MBA looks back on successful year

Over the course of 2009-10, the Mountain Bothy Association (MBA) has invested considerable resources in training their volunteers who maintain open shelters throughout the wilder parts of Great Britain. Many of those volunteers undertook work on 56 of the MBA’s shelters which are available for use by walkers on a no-charge basis.

Presenting the Association’s Annual Report for 2009-10, MBA Chairman John Arnott said: “Our work party volunteers are the cornerstones of the Association and this year contributed 1,130 working days to the renovation and maintenance of our bothies. We regard the safety of our volunteers as paramount and, whilst it is pleasing to note that no recordable accidents occurred during the year, we continue to seek improvements in working practices in order to maintain a good safety record.”

“This year we have brought in professional training on the use of lightweight access towers and the erection of system scaffolding. We have also developed an internal training course for our volunteers involved with the organisation and implementation of maintenance projects aimed at improving work party planning and health and safety management.”

“We regard training as an essential part of our maintenance activities and will continue to develop our programme over the years ahead.”

Renovation and routine maintenance was carried out at 56 bothies during the year. One new bothy was added to the list of almost 100 properties that the Association maintains. Mark Cottage in Argyll was offered to the Association by the Forestry Commission. Major repairs were undertaken to the property before it took its place in the Association’s portfolio of shelters open to all.