Restriction on cleaning drains?

JohnBoy

We're getting some forestry planted this week and they have a track machine in.

We wanted them to clean out a spot where an existing drain is blocked, just at a culvert, a few scoops would do it. but they say they cant as it's got running water in it (running over the top of the feckin bridge)

Is this a seasonal thing? I cant imagine it's lazyness/not wanting to do it as it's only a few minutes work with a digger.

reilig

I never heard of any restrictions on drain cleaning.

JohnBoy

Neither had I.

It does have frog-spawn in it actually now that I think of it.

Tipp Man

I think you can't go near drains till the 1st September but I'm not sure when the spring closing deadline is.

do it and be done with it. Far too many do gooders around now to stop you doing what needs to be done

dasheriff

You can do the bottom and one side all year round i think, Work away lad id say its always this time of year i do it and no one has ever said anything..

Bizzum

I wonder are you in a SAC area?
There are restrictions in place in designated areas. Eg. Instream work in salmonid streams.

johngalway

Bizzum wrote: »

I wonder are you in a SAC area?
There are restrictions in place in designated areas. Eg. Instream work in salmonid streams.

That's a possibility actually. Local fella caused a ruckus with NPWS and 360 in a bog. I wouldn't leave the same fella in charge of a tea spoon mind.

JohnBoy

Not an SAC.

I'm figuring it must be a forestry specific thing? They wouldnt touch it. I suppose the forestry is likely to be inspected before they get paid so they aint risking anything.

Birdnuts

JohnBoy wrote: »

Neither had I.

It does have frog-spawn in it actually now that I think of it.

I'm sure you could simply move it to a safer place - but ask the local ranger just in case:)

aristo

I rang the dept today, there are no dates/times of year set for cleaning drains for cross compliance, he said just make sure conditions are right for it as not to compact the land.

Bizzum

aristo wrote: »

I rang the dept today, there are no dates/times of year set for cleaning drains for cross compliance, he said just make sure conditions are right for it as not to compact the land.

This may have nothing however to do with cross compliance.
You go digging, for example, in a salmonid stream this time of the year, and you're in breach of fishery legislation.
In this above case my first port of call would be with the digger driver. Maybe he has the answer?
Failing this the OPW have a lot of info in this area.

JohnBoy

If I get talking to the forester again I'll ask him, he's a man of few words, but very by the book. I'll need to know when I can go and clean this out, I dont want to feck up the forestry inspection in some way.

I would've done it myself last year only figured we could get it done for nothing when we had a digger in anyway.

Oh well, any excuse to hire a digger is a good excuse

funny man

The only thing i heard about open drains is your not aloud to pipe them as there protected along with hedgerows under cross compliance.