Tractors, combines & parking
Discussion
What's the official view on legally parked cars blocking oversized combines & the stupidly massive tractors that farmers like these days from getting through small villages?
Our village has a road wide enough for two cars to pass, or a well parked car to allow one of the oversized tractors to get through. The combines take up all but 18" of the road so couldn't get past a parked car, so what would happen if you'd parked there & gone out?
I thought to move oversized stuff they had to book it with plod etc, or is there a distance limit before that's needed?
Our village has a road wide enough for two cars to pass, or a well parked car to allow one of the oversized tractors to get through. The combines take up all but 18" of the road so couldn't get past a parked car, so what would happen if you'd parked there & gone out?
I thought to move oversized stuff they had to book it with plod etc, or is there a distance limit before that's needed?
Rules here:
Agricultural Vehicles, Tractors, Combine Harvesters, Self-Propelled Foragers Etc.
Vehicles without trailed appliance.
Up to 2.5m No Restrictions
2.55 - 3.0m Speed limit 20mph
3.0 - 3.5m - Notification of Police*
- Additional lights during hours of darkness, or in poor visibility
- Speed limit of 20mph
3.5 - 4.3m - Notification to Police*
- Extremities of vehicle made clearly visible
- Additional lights during hours of darkness, or in poor visibility
- Escort vehicle requiried to warn other road users
- Speed limit 12mph
Over 4.3m - Obtain written consent from the chief officer of police
- Extremities of vehicle made clearly visible
- Additional lights during hours of darkness, or in poor visibilty
- Escort vehicle requiried to warn other road users
- Speed limit of 12mph
- the journey will include roads with speed limits of 40 mph or less.
The Chief Constable may dispense with the need to nitify in the area, but the other conditions still apply. Some Police forces restrict movement to daylight hours only. If unsure, contact your Abnormal Loads Officer at your local Police Headquarters.
Conditions relating to Widths
Agricultural Vehicles with trailed appliances and implements
Vehicles with trailed appliances
Up to 2.5m No Restrictions
2.55 - 3.0m Speed limit 20mph
3.0 - 3.5m - Notification of Police*
- Additional lights during hours of darkness, or in poor visibility
- Speed limit of 20mph
- Restrictions on trailers*
3.5 - 4.3m - Notification to Police*
- Extremities of vehicle made clearly visible
- Additional lights during hours of darkness, or in poor visibility
- Escort vehicle requiried to warn other road users
- Speed limit 12mph
- Restrictions on trailers*
Over 4.3m - Obtain written consent from the chief officer of police
- Extremities of vehicle made clearly visible
- Additional lights during hours of darkness, or in poor visibilty
- Escort vehicle requiried to warn other road users
- Speed limit of 12mph
- the journey will include roads with speed limits of 40 mph or less.
The Chief Constable may dispense with the need to nitify in the area, but the other conditions still apply. Some Police forces restrict movement to daylight hours only. If unsure, contact your Abnormal Loads Officer at your local Police Headquarters.
- an agricultural trailed appliance;
- an unladen trailer specially designed for use with the towing vehicle when it is harvesting.
Agricultural Vehicles, Tractors, Combine Harvesters, Self-Propelled Foragers Etc.
Vehicles without trailed appliance.
Up to 2.5m No Restrictions
2.55 - 3.0m Speed limit 20mph
3.0 - 3.5m - Notification of Police*
- Additional lights during hours of darkness, or in poor visibility
- Speed limit of 20mph
3.5 - 4.3m - Notification to Police*
- Extremities of vehicle made clearly visible
- Additional lights during hours of darkness, or in poor visibility
- Escort vehicle requiried to warn other road users
- Speed limit 12mph
Over 4.3m - Obtain written consent from the chief officer of police
- Extremities of vehicle made clearly visible
- Additional lights during hours of darkness, or in poor visibilty
- Escort vehicle requiried to warn other road users
- Speed limit of 12mph
- 24 Hours notice must be given to the Chief Officer or Police only if:
- the journey will include roads with speed limits of 40 mph or less.
The Chief Constable may dispense with the need to nitify in the area, but the other conditions still apply. Some Police forces restrict movement to daylight hours only. If unsure, contact your Abnormal Loads Officer at your local Police Headquarters.
Conditions relating to Widths
Agricultural Vehicles with trailed appliances and implements
Vehicles with trailed appliances
Up to 2.5m No Restrictions
2.55 - 3.0m Speed limit 20mph
3.0 - 3.5m - Notification of Police*
- Additional lights during hours of darkness, or in poor visibility
- Speed limit of 20mph
- Restrictions on trailers*
3.5 - 4.3m - Notification to Police*
- Extremities of vehicle made clearly visible
- Additional lights during hours of darkness, or in poor visibility
- Escort vehicle requiried to warn other road users
- Speed limit 12mph
- Restrictions on trailers*
Over 4.3m - Obtain written consent from the chief officer of police
- Extremities of vehicle made clearly visible
- Additional lights during hours of darkness, or in poor visibilty
- Escort vehicle requiried to warn other road users
- Speed limit of 12mph
- 24 Hours notice must be given to the Chief Officer or Police only if:
- the journey will include roads with speed limits of 40 mph or less.
