Machinery hire?

We are just (I hope!) coming to the end of a particulary vicious 2 day gale. It has caused a somewhat difficult problem, in picking up, and dumping vast quantities of sand from the recently installed 'sandscaping' coastal protection. Drive, garden, patio, all buried under tons (literally) of the stuff. Years ago I would have set to with shovel and barrow but at 85, it's not really an option. I am not up to speed on what might be available as personal hire machinery which might suit the purpose. Can any members better informed suggest what might be suitable - one, limited mobility operator 3' width limit for gate access?

TIA

rgds

Bill

Edited By Cornish Jack on 26/09/2020 18:48:36

A search around your local plant hire company's should find what you require such as a Mini Digger or Micro Digger, which should fit your access, some are electric powered.

Mike.

Edited By MichaelR on 26/09/2020 19:04:39

Edited By MichaelR on 26/09/2020 19:16:18

Bill,

**LINK**

Don't forget to wear your goggles!

Good luck, Bear..

You could rent a loader such as this:

**LINK**

I rented a larger version (an Avant 528) to move about 12 tonnes of gravel a few weeks ago and found it easy to use.

Or you could rent one with an operator!

Stuart

A leaf blower can be used in reverse with the catch bag attached. But it would mean having to deal with the weight of the machine plus sand when getting full. The other problem of course unless you know a builder, what are you going to do with the tons of sand.

Bad situation to be in Bill. Regards Steve.

On 2nd thoughts, ring the council, surely they would send a suction typa slurry wagon with extended pipework. After all it is their sand.

Edited By Steviegtr on 26/09/2020 21:11:21

Hello Bill, is your home like one that is pictured in the Eastern Daily Press pages showing the aftermath of the storm? If so you have my sympathy that's one hell of a lot of sand to shift! That was quite a blow even down here on South Norfolk border.

A Bobcat type of machine would do the job, is relatively cheap to hire and quite easy to operate, most hire companies have them. The bigger problem though is that skid-steer loaders like this will likely rip up your lawns/brickweave or other loose surface and won't be able to get into small corners. Are there any electric power augers to hire locally that could move sand?

I guess that the local and county council will say that it's not their problem in your garden.

Trevor

Be careful with hire, most firms hire the plant under contract which renders the hirer responsible for loss or damage to the plant. Further you are responsible for any damage you cause whilst using the plant. Cheaper and safer to get in touch with a local contractor who will arrive with a suitable machine and be able to use it safely and if necessary come equipped with a means of removing the sand from site.

Make sure that you ask for a quote to do "the job" rather than pay on a "day rate" basis otherwise you may still find you inherit liability for damage to the machine etc. as above. Think how much even a tyre would cost to replace. Construction Plant Association conditions of hire or Hire Association of Europe conditions refer. It is most unlikely your home insurance will cover this.

Regards Robert Butler

Is this covered on your house insurance? If so they would presumably get a contractor to sort it out.

phone a man with a sewer sucker type tanker and ask him?

Chuck it into the street like snow and let the cooncil deal with it, a contractor would have to cart it away

sand sucker/blowers exist so you can shift it over your wall. biomass extraction for instance

https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/weather/residents-react-after-walcott-and-bacton-engulfed-by-sandstorm-1-6857360

Edited By Ady1 on 26/09/2020 23:53:24

85 years old? Get a man in to do it. Let him choose what machinery he wants to use.

And do check with your insurance company and the council about who pays for it all. If the sand came from a council project of some sort they may help. You don't know if you don't ask.

PS it sounds like the council or whoever did the "sandscaping" should pay to fix the problem they created through their poor design. Get onto them and insist they clean up their mess. Get with neighbours in the same boat and insist en masse. Get legal advice if you need it, maybe from community legal aid etc.

And get your house insurance company involved first up. It should cover storm damage repair. They will then put pressure on the council to pay up if they deem it their fault -- but they will fight that battle for you.

Hopper is right. It is their sand and they should recover it.

Unfortunately dumping it in the street will be classed as fly tipping and will result in a large fine.

Contact the council (if the are open) and ask them if they want it back and if so how will they collect it.

It sounds like a nightmare scenario. I hope you get it sorted soon.

regards

Or pray hard for a storm in the opposite direction and it will get blown right back.

You're not fly tipping, you're returning council property to council land

If you went onto the beach and moved tons of sand into your garden you'd get done for theft

Edited By Ady1 on 27/09/2020 10:42:01

Huge thank you to all for those most useful replies. Interestingly, our house features in Ady1's link video (the view showing the sandscaping scheme display - that's our wall).

The various machines available are a 'boys' toys' Xmas list! ... however, the wise counsels will prevail

Insurers first, (not hopeful), Council next (cash-strapped, so similar) and then to find a reliable 'man-who-can'. Our treasured long-term 'go-to' man isn't contactable so it will be search and hope.

Thank you all again, it has given much food for thought!

rgds

Bill

Like others, I wondered about insurance but have a feeling that the "operation of nature" may not be covered; of course, the answer lies in the terms of the insurance contract.

I believe that, over the years, the lofts of the houses along the seafront at Blackpool have filled with sand.

Sadly I think any recompence from insurers and councils will fall under the heading of "Act of God"

Martin P

Insurance regularly pays out for damage by cyclones, hurricanes, gales, hailstorms floods, storms, lightning strikes, bushfires, forest fires etc. I think it's an athiest business these days.

Render unto Ceasar that which is Ceasers.

Chuck it out for them to deal with.