A saviour may have been found to make Settle’s Castleberg Rock safe as well as an attraction for climbers.

Last month the town council announced it had to close access to the landmark for health and safety reasons after a series of rock falls onto the path below.

For centuries the rock has been a source of enjoyment for visitors with historical accounts of picnic sites and food vendors along the paths.

However, at last month’s town council meeting councillors took the difficult decision to make the path leading to the rock out of bounds, allowing access only for the person who tends to the flagpole, for fear of accidents and insurance claims.

They believe the problem of rock falls could have been increased through the winter, which had been colder than recent years.

Water freezing in the fissures of the rock face was one possible cause, but few suggestions, other than speaking to experts in the quarrying industry, were made on how to prevent further slippage.

But town councillor David Heather, who is also a district and county councillor, said he had been approached by the British Mountaineering Council with a potential solution, which could have positive repercussions for tourism in the district.

“They suggested they could stabilise the rock face to make it safe and, in return, they ask that they be able to use it as a climbing facility,” he said.

“If this happens it could create a good economic future for this area.”

Council members agreed to pursue discussions, stating that it was in the town’s interest to get Castleberg reopened to the public as soon as possible.