and Jockey Club banned ALL amateur ridders from taking part in any race meeting, so there was a very rapid change to the rules for hunter chases (and other amateur races) to allow conditional jockeys to ride in them.

So I am sure that an owner of a point-pointer or amateur jockey would not say that "metal detecting has been singled out yet again".

Like wise all football, apart from "elite" level had been banned. The only reason that clubs like Marine could initially continue was that they were in the FA cup (they could not play in the league or other competitions) and as soon as they were knocked out of the FA cup they were unable to continue. At the level of clubs like Marine, although most of the players also have other jobs the vast majority are semi-professional so have lost income.

For the record I would love to go out metal detecting, especially as at the moment the sun is shining. But I am far from sure that allowing it is a good idea as we all need to limit even the remotest chance of spreading the virus, and probably more importantly at this time when the hobby seems to be under attack from some quarters we need to show that detectorists are responsible and not give the "anti's" any more ammunition.

Evan

[tone]

It's frustrating having permission's within walking distance of my home and although i disagree with the government's handling of the pandemic as with the previous lock downs i stick by the rule's. The hobby Doesn't need bad publicity concerning people metal detecting flouting lock down rules.It would be just more ammunition for those that would like to nail our hobby to the wall.

[Pete E]

Considering the allowances given to other pastimes to continue it seems that metal detecting has been singled out yet again for special treatment.

I do wonder whether "unofficially", certain people or factions that have an anti detecting bias, and that are in a position to influence the detail of Government policy, are perhaps using this epidemic as an excuse to limit detecting more than is strictly necessary??

Nobody can convince me that a lone detector working local to their home represents any more danger than a lone cyclist, or dog walker..

[TheFenTiger]

I do wonder whether "unofficially", certain people or factions that have an anti detecting bias, and that are in a position to influence the detail of Government policy, are perhaps using this epidemic as an excuse to limit detecting more than is strictly necessary??

Nobody can convince me that a lone detector working local to their home represents any more danger than a lone cyclist, or dog walker..

I believe there are a lot of agendas in the background. The rates have rocketed and yet the pubs and restaurants which were being blamed as the culprits have been closed for weeks. I remember they said we either close schools or pubs as the hospitality industry were the main reasons it was spreading. I see children walking home from school who don't care about bubbles mixing in groups of 10+.

Lets not forget there are far more hobbies, sports and pastimes shut down than open. Only fishing and traditional sports of walking, running and cycling are allowed. Detecting is not being singled out at all. Detectorists are a minor blip on the pimple of the country if the 27,000 detectorist number is to be believed. If golfers can get a petition signed with 119,000 signatures, detecting would be lucky to get 10,000, hardly worth MPs debating.

The absolutely right thing to do with the infection rates and deaths is for everyone to stay and home and wait to be told it will be lifted when it is safe to do so. I personally don't agree with the current lobbying and the NCMD should tell everyone to wait until lockdown is eased. They won't as it will not be popular with the majority of the membership and they historically don't like to rock the boat as membership numbers matter. Hanging it on mental health is tenuous in my mind as if you have to rely only on metal detecting to ease your mental health then you are not helping yourself.

[Steve RC]

I do wonder whether "unofficially", certain people or factions that have an anti detecting bias, and that are in a position to influence the detail of Government policy, are perhaps using this epidemic as an excuse to limit detecting more than is strictly necessary??

Nobody can convince me that a lone detector working local to their home represents any more danger than a lone cyclist, or dog walker..

There are those within the archaeological establishment who have been pushing for more restrictions and controls on metal detecting for many years. There have been a number of failed attempts to use for example the agri-environment schemes backed up by the legal powers vested in Natural England to control rallies in particular and hobby metal detection in general.

They have tried the outright through the front door ban it approach with the STOP Campaign of the 80's and when that did not work have moved into the shadows to seek to influence the law and policy makers by the back door. I would suggest that the current situation is giving them more room to influence the situation to serve their own agendas.

I am sure certain individuals elsewhere are rubbing their hands together with glee at the current impass whereby well funded and organised sport governing bodies have been able to ensure that their pastimes continue, which probably carry more risk than individual detecting on private land with the permission of the landowner would. After all those that seek to use the Covid pandemic to their advantage with respect to metal detecting access to private land, dont have much interest in that fishing, running, cycling and whatever has been given the go ahead at the present time as it does not have an impact on their chosen profession.

We are not dealing with a level playing field approach to what can go ahead and what cannot.

[Saffron]

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.... dont have much interest in fishing, running , golf and whatever has been given the go ahead at the present time as it does not have an impact on their chosen field.

We are not dealing with a level playing field approach to what can go ahead and what cannot.

Golf, despite being a multi million pound sport supporting thousands of jobs in the UK, is not allowed - as all the frustrated golfers I know will confirm.

When semi-professional and amateur football, amateur horse racing, and golf (all 3 sports with a dramatically larger uptake than detecting, and all supporting large numbers of jobs), are banned I fail to see how some people claim that metal detecting is being singled out for being shutdown.

As for cycling, running and walking throughout the pandemic we have been told to minimuse close contact with others and if possible avoid public transport, all of these 3 options are viable alternatives for people to get to / from work - if they were banned it would result in more people on public transport and an increase in the spread of the virus.

Evan

[tone]

Well the cyclist's i see going around the lane's where i live don't seem to worry about the rules riding side by side and in group's of four or more. and even when walking on the grass verge at the side of the road most can't be bothered to move over.

[Kenleyboy]

I had heard elsewhere that the NHS are experiencing more cycling related accidents in A and E now than they ever have in recent times , no doubt with so many people furloughed etc they have more time than ever to participate in the hobby as part of their exercise routine . There are certainly more people cycling round here than usual from a single person to groups of people .
My usual farm dog walk is normally a lonesome affair , never see another soul but these days I see half a dozen here and there all making the most of their outside time for a bit of fresh air and a change of scenery as opposed to the stir crazy four walls . Roll on the summer