LETTER : Mountain rescue avoids tree-tops

From Mr Peter J. Andrew

Sir: In your report "Road warriors' woodland siege" (2 May) concerning the use of bailiffs to evict tree-top protesters in the path of the M65 you state that "a mountain rescue team has been recruited to help with the eviction". This has caused upset among mountain rescue team members and also among members of the general public who support mountain rescue and consider that the proper use of mountain rescue teams is to help those who are injured, sick or lost.

The Mountain Rescue Council is the liaison body for all the autonomous voluntary mountain rescue teams working for the police in open-country search and rescue operations in England and Wales. A careful inquiry among our member organisations has failed to find a single team which has participated in this operation.

There are other organisations besides mountain rescue teams which recruit and train personnel for rope work and rope access in areas away from the mountains.

Yours faithfully,

PETER J. ANDREW

Chairman

Mountain Rescue Council

Stockport, Cheshire

4 May