Month: February 2021

Once a Cattle Grid is no longer required a conscious decision should be made about its future. Left to rot is can present a serious danger to track users. Corroded bars can twist upwards when vehicles pass over it damaging this or any further vehicles which may pass.

Many are left to silt up.

The most satisfactory (safest) way is to remove the steel grid an fill the pit with suitable material.

Ensure the base has the capacity to carry the load now imposed through the fill when before this may have been carried by the enclosing walls

This excellent example installed on an INEOS site is to fill in with mass concrete allowing almost any vehicle safe passage

When Cattle Grids are designed and supplied by people without the relevant expertise problems arise about their function.

This elegant unit is completely useless.

Animals can easily walk round it and sheep would happy saunter across the flat bars which bridge the grid.

There is a very detailed Standard complied by the most knowledgeable people in this field.

It clearly states what features a compliant cattle grid should have.

It is the legal duty of Loal Authorities to follow standards when they have the choice.

The country is littered with none standard cattle grids

Tatton Park is no exception. There are a number of Cattle Grids most of which are non compliant.

A cyclist had a heavy fall on one and was lucky to avoid serious injury some months ago. His bike was a write off.

The cyclist complained to the Site Management. and was airily dismissed.

The site is owned by the National Trust and managed by Cheshire East Council

They chose the wrong person to rebuff. The injured party has the professional skills, energy and determination to pursue the matter

The case came to court. Astonishingly the Judge dismissed the case even though a letter from your Guru (a Chartered Engineer) stated that the grid did not comply with the British Standard.

It makes one wonder why we have British Standards at all.