AA Teccie (Paul)

Hi Steve, besides numbers being minus one very important one they were very good overall, Friday was notably busier. However we don't yet know final numbers as Westonbirt staff managed it this time round n it also included Westonbirt visitors / " friends of". Accurate figures should be available soon so I will post back when we know...Sorry. Cheers Paul

Hi Ian, "our pleasure Sir"...glad you enjoyed it n hope everyone else did too. Catchup at the next one...if not before All the best Paul

Indeed but the associated benefits are less although does include free access to ARB Show I too think it's quite reasonable...perhaps not surprisingly Cheers Gary Paul

As long as they don't get in the way of a good story of course

Unfortunately yes ...almost worth becoming a member for £60 a year

Not so, exhibitor plot prices are the same as last 2 years Paul

Exactly just show your current membership card at the entrance and away you go See you there Paul

Understand mate....you'll be sorely missed Cheers Steve

Stop reading them then...Simples! OR rather stop worrying, it's the bad guys being negligent the HSE are out to get not employers like you who are doing all they 'reasonably " can to do the right thing. Relax n feel satisfaction that you're a good n responsible employer Paul

Hi Steve whilst I can't say "how it went , as too many people now lots of other stuff going on, the book of condolences and donations box is now in the AA tent as Jenny brought it down this morning. Cheers n hope to see you tomorrow Paul

Possibly anyone of those Dan Lantra Awards have developed a suite of Utility Arb qualifications consulting with UAG through the process. City & Guilds (NPTC) are also reviewing their qualifications too I believe. Cheers, n hope yer well Paul

Probably ACAS is the equivalent here I England

Hi Ben besides the good advice you get here on the forum i don't understand why your ARB Approval +FSB Membership (perhaps £200 a year) doesn't keep you suitably compliant and give you peace of mind? Cheers Paul

Excellent, I'll see if we can prep a landing pad / runway Joking apart, THANK YOU, that's one hell of a commitment for you and your guys. Again, perhaps more involvement with the Scotland Branch, granted this tends to be more Edinburgh / Perth centric, could result in more activity in your region...ish. Thanks again Paul

Albeit "a long time in the offing" but this new membership opportunity, primarily aimed at 'bidding' Approved Contractors', is being launched at the show. This 'new' membership category is aimed at those contracting businesses who want to be acknowledged as "working towards" ARB Approved Contractor status but either need assistance / guidance with some aspects, e.g. "paperwork" or training updates, or more time as they don't have the prerequisite two years trading under their belt, prior to applying. The application process will involve a desktop review of your submitted documents, including H&S statement / risk assessments / LOLER / qualifications / 'tickets' (upto CS39, as was) AND piccies of your work, albeit this could be by reference to your websites. The cost is £250 (+VAT) per year and the first year includes a £50 (+VAT) review fee submitted at the time of your application. Once membership is achieved various 'benefits,' including FREE entry to future ARB Shows for the nominated manager and discounts on AA training courses and events become available. Further information and application forms to follow but if you want to know more please either 'post back' or come and see me / us at the Show. Many thanks all and I sincerely hope this is something you feel you'd like to get involved with Paul PS Just to confirm from the outset, this is a membership opportunity and not an accreditation, i.e. ARB Approved Contractor, and hence it will not include entitlement to any logo use nor promotion by the Association.

Hi Kev, and "bravo" ...be sure t'call in at the AA tent n I'll make sure you're served up a double-portion of biccies. Joking apart, I'm glad to hear you feel the journey is so worthwhile, thank you See ya soon, Paul

...and to blow dry mi'er too a'course as have to look good for you guys SUGGESTION (to all norf'eners) - get involved with the Northern Branch and facilitate events yourself via this mechanism. This approach works extremely well for the SE Branch and they often host main stream events too. Cheers, n hope to see you at the show. Paul

Hi Edward, Unfortunately the ARB Show is unlikely to be moving from Westonbirt anytime soon, sorry However, hopefully the draw of visiting The National Arboretum at the same time will compensate...at least a little. A big issue here for the Association is one of logistics and resource. Believe it or not the show "build up" started middle of last week and hence the fact that 'most' AA staff are within 30-40mins drive of Westonbirt it makes it much more accessible and thereby viable as a venue. Conference, is another story, with more to follow in due course. The Association aims to be more active "up norf" delivering training and seminars but the reality is still that some are cancelled due to lack of take up...hopefully this will change in the future. Should you feel inclined to "rattle anybody's cage" about this at the show, aim for Stewart (CEO) and/or Simon Richmond (Training & Events Manager)...PHEW Anything to do with accreditations, i.e. ARB Approved Contractor of AA Registered Consultant = "poke me!" Thanks for the post and hope you have a great, great show.. Paul

Hi Ed, the 'Barchams' workshop went very well, circa 22 people there from about 15 different businesses = Unfortunately we won't now be in E. Anglia again until next year but there are a couple near...ish, kinda 1. Chelmsford, Essex (August) see Arboricultural Association - Course Detail 2. Seagrave, Leicester (Sept.) see Arboricultural Association - Course Detail Failing those, there's one later in the year in Kent (Hadlow.) Cheers, n see you at the show.. Paul

"BUMP"...if I might be so rude as to interrupt your Bank Holiday viewing Cheers all n hope to see you here Paul

FC have also been quite active in some areas where outline planning permission for development has been approved by the LPA but this does not override the felling licence requirement. In both cases the contractor had checked with the Tree Officer who'd said no restrictions, but of course he's not responsible for FLs....apparently he too was equally surprised the FC got involved. BE WARY!!

Hi, "good question." Indirectly the Arb Assoc (AA) is working with HSE on SRT by virtue of working with industry on production of revised tree climbing guide which will be 'endorsed' by the HSE on completion...hopefully. This project should commence in the (very) near future along with other, new, technical guidance (rigging / cranes.) Because of the above, i.e. the absence of any authoritative guidance, the AA stance is difficult one as we equally recognize it is used in industry, and climbing comps, and in fact we offer a course in such to raise awareness (see Arboricultural Association - Course Detail ) So, not an absolute answer coz there isn't one currently I'm afraid...but it is moving in the right direction, I hope. Thanks for yer post Paul

Shudda guessed that...you Maverick you

Firstly, French law 'v' English law = dunno? Secondly, hindsight is both a wonderful thing AND something that is oft implied after trees have failed...and/or accidents have happened. Thirdly, and as I interpret it (but, as always, to be corrected) - in a legal context the bigger the tree the greater the risk, regardless of condition. IN one respect this doesn't makes sense, at least not to me, but it would appear to be about the potential consequences of tree failure should it occur...even if 'unforeseeable' (is that the same as an 'Act of God'?) Sorry, just some, probably inconsequential, ramblings Cheers, Paul PS Ty, well done for not being rattled here by their, perhaps understandable, approach.

..but at least now you're covered from an insurance point of view should anything untoward happen where the device is implicated...or even if not sometimes