The British Mountaineering Council looks set to buy part of a renowned climbing quarry in Lancashire.

Although details are still to be finalised, the BMC says negotiations are at an advanced state and climbing access will be safeguarded throughout Wilton quarries, near Bolton. Last month, the council expressed its concern for the future of climbing at Wilton, after its owners, United Utilities, decided to go ahead with disposing of the site.

Now, the BMC says it looks likely it will be the new owners of Wilton Quarry number one, with a shooting club buying up the remaining three sections. It says it has worked hard to ensure the best outcome for climbers.

Wilton was originally considered for disposal by UU last year, but the BMC persuaded the owners not to put the quarries on the market. This autumn, however, the utility company, which has extensive water and electricity holdings throughout the North-West, said the sale would go ahead.

The quarries are on Countryside and Rights of Way Act open access land, but the worry was that any development of the land might lead to it being excluded from the ‘right to roam’.

Although climbers urged their representative body to buy the quarries, the BMC was worried about setting a precedent. Guy Keating, the council’s access officer, said: “The sale of crags has the potential to place not only the BMC, but also British climbing generally, in a very difficult position.

“If a market for crags starts to develop, the possibility of other landowners following United Utilities lead could develop into a big issue. The BMC would advise caution before climbers start pledging their own money towards acquiring Wilton.”

However, it now looks as though the BMC has bitten the bullet and decided to fork out for part of the quarries at least, with a pledge that climbers can use the Bolton shooting club areas when the gun users are not in action.