kevinjohnsonmbe

Sounds weird! If she paid for the survey she should have been able to (a) choose the surveyor and (b) set the purpose / terms of the survey for example - to provide expert opinion whether the trees were / were not a tangible threat to the fabric of the structure. If the insurance company 'required' the survey and nominated the surveyor they should have stated the purpose and scope of the survey and then set their insurance requirements based upon the findings in the survey. From the info available, it looks like it's just a record of everything that is there rather than a summary of the potential for what is there to be a tangible risk. So perhaps the outfit providing the survey were just told to record everything rather than summarise potential risk / benefit of the trees and the implications of requiring an action on a tree that is not in the prospective customers ownership. Perhaps the insurance company don't know what it is they should be asking for or how to interpret it when they get it? Looks like too much of a faff to be bothering with that insurance provider....

That seemed to fix the problem Rob! Been fine ever since!!

Like it! We had a change to the refuse collection contractor a year or 2 back. Change is good (when it is good.) Only problem was, they kept missing us off the pick up because the route was changed. It went on for 5 weeks. Each missed collection was phoned in to the help desk and resulted in a promise of a spec run and an adjustment to the route for future. Sounds ok so far? Each call was at least 30-60 mins on hold because the call handlers were swamped. Each call was (supposedly) logged and resulted in a promise of rectification within 48hrs. Each call resulted in nothing at all actually being done! So after the 5th week of missed collections, 5th call to the helpline and 5th broken promise of resolution within 48hrs, I went into the local 'one-stop-shop.' I was given the helpline number, my details were taken and I was promised it would be resolved. Great! I told the receptionist that if, by this time tomorrow the 6 weeks of garbage wasn't collected I'd be bringing it in to the one-stop-shop. She assured me all would be well and we parted with a nod and a smile and I said I hoped I wouldn't be back tomorrow.... I was, with a trailer load of 6 weeks of garbage - including new baby nappies! The caretaker was called and I asked him where he'd like it deposited. He was wild (poor bloke) suggested I take it to the tip. I politely pointed out that, as a courtesy, I was there to ask where he would like it not what I should be doing with it. Dumped it all in the carpark then sent them a bill for my time, unpleasant work and rebate of council tax in respect of 6/52 of the refuse collection element as a breach of contract. Got a refusal to pay letter from the legal department..... :lol: Are those attributes good or bad in your calc's? I think I qualify for quite a few!

Great course (5 years ago) - A fantastic launchpad for further qualification or simply to establish your own benchmark knowledge. Highly recommend!

You watching Heartbreak Ridge last night too??

I think "unopposed" is as good a way as any of describing it Gary....

Same in Cornwall! Everyone said what the consequence would be, LA didn't heed and carried on with the plan and behold! Exponential increase in fly tipping...

Pay cheap, get cheap? Whilst in no way excusing that behaviour, leaves me to wonder, did the customer blow off other quotes in favour of the cheapest?

😆 makes the day pass easier (except for the victim!)

No different to benefit fraud in my book.

Not something you'd normally say but BZ Tesco for averting Marmite wars! Bloody Brexiteers, rain forecast for Saturday, bet you all wish you hadn't voted "out" now?

👍🏻

For the love of God, please, no more.....:bang head: Does it not hinge upon the "hire & reward" point? If delivering goods for payment = yes. If carrying your own tools (plant for example) for your own use on site =no? I know, I'll ask the main dealer...... Oh, that didn't work quite so well so far.....

RHI funding for kilns to dry logs.... Always thought it was a ridiculous concept. Just plain crazy.

Semantics / pedantics! Great stuff!! I would consider it would be "consent" if approval is granted by the LA to conduct the works in less than the predetermined period. The consent though, is on the part of the LA to forego the mandatory consideration period, not consent to carry out the works. They can't actually consent to the works, only prevent them - by TPO. If someone fells a tree in a Conservation Area without notifying the council of their intent to do so they have not done so without "permission" but rather they have contravened the legislation and may be subject to legal process to facilitate remediation. It would seem to me that the semantics are important given the apparent examples of LA staff imposing conditions, restrictions and replanting requirements on s211 notices. Somebody needs to understand and abide by the published guidance....

