Soil reengineering services subsidised arena... Thoughts?

[HorseMaid]

This company is on Facebook, seems they will pay you to "dump" (for want of a better word) soil from elsewhere to level an area for an arena or whatever, they're touting it as being a cost effective way and will even help with planning applications. Almost seems too good to be true! What are peoples thoughts on this?

 

[cauda equina]

I would be very suspicious about what is in the 'soil' - lumps of undesirable stuff, chemical contamination, who's to know?

 

[mariew]

I'd want some kind of testing proof that there is nothing untoward in what they are dumping. In theory it's not a bad idea though.

 

[nutjob]

I would get a professional opinion on whether you need additional material in order to build an arena before agreeing to this. Mine is on a bit of a slope and they just found a level and moved material from one side to the other. You should also get a proper description of what type of waste material this is defined as, then check with the environment agency that is it legal to allow it to be dumped on your property.

 

[HorseMaid]

All thoughts I've had - it sounds a bit dodgy but if they can prove where it's come from etc then maybe a way if getting it done for little cost to yourself, I think it sounds like a good idea in theory though, I'd be worried about the stability of it underneath also?

 

[sjb10]

Also moving soil etc from site to site may need planning consent. And if you're having 'soil' imported that may change the planning permission needed by you as well.

 

[nutjob]

Bear in mind that an arena is levelled from the bottom up not the top down. It is dug out for the drainage to be put in and it is this bottom surface which needs to be levelled correctly. You may well need additional material at this point or you may not. You could also find yourself with addition material which needs to be disposed of, as in general you are digging out not building up, and what has been dug out is replaced not with soil or whatever this waste is composed of, it needs to be proper drainage material (stones). What you dug out can be used to create a flat level, but you may also be left with excess material without importing anything. I may have misunderstood what you are saying but it sounds as if you are planning to level the ground before starting to dig out to make an arena which is incorrect.

 

[HorseMaid]

This is from their FB page:

Spring is in the air, the ground is drying up, now is the perfect time to be thinking about the school or arena that you have always longed for.
We have projects on the go at the moment and planning applications in, we can help you with all the paperwork required.
Best of all, we can massively reduce the cost of your arena by building the ground up to a level, rather than 'cut and fill' to create your flat school base, which costs money. Our way, not only will you be paid thousands of pounds, we will pay for all of the machinery during the levelling process as well, so you end up with a nice flat base and money in the bank towards the creation of your perfect arena.
All of the soil which we import is clean, licenced and approved by the environment agency.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Bargepole.

PP is likely to be more difficult to get for an arena which is raised above ground level.

Plus it will be technically harder to construct the arena as the added soil will need to be very well compacted or it will just subside.

My excellent 11yo arena was constructed by the traditional cut and fill method.

 

[HorseMaid]

That's what I'm thinking regarding subsidence, I'd be I terested to see one a few years after it's been built this way!

 

[nutjob]

That's what I'm thinking regarding subsidence, I'd be I terested to see one a few years after it's been built this way!

You will not be able to see one which they built this way that has been in use for a few years as they are a new company with no address listed on their facebook page and no landline phone no. They have no reviews under this company name. If they are the same company as that with the same name listed by companies house they started up in June and have had 2 names already. I would also be inclined to get the names of the directors of this company and check which other companies they have been involved with which have been liquidated for what ever reason. Arenas are very expensive and are a nightmare to put right once installed incorrectly.

 

[tda]

I think this must be a thing now where groundwork have to pay to get rid of soil they dig out . A local farmer has had in excess of 100 tipper lorry loads of topsoil dumped in his field, he just keeps levelling it out, then plants a crop in it
If he's getting paid for taking it it's easy money for him

 

[Art Nouveau]

Yep we've been approached to ask if we'd take some top soil. As it happens, we have a field that was dug up for a ground source heat pump and they made a massive mess of restoring it so I do need it leveling off. The guy bringing the soil has already declined one batch as not being good enough for what I need, and is now waiting for another job to start that should just be top soil, and will be tested first so I know what's in it before I accept. If it's suitable, he's going to build some fences and a hardcore track for me in return.

 

[DirectorFury]

As someone who has spent countless hours and thousands of £ dealing with the fallout of neighbours introducing contaminated soil*, there’s no way I’d ever bring unknown soil onto my land.

*the soil they used to level their garden was contaminated with mares tail. 4 years later it has spread to cover ~7 football pitches of area, all of the gardens across 4 streets are covered in the stuff. It’s almost impossible to eradicate.