Puffingbilly413

1.3m for felling licences. 1.5m is an arb thing.

Tree felling: getting permission - GOV.UK WWW.GOV.UK This booklet tells you what you need to know about getting permission to fell any trees for... Have a read of this. Explains most things. I believe the fruit trees exemption is for orchards, not simply fruit trees in woodlands (unless they are being managed for fruit I guess). Don't think it's the case in England but up here in Scotland, the 5 cube per quarter exemption is only for woods greater than 0.5ha in size. Oh - be very careful re planning conditions. You say planning permission hasn't been granted yet (but presumably applied for) so I would expect conditions to come into force that will prevent any tree works other than those authorised by the terms of the planning permission if and when it comes. Such permission would also negate the need for a felling licence. Tread carefully!

Most definitely. Just did that the other day and annoyingly still got the work. Should have gone higher.

I can think of worse outcomes...

Which could I suppose include habitat?

How does the legislation define amenity? I can't remember now off hand. But semantically it could mean a pretty wide interpretation maybe?

You're right. My local council ignores this as a matter of routine.

I check for the existence of all three of TPO, CA and planning conditions (esp new builds - even well established ones) as I quote for any works. Can't trust the client to know (or care). Had at least one where conditions were still in place after a private new build had long since been completed and signed off. Council was insisting they were still extant even though their own wording suggested not. Took involvement of the client's solicitor to get it sorted.

I think it's both, Mick. Availability of staff (climbers or otherwise) will definitely have an impact on pay. I have seen it up here. Arb employers dragging feet and not wanting to raise salaries but then realising that if they want a reliable and stable workforce then they need to pay more. But it's also true that clients do have a perception of what a job is worth (as others have noted). It might be that they haven't the budget to pay more or they simply don't want to - either way that could have an impact on what a firm charges. I say 'could' because I know what I need to charge for a certain job and that's it - I'll just walk away and move on to the next one. But I still quote knowing that there is a balance to be found between what we would like to charge and what I think clients will pay - I just don't negotiate on price with clients.

Why wouldn't he issue a corporate response on here?

You're right. Better skate over it.

They'll be trying to root out transgressions I suspect

Yep - section 211 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (in England).

My now far too cynical mind immediately comes to the conclusion that the contractors are well aware of the situation and what they can get away with. Maybe a fine, maybe not. But if a fine then just a cost of doing business. See it all the time sadly.

I'd love to think you do have said photo!

If this had been written as a pisstake article it might have been vaguely not shite. But written as it is by someone who markets themselves as a professional advisor to arb businesses, it's dire. It just smacks of the whole "let's create a myriad of best practice spaff that we can use to encumber firms with a ream of bureaucratic pish that they'll need the paid services of an advisory charlatan to navigate" culture that pervades industry and life in general today. That feels better.

If it's definitely not TPOd or subject to planning conditions then your original notification should stand. As long as you have clearly identified the tree(s), specified the works accurately in BS 3998 terms, included a map with scale etc as per the requirements and the property location (think that's it I'm tired). You don't even need to provide a justification although you might. If you're happy that your notification of works was 100% correct then the 6 week clock is still ticking. All the same I'd want the council to explain what they think they're on about.

I'm guessing as they had to apply rather than notify then the tree must also have TPO protection over and above being in a CA. Either that or the council is overstepping it's remit.

Tax is a difficult one to judge but on your earlier statement that £60k is a working class wage (and therefore traditionally one that attracts less tax) then why should someone on £30k be paying any? Surely they need all of it to get by in current circumstances?

Why are we paying NHS staff to take delivery of your personal items?

Should have tried harder at school then.

I used larch sleepers from the local sawmill for my raised beds. I just used long decking screws to fix them together and let them sit flat on the ground and backfilled. They're only two sleepers high so wasn't worried about them shifting about - the weight of the soil stops that anyway. The sleepers are staggered in the two layers which also helps tie them in. Rot is an issue. As others have said, a membrane will help. I should have put one in but didn't. My beds will probably need replacing next year - but that will be nearly 8 years so not bad. Next time I'll do exactly the same but will try yakisugi on the inside as I'm not a fan of plastic really.

Did Basra and Baghdad. Never got to Umm Qasr. Not sure I'm in a hurry to go back to either although I did meet some great people too. Also some not so nice types!

Yep can't argue with that Joe. I was probably being overly obtuse in my response too. I've had many arguments over the years - in this line of work and others - re the burden of PPE v the ability of the operator to get the job done unhindered. Like you say - you weigh it up based on your experience of the job.

Seem to remember you spent a bit of time in Basra? I remember the temp hitting 40 in April and didn't stop going up until it hit 50 - shade temp - in Jun. We read 60 in the sun by the front gate. Now I cry if it's 23.