The Chief Constable may dispense with the need to nitify in the area, but the other conditions still apply. Some Police forces restrict movement to daylight hours only. If unsure, contact your Abnormal Loads Officer at your local Police Headquarters.
- The trailers permitted are:
- an agricultural trailed appliance;
- an unladen trailer specially designed for use with the towing vehicle when it is harvesting.
I help run a small agricultural contracting business (in Belgium).
We try to warn in advance where possible, although unfortunately the last couple of years there are more people who seem to delight in being difficult.
We have special licences for wide transport and have to drive in front of combines with another vehicle with flashing lights etc.
Given that a combine only has to visit a field once per year, I would hope that people would be accommodating enough to cooperate, but realise this may be a bit too optimistic.
To answer your question, we have called police to move vehicles when residents have refused to move/nobody knows whose car it is, and vehicles have been towed away.
We try to warn in advance where possible, although unfortunately the last couple of years there are more people who seem to delight in being difficult.
We have special licences for wide transport and have to drive in front of combines with another vehicle with flashing lights etc.
Given that a combine only has to visit a field once per year, I would hope that people would be accommodating enough to cooperate, but realise this may be a bit too optimistic.
To answer your question, we have called police to move vehicles when residents have refused to move/nobody knows whose car it is, and vehicles have been towed away.
I understand the need to use them, I don't understand the need to but them in a size that doesn't fit down the road to the field.
I would not be happy if plod stole a legally parked car just because farmer Giles wants to play with oversized toys. Surely it should be down to them to but kit that fits the roads it needs to get down? After all if a lorry gets stuck it's the drivers fault.
I would not be happy if plod stole a legally parked car just because farmer Giles wants to play with oversized toys. Surely it should be down to them to but kit that fits the roads it needs to get down? After all if a lorry gets stuck it's the drivers fault.
You haven't recently moved into "your" village by any chance, have you?
It's the countryside- accept that for the few weeks a year harvesting is going on. I guess "Farmer Giles" could always decide to sell the field for development
If you're new to it all, here's a few other things you could complain about:
Church Bells
Church Clocks
Shooting noises
Cockerels
Horse s
t on the road
Horses on the road
I'm sure you get the gist.
It's the countryside- accept that for the few weeks a year harvesting is going on. I guess "Farmer Giles" could always decide to sell the field for development
If you're new to it all, here's a few other things you could complain about:
Church Bells
Church Clocks
Shooting noises
Cockerels
Horse s
t on the roadHorses on the road
I'm sure you get the gist.
Edited by bobfett on Wednesday 30th July 11:51
I don't think combine have got a huge lot wider (unless you mean the header, which is usually towed behind the tractors). We've got machines ranging from more than 20 years old to brand new - I'll have a measure when I'm in the yard this afternoon.
Regarding towing cars, over here it's only the police who are allowed to remove cars (using private contractors), so we have to get them involved. They don't remove the cars, usually they just move them out of the way. It doesn't happen very often - most people move once the police appear on the scene (although it's disappointing that they often do wait until the police arrive).
I've been doing this for more than 25 years, and people seem to be getting a lot less tolerant and more difficult. At the end of the day we're only doing a job. If someone blocked the way to your work, I guess you might be a bit unhappy too.
Regarding towing cars, over here it's only the police who are allowed to remove cars (using private contractors), so we have to get them involved. They don't remove the cars, usually they just move them out of the way. It doesn't happen very often - most people move once the police appear on the scene (although it's disappointing that they often do wait until the police arrive).
I've been doing this for more than 25 years, and people seem to be getting a lot less tolerant and more difficult. At the end of the day we're only doing a job. If someone blocked the way to your work, I guess you might be a bit unhappy too.
Hooli said:
I don't understand the need to but them in a size that doesn't fit down the road to the field.
...just because farmer Giles wants to play with oversized toys. Surely it should be down to them to but kit that fits the roads it needs to get down?
Yeh, why can't they just use a flymo like normal people, eh? It's ridiculous, innit......just because farmer Giles wants to play with oversized toys. Surely it should be down to them to but kit that fits the roads it needs to get down?
And I'll bet you moan if your loaf of supermarket stripy value "bread" goes up 2p.
