Nordrach Cottage User Guidelines

Arrival & Departure

ON FIRST ENTERING: if you plan to stay the night at the cottage, select your bunk and write your name legibly, on the daily cottage booking sheet kept on the lectern in the lounge.

ON LEAVING: the cottage, even for a short period, lock all outside doors, close all windows, and turn off the gas supply at the kitchen stopcock.

Fees & Utilities

Cottage Fees

£5.00 per night for members and member’s children, £7.50 for Guests. Camping (including sleeping in vehicles) is charged at the same rates. Please either pay by using the SumUp card machine in the Kitchen or by BACS or put fees (cheque/cash) into one of the envelopes provided in the lectern, adding relevant details to the front, and place it in the metal ‘post box’ on the Lounge wall.

Electricity & EV Charging

There are two consumer units located near the front door above head height. These should be left in the ‘ON’ position. The electricity is protected by an earth leakage circuit breaker. If this trips, please inform the cottage warden.

There are two outdoor sockets for 3 Pin plugs to trickle charge EVs. If you wish to use these, turn them on inside the front door and note the reading shown for the socket. When finished turn these back off again and note the updated reading. This should allow a calculation to made for the number of KWh used. The current cost per KWh is listed beside the switches. Please pay for the number of KWhs used.

Gas

The gas tap is located in the kitchen directly below the left hand hob cooker.

Cottage Facilities

Kitchen

Store food tidily on the shelves below the cooking surfaces. Utensils, crockery and cutlery will be found on the shelves, and in cupboards and drawers. Please WASH UP and REPLACE articles used after each meal and CLEAN the ovens and hobs. Take ALL food home at the end of your stay – please do not leave any food, not even tea or coffee as this just accumulates. Leave the fridge empty but switched on.

Rubbish, Recycling & Supplies

The wheelie-bin at the front gate is emptied fortnightly. MCG is considered a business and must therefore pay for this service. Please do not leave rubbish beside the wheelie-bin as it will not be collected – if the bin is full, take excess rubbish home. Please take all recycling home or to any local recycling facilities to help keep Cottage fees as low as possible.

Cleaning materials, toilet rolls and refuse sacks are under the kitchen sink and in the walk-in cupboard to the right of the stairs (the key for this door will be found hanging on the door). Fire precautions require that the door is kept closed and locked; the key is on a hook on the door. Should the cottage be short of supplies, contact the cottage warden or visit the nearest shops: West Harptree Stores (3 miles), the Tout’s Petrol Station on the A38 near Churchill (6 miles) or Tesco/ Morrisons/ Waitrose in Wells (10 miles).

Woodburner

Wood for the multi fuel stove (winter only) will be found by the shed closet to the road in the wood store. Please use the oldest seasoned dry wood. ENSURE THAT THE FIRE IS OUT BEFORE DEPARTING.

Caving Gear & Club Equipment

Gear/Tackle Cleaning

A hosepipe, rope washer, power washer and hosing-down area are located at the back of the cottage. Please clear out the gulleys leading from the hosing-down area after use. Dispose of the silt sensibly but please DO NOT THROW ANYTHING OVER THE FENCE!

Changing Room, Showers & Drying Room

Leave muddy gear outside. Please leave these facilities tidy after use. There is a mop and bucket in the cleaning cupboard. There is a single shower and toilet by the side door, through the main changing area. The drying room has a heater and a spin dryer.

Battery Charging Bay

This is located between the side entrance and the 2 changing rooms. To minimise any risk of fire, please don’t charge batteries elsewhere.

Library, Tackle Store & Cave Keys

The library and tackle store are available to MCG full members, who have an activated swipe card or fob. Supervised access is also available for guests, junior and probationary members. Cave keys are stored in the Tackle Store Shed. These are available to all bone-fide cavers and can be issued by any full member. A £20 key deposit will be required from non-members.

Safety & Responsibilities

Rescues

If the situation requires expert assistance, then call the MRO (see notice at Phone).

Cottage User’s Responsibilities

Nordrach Cottage is the MCG’s major financial asset. Everyone is asked to help keep it in good condition. It is expected that the cottage will be kept clean and tidy, and that consideration will be shown to other users. The MCG trustees reserve the right to refuse access to Nordrach Cottage by any persons who are unable to conduct themselves in a responsible manner.