Anyone put a tent over their school?

[Crabbypink]

I would love to get more out of my new(ish) 20 x 40 school, especially in Winter. Anyone have any experience of dropping a sports hall tent over a school? Do they hold up in heavy rain and wind? Did the local council kick off and try to wrestle money out of it? And finally what sort of cost? Thanks, peeps.

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

Our pony club used to go to a venue who had a huge poly tunnel covering their arena...

 

[oldie48]

That's an interesting idea. I think you could claim it was a temporary structure and therefore wouldn't require planning but they may make you take it down at least once a year.

 

[Lintel]

I would have visions of it disappearing on a windy day.... But we are in Scotland.
Interested to hear others thoughts

 

[HeyMich]

Our pony club used to go to a venue who had a huge poly tunnel covering their arena...

I think I know the one you're talking about. It isn't there anymore. Not sure if that tells us anything... (I know the farm has changed hands)

 

[Ranyhyn]

Imagine that it just flying away. Thats tickled me.

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

Hey Mich..you are right, Ann sold up a few years ago and I haven’t been on that back road for ages ..don’t know who or what is there now. But I am remembering it correctly aren’t I...just a big poly tunnel affair?

 

[Teajack]

That's an interesting idea. I think you could claim it was a temporary structure and therefore wouldn't require planning but they may make you take it down at least once a year.

Should think you'd need to anyway when it was warm outside, it would get pretty hot in there.

 

[HeyMich]

Hey Mich..you are right, Ann sold up a few years ago and I haven’t been on that back road for ages ..don’t know who or what is there now. But I am remembering it correctly aren’t I...just a big poly tunnel affair?

Yep, a huge white structure. Felt really light and airy inside. I haven't been there for ages either.

 

[Birker2020]

Here's a rather dated article about them https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/archives/hh-asks-cover-all-arenas-268475

 

[Rowreach]

Yep, a huge white structure. Felt really light and airy inside. I haven't been there for ages either.

They were lovely to ride in, very relaxing and horses seemed to be very chilled, but they were hugely expensive and didn't really seem to be popular in the UK. I was quoted £100k to put one up. They weren't temporary, they were a proper structure and had to be loosened/tightened depending on the weather.

I did see a second hand marquee type one for sale a few years back, complete with kick boards and lighting, for about £15k.

 

[milliepops]

They were lovely to ride in, very relaxing and horses seemed to be very chilled, but they were hugely expensive and didn't really seem to be popular in the UK. I was quoted £100k to put one up. They weren't temporary, they were a proper structure and had to be loosened/tightened depending on the weather.

glad you explained that bit, I was trying to imagine riding in anything tent-like in anything but the mildest breeze... no ta!

 

[tallyho!]

Ain’t that what circuses are?

 

[TPO]

There was an eventer who was based in Stirling (Scotland) that had one. I'm 75% sure that she still needed to get planning permission and that the permission granted was a defined period of time, not forever more.

It blew down/away at least once but I have a feeling it was more than that. I never rode in it but an acquaintance did and said her horse found it spooky; however that could solely be her horse and not the structure in general.

The coverall was gone a couple of years ago but I don't know if that was planning related or fed up fixing/reinstalling it after wind damage. Again this was Scotland and that particular area was a wee bit higher and exposed.