kevinjohnsonmbe

I forgot an important one actually! I’m that tight, I generally get all my outdoorsy stuff from the catalogue of our local embroider http://bs-embroidery.com/Home/Contact Since I’m not the most fashion conscious dude on the ranch (although they do have some quality kit), and that it’s tax deductible and VAT rebatable, and it turns me into a walking advert, it’s a no-fail scenario! If I could get the Mrs & binlid kitted out there I’d be laughing!!

Not enough days in the week as it is! All a website would do is generate more wasters trying to get £20 off the last 2 dozen quotes they've had. Cock! I knew somebody would draw that conclusion... Reassuringly predictable Mr E (you beat Skyhuck and Mull to the draw mind....) It is, in my humble opinion, just as important to 'select' the customer as it is for the customer to select the service provider. If the property has a market value less than a £zillion or if there is no helipad (or nubile twin daughters) on the back lawn, just keep on driving

Don't have a website (have a FB page but that's not a new business generator), don't do leaflets, 3rd party websites (apart from QTRA but that's only ever generated 1 job in 2 years), don't do checkatrade etc, nor press. I'd estimate it's 33/33/33 between word of mouth, repeat customers and 'seeing' a job that needs doing whilst out and about and making an introduction and describing the requirement to the tree / land owner then letting them decide if the logic makes sense.

Trumps UN speech.... Anyone else wondering what movie he was watching whilst pulling that speech together....

Thanks David, I'm a bit transfixed on financial planning at the moment so it fell into that bracket of my thinking! Whatever the actual cost of that exercise, once measured against the assessed 'worth' of the individual tree, and factored against the number of trees in the park afflicted by footfall compaction... the cost over potential benefit ratio must be massively favourable.

I'm not sure the caravan club has quite the same degree of high level patronage and 'friends in the right places.' They must have some influence though.... Seems the law doesn't apply to 'em....

If I recall, the prospect was floated a while back.... The considerable and influential lobbying influence of The Caravan Club, of all people, successfully lobbied against it and here we are - no MoT tests for trailers / caravans etc....

Interesting exercise Could I ask some questions please David? - It looks like there are +/- 4 people involved? - Could you place an indicative cost bracket on delivering this exercise (assuming it was a day?)? (I'd like to try to understand if there is a realistic chance of delivering this level of care and attention to privately owned trees) - Where the roots were found to be diminished in the high compaction track area, would you expect them to recover if traffic was reduced and soil conditions improved or halt / reduce the denudation? - Was it freezing up North there or did you make them wear type C trousers as a punishment for some undisclosed misdemeanour?

Stefan had 'wheels turning' before the stems had hit the ground.....

Good point Gary, why take the hit to departmental resources + the risk of costs if things go wrong for no financial gain.... you could argue, it's for the public good, but that might not be a strong enough reason to convince the LA budgeteers!

Not too harsh... Goes nowhere near recovering the financial value which would have been apportioned to the trees if they had been assessed for financial "worth" under one of the available systems, nor does it appear that the level of the fine would act as a sufficient deterrent to future occurrences of a similar nature - when measured against the potential financial gain achieved from the development. Neither is what might be assumed from the reporting as the 'ignorant act of a farmer' [my assumption based on previous experience] any excuse. Perhaps a proceeds of crime order measured against the total value of the sale value of the land / development would be more appropriate? That said, well done NRW, FC - perhaps you might try and follow suit?

I think VOSA (or what ever it is they call themselves now - may be changed again tomorrow) are empowered to pull over a commercial vehicle, not so a private one - I think.

I'm aghast! 3 of the 4 most sensiblest (dreading Mr Bowlam's admission that he too might be a tech dodger) contributors to the forum openly admitting to not being prepared to swim a mile upstream through a river of excrement to queue up for days outside the nearest Apple store just to lick the hand of the first person to hold this unworldly treasure of consumer indulgence!?! Are you INSANE??? Watch this video, it's only 2 hours long: https://www.apple.com/apple-events/september-2017/?cid=CDM-EU-4632&cp=em-P0018233-386402&sr=em If, after watching that, you are not reaching for your budgy smugglers snorkel & mask, well, I'll truly despair!

Would appear to be " under qualified" for that.... there werent anything like enough random members of the public, bystanders, vehicles etc at risk!!

There are too many variables to try and put a sensible answer together Jules but.... It's not an uncommon situation and has been well debated at https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/any-answers/office-building-in-garden-vat-treatment It's a pretty simple process of registration and it's a really useful resource.

There isn't a short, simple or particularly 'pleasing' answer to this Jules. Ill have to think it through and look some bits up.

Word is, he's sent a CV into Beechwood!!

So, tell me again how devastating it must be to have your offshore tax haven, ex-pat, yacht wrecked and how unfairly you've been treated by the neglect of the UK taxpayer funded UK government to drop everything and help you? So Irma claimed +/- 25 lives - proper tragic no doubt. But why are you so quiet - whilst sipping your Piña colada in your tax-free, island life and whilst pensioners are dying at a rate of 120,000 per annum in England and Wales of cold weather, or factors associated with cold weather such as a virulent strain of influenza. Anyone?

au contraire Rodney (or 'Rodders" in Mr E's case.....)

What device are you viewing on? On laptop / desktop the current articles / blogs are on the right hand side. Not sure I can help with the footway question.

Good read! Initially I couldn't see Mr H's comment or see how to add a comment so I started a thread with the same title - that should probably die off now! Notwithstanding what might be considered as a form of statutory obligation (perhaps we should challenge what is commonly accepted as 'statutory'?) Couple of observations / question: "...It goes without saying that it is essential that pedestrians and other road users are able to travel safely. Particular consideration should be given to those with mobility difficulties or the partially sighted..." Does it? Or is the fact that this remains the adopted 'start point' for the scenario where roots lift paths is actually a significant part of the problem rather than the solution. Why shouldn't an individual, rather than a LA, take responsibility for how they perambulate? And then to take that one step further (maybe a step too far for some) why should particular consideration be given to a specified minority at the potential (environmental, financial, amenity) expense of the vast majority? That might seem like a fairly harsh question, but if we don't have all the options on the table to start with, how can we reach an equitable and viable solution? If we take the calculated value of the tree and the cost of the works if a perceived problem exists into the equation, why should we not also include an element which examines how many people might be at risk of trips or falls before works are considered? Mindful that we need to veer away from the insidious creep of compensation culture. "...we also have to factor in the political costs of tree removal. It can be a blessing and a curse to tree officers that certain sections of their communities are so passionate about trees..!" Some pretty hot examples of that at the moment!

Purchased from a reputable nursery Gary?

Got it! Many thanks, was it me being a dummy and not scrolling down far enough?? Should I 'cut' this from here and 'paste' it there??

No. If Israel wasn't available as a common 'enemy', they'd be bashing lumps out of each other and the pub would be worse than before....

We're in danger of skipping continents into a post colonial Empire / Apartheid comparison now....