What road class Richard? If dual carriageway you could do 60 in a non DPV light commercial anyway? I think??

That last little run of debate illustrates quite nicely the dreadful consequence of over regulation! I'm unclear, the dealer seems unclear (or unwilling) to clarify, the regs are a mess, it could be class 4 or 7 for MoT test and there's a chance of getting a speeding ticket but we're not quite sure.... Lovely!! 👍🏻

No.... Genuinely gave up the will to ask any more questions! The last response I got was 23 September (which referred to a really current and valid (not) 2013 special notice): Good morning Kevin As per call the other day. Link to MOT special notice https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/211998/SN_4-2013.pdf It does refer to over 3000kg but Sean Matthews at DVSA (01179542530) was very clear that it falls within class 4. Toyota quoted weight includes 90% full fuel tank (full tank 80 litres/80 kg) Speed limits as previously discussed. ETA at the moment is end of October but could change. Have a good weekend Kind Regards It seems a simple question that nobody is able/willing to answer. (swear) it! I'll take me chances!

No brainer! You'd be better (and safer) spending your hard earned here: https://www.frjonesandson.co.uk/products-page/machines/chainsaws-pole-saws/petrol-chainsaws/husqvarna-3120xp-chainsaw-118-8cc/

Nice vid 👍🏻 Watch out for pinching the hyd hoses as the grab is open and head tilted back! I split mine after a moments lack of concentration. PITA! Great weather for a nice climb, was straight felling out of the question??

Great link - thanks for that! Just quickly read Chp 6.

Bat conservation / consideration - A minefield if you want to try and stay within the spirit of the law. Development, tree work, landscaping, farming.... Must all come into direct conflict (either intentionally or accidentally) with bat habitat. Even with some awareness or even an eco survey, it must be close to impossible to say, with 100% confidence, that our activities don't at least have the potential to contravene the law - and that's just the folks that are aware / trying to be responsible. It feels like just about any tree work absolutely WILL contravene the law. The only way to carry on is to recognise that there is a reasonably low chance of being caught / prosecuted and if you did end up in court you'd be guilty as the default and desperately presenting mitigation as the only means of attempting to influence sentencing. The Dutch bridge looks good, appears to have been designed and installed with considerable thought - for bats. Perhaps not so much of a consideration for the environmental impact of using concrete? This one: BBC NEWS | England | Cornwall | Bat bridges cost £27k per animal received slightly less thought and very much appeared to have been a part of a 'box ticking' exercise - at considerable expense (and, apparently, very little value for money since it's not really used!) At a bat awareness course a while back, one of the bat boffins said it was the wrong thing, in the wrong place and that virtually no activity had been recorded. The bat house at the end of the bridge: A38 Dobwalls Bypass | WBM Groundworks Ltd cost £27k and as yet, remains unoccupied! What a conundrum.....

Apologies Mr Eggs! (Now this has massive potential to be misinterpreted!) I didn't mean to include your good self in that metropolitan elitist socialist grand generalisation! I think, from our previous exchanges, you have a much more sensible and dare I say "traditional" social conscience based more upon fairness than the sort of superiority complex we see from "holier than thou" bearded or sharp suited, shaven headed, university educated Labour top brass. I'm hoping you might know what I mean because this has to the potential to be a hole that keeps getting deeper! You didn't say what you thought about the interview (and more generally, the widespread uproar about the proposal?) If I were a betting man......

Clegg playing a blinder on HIGNFY! And Merton is wearing a shirt from the fashion house of Humphries!

The link is duff! If anyones interested enough to want to look it up just google: Office for National Statistics Harmonised Concepts and Questions for Social Data Sources Primary Principles Version 3.3 Office for National Statistics, May 2015