daltontrees

I made about 30 comments, glad to hear that nothing jumped out as outrageous in anyones' comments. Mine would the be the exasparated ones starting with a poorly veiled derisive "sorry but this needs re-written in english...". There is a micro-guide or something like that proposed. The usual issue prevails, BSs cost so much that it really stifles or kills off uptake. A cheap opr free 'micro-guide' would be almost essential for anyone outside bat-fondling to bother with this BS. I haven't seen a BS recently with so much information in the body of the text that could be consigned to appendices. If a lot of the repetition were removed by cross referencing, you could probably get the essential guidance and recommendations down to about 10 pages.

If you send me your email address by private message, I will email it to you.

I ahve a full version of the draft if anyone really really wants it for consultation purposes. Far be it from me to breach cpyright on a BS.

2 more days to go on this consultation. I know no-ones posting about it because you're all too busy honing poignant comments for last-minute submission. Personally I can't wait to spend £200 to find out if my comments have been dingied.

Geo XT, it rarely pretends to be better than 1m accurate, but when it's got a fix it's got a fix. U have used the XM too (used to have one) and it was baoutteh same. More recently I was using a Juno and it was saying it was submetre but it was way way off. I don't trust it. Used a BAP all winter, same sort of false accuracy. They both seemed quick to figure out rough position, but no quicker than the Geo in pinning it down. The big difference was the BAP or Juno let you reecord your bullshit position at any time but the Geo makes me wait for a fix. I am generally using PGIS, I have written my own ideal translation schemes and don't need anything else.

You haven't given much information, but it doesn't sound too hard to answer. Is it to buy a processor and install it? If so, who will use the processor? Will there be equal opportunities for the type of person using it? In accordance with your current policy? Does your policy give equal opportunities? If all these are yes, just state the obvious.

And none of this mayhem applies to Scotland. I can't stand even looking to see the situation for Northern Ireland.

The Legislation website does not even have the Regulations as enacted, just the draft undated version. I cannot find any published dated version, stating when the Regulations come into effect.

Sorry, I misunderstood. The Regulations can't change primary legislation but I didn't appreciate that the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 gave the Sec of State powers to change any Act that specifies fines. This has not shown up on the Legislation website yet. Which is quite worrying. Ignorance of the law is not a defence, but how is a member of society to know where he stands? The 1990 Act seems now the be as follows - "210 Penalties for non-compliance with tree preservation order. (1) If any person, in contravention of a tree preservation order— (a) cuts down, uproots or wilfully destroys a tree, or (b) wilfully damages, tops or lops a tree in such a manner as to be likely to destroy it, he shall be guilty of an offence. (2) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) shall be liable on summary conviction, or on conviction on indictment, to a fine. (3) In determining the amount of any fine to be imposed on a person convicted of an offence under subsection (1), the court shall in particular have regard to any financial benefit which has accrued or appears likely to accrue to him in consequence of the offence. (4) If any person contravenes the provisions of a tree preservation order otherwise than as mentioned in subsection (1), he shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale." Apologies again for confusion.

Seriousness. Everything heard by High Court (or english Crown Court) is indictment. Magistrates/Sherrifs/Justices of Peace can hear cases on indictment, but more usually deal with lesser crimes by summary conviction following pleadings. I've never understood it properly, because I've never seen it explained well enough.

So am I.

That was the point I was making to Jon Heuch, the Regulations only apply to Summary Convictions, so there's no point looking there for proof that fines can be unlimited. The lack of upper limit for fines comes from the Act, and can only arise from Indictment. Regardless what the Regulations say, the Act still limits penalties for Summary Conviction. It's a lot simpler than everyone seems to think.

The Act still limits the fine on summary conviction. It's fines on indictment that are unlimited. The fines on summary convition are further subdivided into those that cause or are likely to cause destruction of the tree and those lesser offences such as topping or lopping. Whoever distils it into English will have to distil it into Scots too, because we have different legislation, we have sherrifs instead of magistrates, procurators fiscal instead of crown prosecutors etc. etc.

I was involved in one a couple of months ago, the police caught him at it, it went to sherrif court, reparation had to be paid (which is what I did a report for) and he got 150 hours community service and apparently misssed getting a custodial sentence by a bohair.

I thnk you can get a waterproof Otterbox for it, might get over the temperature an delicacy problem too.

You'll regret it!

Junos are OK but a bit false accurate. Never used SC, not much use to me as it is not waterproof, won't work in the cold and is too delicate (I drop my Geo at least twice a day). Only 5 metres accuracy or precision, OK for finding out roughly where you are but unless you are snapping to trees on a topo plan the plotting won't be accurate enough to create a tree plan overlay for architects and the like. Cheap though... I don't think it works with Pocket GIS, which is what I use. Would need a TerraSync license and software. Maybe worth asking Pear if they could set you up?

Ok, I shall dingy the TRAQ/QTRA thing for now, having just signed up for CAS based on PTI. I'll see what the requirements for valuation accreditaiton are, but I suppose there will be some requirement for an assessed CTLA course, even though I could (and unfortunately sometimes involuntarily do) do valuations in my sleep.

Aye, best 'split' longitudinally with a chainsaw. Or binned. Been there, spent mos tof the time hammering wedges back out of the rings, in to the hilt but ring showing no sign of giving up.

I suppose that brings me neatly back to my earlier reference to teh definition in the Standard "3.3 arboriculturist -person who has, through relevant education, training and experience, gained expertise in the field of trees in relation to construction." Expert is a strong word, but if it equates to 'expertise' I think that's a reasonable test of whether someone should be undertaking 5837 surveys unassisted. The word 'and' I think is important, if it meant to say 'or' or 'and/or' it would have done so.

Booked.

Just got a copy on eBay for £3.90, yeehah! Just going back online to look for a cheap copy of 'Book shelves and their reinforcement'...

I'd say Birch too, those bands (which I think nare called lenticel bands) are quite characteristic of some species including birch but I wouldn't asssociate them with Poplar. Colour is'nt a ideal clue, but again I'd go with Birch. If' as David says, therre's no Cherry currently or recently nearby. Because they do look cherry-like.

Sad but true!

Oh my Lord, I clean forgot. Will try and remember to book tomorrow.