Puffingbilly413

By way of an update, the LPA has been back in touch stating that they have no issues with the proposed works. My email with accurate photos and (very) stripped down reprt on tree condition and location vis-a-vis buildings proved helpful in the absence of the originally promised report (nowt to do with me...!). Hopefully this will all work well in future in that the council will (might) appreciate our goodwill and we can still get the current job done well. Thanks again all for the advice - Gary and Edward in particular. Cheers, Ed

I think you were typing as I was! Yes - tread carefully I will indeed. Thanks again.

Hi Edward, Yes - I told them it was too vague and that the TO would inevitably request clarification. Ordinarily in my experience with this LPA, that would have happened before 6 weeks has passed. As I've said above, staff absence meant this didn't happen. I sought clarification from the TO as to whether they has any issues with the standard of the original notification (I hadn't realised the TO was off and no-one had looked at it at all at this stage). I did go back yesterday and took some photos and submitted a brief email re the condition of the trees (lapsed, outgrown beech hedge with historic pruning and breakout wounds now decaying - K deusta on 2 and changes in soil levels following earlier building works; 2-3m from the house & extension). I'm just waiting for the council to come back to us. Reading back up the thread - apologies to Gary; I should have given more detail on the background!

And the client can get another contractor tomorrow to do the job. Nothing changes that.

Sorry been away from the internet. Gary, True. But - I'm just the contractor for the works and didn't submit the notification. I realize you don't have all the detail. I was trying to keep it as brief as possible. The notification was vague and I'd recommended a re submission to make sure the correct trees were identified. The client was happy to wait for the TO to come back with any queries and go from there - except they're off work and that didn't happen. Now six weeks have passed and the client wants to press on. I could do that but the risk is that I still get hauled up for taking down something that hadn't been notified. Plus the stand in TO is now aware. I want to stay out of court, really. Plus, yes I do work for the client but I work for myself more and would like to stay in business. I can advise people to amend their plans and make them more accurate but if they don't then they don't. Sorry if this is disjointed - typing on a tablet ain't my forte. Ed

Gary, Thanks for the reply - makes sense to me. I actually got a call back from the council just now from the person covering the desk in the TO's absence. They do admit that there's not much they can do but have asked me for a couple of days' grace to look at it - noticed the case as my email to the TO had been auto-forwarded. As it happens, we're not in a position to carry out the works for another two weeks regardless. I had expected the TO (before I knew they were off sick) to vist the site and decide they had no objection. Hopefully this will still be the case! I know I'd be within my rights to go ahead regardless but there is also the future to think of when it comes to other works in CAs and with TPOs on them. Fingers crossed. Cheers, Ed

Morning all, A client has given the council the required 6 weeks notice to remove 7 trees on his property within a CA. That six week period has passed without the council making any comment at all (the notification was lodged on the e-planning portal). I emailed the TO just to double check they had no issues and it seems the post is gapped or they are on long term absence. Either way, I have no way of obtaining a view from the LPA. Works are scheduled for the end of this month (nearly 9 weeks after the notification was put in). This morning an objection was made on the e-planning site (after the 6 weeks, therefore) by a member of the local community council (not 'the' council). Question is - can we go ahead and carry out the specified works or must we now wait? I'm also slightly concerned that a TPO might be created 'in the background' and we don't get advised of it before works go ahead. In my view the trees are not worthy of a TPO based on any of the usual criteria but that of course is just my view. Any advice greatly appreciated. Ed.

Jack, I'm not based in Kent but did my tickets (well, most of them) with Kingswood Training in Shipbourne when I did my resettlement. I think Andy Green runs it now. Well worth giving them a shout and you would get some local work experience as part of your training with them. Message me if you like - more than happy to to chat over the phone if you need. Cheers, Ed.

It's not that expensive for a small set up - I think I pay around £60 for a climbing or rigging kit. Have PM'd you with the details of the guy I use. Plus - if you're not using it commercially ie just for your own personal use in your own time, then it doesn't need LOLERed. Albeit you might want to do it for peace of mind.

