Public footpath maintenance contracting

Last time I subbed rates were IIRC 11p/m for soft (strimming) and 17p/m for hard. Bear in mind that hard could be opening up a bridleway you can barely walk through to 3m tall and 3m wide! This is going back a few years mind.

If you are going to do the whole shebang you will need a pedestrian flail at the least. The guy I subbed to used a compact tractor and the output from that (where you could use it) balanced the figures where the hard clearance was hard going (excuse the pun).

The main thing I did was reccee the routes with a scrambler bike and work out exactly what was needed. This was essential, otherwise my guys would have to take all the tools when there may only be a couple of branches and the rest was strimming, despite the whole route being marked as hard clearance. Then I guided my teams to the access points. The maps were thirty years old black and white photocopies which made life difficult.

Laminate your maps too, well worth the few quid. With regard to H+S, make sure your guys know how to call up GPS co-ordinates on their phones.

I can't remember the rates for stiles, etc, but farmers are often not pleased to see you. Veg would be my preference were I to do it again.

Replies

Ben Pritchard January 15, 2018 at 8:48pm

That was written in paragraphs!
Ben Jakes January 16, 2018 at 11:51am

Last time I subbed rates were IIRC 11p/m for soft (strimming) and 17p/m for hard. Bear in mind that hard could be opening up a bridleway you can barely walk through to 3m tall and 3m wide! This is going back a few years mind.

If you are going to do the whole shebang you will need a pedestrian flail at the least. The guy I subbed to used a compact tractor and the output from that (where you could use it) balanced the figures where the hard clearance was hard going (excuse the pun).

The main thing I did was reccee the routes with a scrambler bike and work out exactly what was needed. This was essential, otherwise my guys would have to take all the tools when there may only be a couple of branches and the rest was strimming, despite the whole route being marked as hard clearance. Then I guided my teams to the access points. The maps were thirty years old black and white photocopies which made life difficult.

Laminate your maps too, well worth the few quid. With regard to H+S, make sure your guys know how to call up GPS co-ordinates on their phones.

I can't remember the rates for stiles, etc, but farmers are often not pleased to see you. Veg would be my preference were I to do it again.
- Ben Pritchard > Ben Jakes January 16, 2018 at 5:36pm
  
  So de veg you can get away with a van rather than a 4x4? And the meterage is floor area rather than volume? Was the waste cut and mashed or chipped or left in a pile? 17p/m doesn't sound great for hard. Rail was over £3/m for inspection strips, but there's a lot of red tape there
- Ben Pritchard > Ben Jakes January 16, 2018 at 6:22pm
  
  Is there a pm function on this site? It would be good to have a quick chat if you have the time and inclination
  - PRO
    
    Phil Voice > Ben Pritchard January 16, 2018 at 6:49pm
    
    Yes, there is Ben. You need to send a friends request to the member you want to chat with.
  - Ben Jakes > Ben Pritchard January 17, 2018 at 7:25am
    
    Might as well post it here for other members to see mate. Meterage is linear meters to the spec of the path type- 1m wide, 2m high for footpaths and I think 3m by 3m for bridleways/RUPPs
    
    We just mashed the waste up or if it was a lot of hard clearance forked it to the side. Rates may well be better but judging from the recent calls I've had from landowners wanting stiles or gates put in that the council have given them, I'd imagine there is less overall money to go around.
    - Ben Pritchard > Ben Jakes January 18, 2018 at 7:07pm
      
      So that's 17p for 2 cubic metres? 1 along the floor and 2 up? I appreciate things vary, but didyou get good long stretches or was it piecemeal? Was it through an LA or an umbrella company like ground control or Glendale?
PRO

Andrew Betteridge January 18, 2018 at 9:47pm

Have you tried a Google search?

Andy

https://www.pathsforall.org.uk/component/option,com_docman/Itemid,6...

https://www.pathsforall.org.uk/component/option%2Ccom_docman/Itemid%2C69/gid%2C1163/task%2Cdoc_down…
PRO

Andrew Betteridge January 18, 2018 at 10:07pm

V14 path strimming 3 metres wide £ 0.23/ metre

Andy

https://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/ewgs-on009-standard-costs.pdf/$file/ewgs-on009-standard-costs.pdf

Forestry Commission - PDF Document - ewgs-on009-standard-costs.pdf
- Ben Pritchard > Andrew Betteridge January 19, 2018 at 6:52pm
  
  Thankyou andrew, very helpful posts
  
  Forestry Commission - PDF Document - ewgs-on009-standard-costs.pdf