Batley man brings healing salt to town
BEING sent to a salt mine used to be considered a punishment. Now, it seems, people are happy to pay for the privilege!
At least that's the guess of businessman Steve Stubley who is opening the north's very first 'salt cave'.
He has based his venture on an Eastern European concept by which salt is used to alleviate the symptoms of various conditions and allergies. Steve, originally from Batley, has lined a small room in a former Dewsbury office building with three tonnes of pharmaceutical quality salt imported from Poland.
Here, people with problems such as asthma, bronchitis, hayfever and other respiratory or ear, nose and throat complaints are exposed to a dry salt aerosol wafted into the room. In the background is soothing music or calming sounds such as breaking waves.
"When I first read about this I thought: 'Wow!'," said 50-year-old Steve, who himself has suffered from mild breathing difficulties for much of his life.
"It seemed a great opportunity for a unique business as allergies are increasing all the time."
Steve, who has lived in Mirfield for the past 20 years, was looking for a business idea after the end of his involvement with a Dewsbury filtration-making firm.
"I read about this and thought it sounded good," he said. "I have suffered from minor breathing problems most of my life. My nose was always blocked but now I feel much better."
Steve went to Batley Grammar School and moved to Liversedge when he got married. He says his Yorkshire Salt Cave is the first in the north of the UK and only the second in the country – the other being in London.
He only began the venture in May after researching the concept. He found suppliers, rented the building at the bottom of Leeds Road and and officially opens his new business tomorrow.
The salt for the cave cost about 1,000 with transport fees on top.
Steve says the salt absorbs moisture and should last a long time now it is in the room, stuck to a bonding agent on the walls and ceiling. Clients will have to wear plastic clothing to keep the area sterile and clean.
The medication-free treatment method was invented in 1982 in Russia. Since then, thousands of patients have been successfully treated in Russia, since 1992 in Hungary and since 2001 in Canada.
Steve says experts recommend a course of 10 consecutive sessions of 40 minutes each. "That should see most people clear of symptoms for 12 months or so," he said.
The cost is 35 per single session or 275 for a course.
"We don't diagnose," said Steve. "People need to know what's wrong with them when they come to us. But we can tailor treatment or dosage to specific conditions."
Steve will be open 9am to 8pm six days a week to begin with. Bookings are being taken on 01924 460824.
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Weather for Batley
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