I suppose what I meant was that virtually nobody (ok - some) has a competent (v quailfied) rescuer if i follow the thread correctly. So we're either happy to take the risk or we're not. I think most seem happy to take the chance on the person on the ground sorting them out on paper and getting themselves out in reality. But I'd still like to know if anyone had any feedback on the twinline... Wes - yes I do overthink. Always have done!

I suppose I should add - the reason I replied here was that my thinking was if there is a complete system that works which will give people an 'automatic' rescue route from the off (ie the employer provides it, trains it etc) then that's got to be a good thing. Plus if it's there from the off then you don't need to install/re-install?

Yep - that's a fair point Wes. I just like the idea of installing two lines from the ground at the same time. And I do like stuff - perhaps that's the problem!

I've been considering an ART twinline for the reasons some have gone into above (sadly I'm waiting for cash flow to improve to get one - plus the extra rope). The concept seems a good one to me - get two lines in as part of the same process and you automatically have a rescue line (or spare line) taking you to the main climber's TIP. Anyone used one? PS yes you'd still need a rescue climber but getting them up there would be quicker to the extent of making the rescue climber exactly that rather than a paperwork exercise perhaps?

Agree with you there Stubby - I left a few knotty rounds that I couldn't be bothered with at the time and there were indeed like iron after a spell. That said, when they'd dried up a bit after a year or so then I found they'd crack and you could smash them up with a wedge or maul. No good for stacking then mind - I made up some cylindrical baskets out of some weldmesh fencing (about 6' tall by about 4' across) that I just chuck all the gnarly bits it and cover the top. Just keep chucking in the top and when all is dry just snip a hatch in the bottom and pull out from there. Think I saw the idea in that Norwegian wood book somewhere.

Re euc - yes, I took down a huge one just over two years ago. Split it well and dried it outside on pallets under wriggly tin. Been burning it all this winter and it is really dry (under 15% according to the moisture meter thing - I know that's only a guide but you can tell by handling as well that they're well dry). When it was cut the sap was running freely off the saws so it was mega wet (end March I think it was) - but given the right conditions to dry it's fine (first burning was only after a year). It lights well and burns well (spits a lot so stove best) with reasonable longevity albeit not as long as say oak or thorn.

If only you'd posted before Christmas - I've just been looking at exactly this for my Level 4 Cert Arb! What a great project to be involved in. Is there much yet recorded in terms of an increase in biodiversity species-wise? Shame i'm in Scotland or I'd also be after getting a look. Cheers.

Plus one for Kingswood - great staff and quality training.

Good read Tom - thanks for posting. I often think along similar lines re all the brash that's left following clearance felling - I've seen a few sites in Fife (Tentsmuir notably but also around Cupar) where there is a lot of material simply left to rot after timber has been extracted. I'm not a forestry bloke so it may just be that it's uneconomical to extract this brash. Either way, there is a lot of potential energy there seemingly being missed out on. What're your thoughts?

An enjoyable read David - thanks for posting.

Thanks - there's a guy listed about an hour away. I'll give him a try...

Have always fancied learning how to do this properly - does anyone know of anyone that does courses or would be willing to show the basics up in Fife or thereabouts? Great pics by the way - looks amazing.

I use mine all the time - can't fault it. It's really light and well balanced. Two batteries plus the quick charger are pricey but you've no fuel to worry about and in theory fewer working parts to maintain. Takes about 20 mins from dead to around 80% - more than enough to time in the second battery to cover that. I'd say vibration seems less compared with my petrol top handle. I use the same batteries in my blower, small hedgers and extended pole pruner so could justify the extra cost of the battery set up over the petrol equivalent. Still use my 540xp for bigger stuff or in the really pissing rain. Not had any issues with batts falling out (bought mine around May last year I think). Although I probably will now...In any case a velcro strap or something would sort that issue. A final plus point is the noise - or lack of it - as was mentioned earlier. I still use ear protection but you can hear much more of what is going on around you. Also - when you've got more light in the summer you can use it earlier in the morning and later at night without pissing people off.

A big thanks to Andrew for sorting me a new 6100. We had a bit of a delay at the Dolmar end in Germany so Andrew sent me up one of his own saws to get a job done whilst we waited for my saw to be shipped. Customer service above and beyond is that... My saw is now here and ready to go - can't wait to give it a run out. A very happy boy so I am. Thanks again. Ed.