Hooli said:
I would not be happy if plod stole a legally parked car
Here's a clue: If it's causing an obstruction to traffic, then it's not legally parked.Hooli said:
I would not be happy if plod stole a legally parked car just because farmer Giles wants to play with oversized toys.
They're not stealing it. They're just moving it (at the owner's expense)."Legally parked" is an interesting phrase. Legally speaking you have no right to park on the road at all. You do have a right to use the highway to get from A to B, but not to store your vehicle on the highway once you reach B.
There are some parts of the highway where parking isn't allowed at all. There are other parts where it's tolerated so long as it doesn't cause an obstruction to other users of the highway. If you do cause an obstruction you commit an offence and your vehicle can be towed regardless of the presence of yellow lines etc, and that includes an obstruction to users of large vehicles (who also have a right to use the highway to get from A to B).
bobfett said:
You haven't recently moved into "your" village by any chance, have you?
It's the countryside- accept that for the few weeks a year harvesting is going on. I guess "Farmer Giles" could always decide to sell the field for development
If you're new to it all, here's a few other things you could complain about:
Church Bells
Church Clocks
Shooting noises
Cockerels
Horse st on the road
Horses on the road
I'm sure you get the gist.
Don't forget planning permission for anything to be built, especially housesIt's the countryside- accept that for the few weeks a year harvesting is going on. I guess "Farmer Giles" could always decide to sell the field for development
If you're new to it all, here's a few other things you could complain about:
Church Bells
Church Clocks
Shooting noises
Cockerels
Horse s
t on the roadHorses on the road
I'm sure you get the gist.
Hooli said:
I understand the need to use them, I don't understand the need to but them in a size that doesn't fit down the road to the field.
I would not be happy if plod stole a legally parked car just because farmer Giles wants to play with oversized toys. Surely it should be down to them to but kit that fits the roads it needs to get down? After all if a lorry gets stuck it's the drivers fault.
Quite right was is the Farmer thinking of? I'm quite sure that the super markets will be happy to pay a little more for his crop to counter the additional time and costs of the harvest - they are so supportive like that.I would not be happy if plod stole a legally parked car just because farmer Giles wants to play with oversized toys. Surely it should be down to them to but kit that fits the roads it needs to get down? After all if a lorry gets stuck it's the drivers fault.
Between you and me, they don't need half the equipment they buy, they just like to cruise through the local village in it, to pull the local WI members....
Hooli said:
I understand the need to use them, I don't understand the need to but them in a size that doesn't fit down the road to the field.
I would not be happy if plod stole a legally parked car just because farmer Giles wants to play with oversized toys. Surely it should be down to them to but kit that fits the roads it needs to get down? After all if a lorry gets stuck it's the drivers fault.
Quite right! Why stop there though, they can do it by hand after all? A horse drawn plough will cut down the costs too!I would not be happy if plod stole a legally parked car just because farmer Giles wants to play with oversized toys. Surely it should be down to them to but kit that fits the roads it needs to get down? After all if a lorry gets stuck it's the drivers fault.
bobfett said:
You haven't recently moved into "your" village by any chance, have you?
It's the countryside- accept that for the few weeks a year harvesting is going on. I guess "Farmer Giles" could always decide to sell the field for development
If you're new to it all, here's a few other things you could complain about:
Church Bells
Church Clocks
Shooting noises
Cockerels
Horse st on the road
Horses on the road
I'm sure you get the gist.
Yes we are new the village as it happens, but we're both country people so expect country stuff.It's the countryside- accept that for the few weeks a year harvesting is going on. I guess "Farmer Giles" could always decide to sell the field for development
If you're new to it all, here's a few other things you could complain about:
Church Bells
Church Clocks
Shooting noises
Cockerels
Horse s
t on the roadHorses on the road
I'm sure you get the gist.
It's an issue with this particular farm who constantly drive on people's front gardens, clip cars etc etc because they think they have a right to force their way through in machinery that doesn't fit. I've never seen such behavior else where from other farmers.
As for the size, they sure look larger but if the poster who runs them knows better then I accept it. TBH I was thinking more of tractors than combines at that point. I know they've grown as a Grey Fergie is a touch smaller than a current John Derre.
Hooli said:
As for the size, they sure look larger but if the poster who runs them knows better then I accept it. TBH I was thinking more of tractors than combines at that point. I know they've grown as a Grey Fergie is a touch smaller than a current John Derre.
John Deere, y'say? Well, if ONLY they had such a thing as a website, so we could easily find dimensions...Oh, what's that, Skippy? They do?
Bugger me, will miracles never cease?
So let's take a look at how wide one of their big tractors is, shall we?
2,550mm, max, for the big 6R series.
http://www.deere.co.uk/common/docs/products/equipm...
Y'see, the thing with fields is that they have gates to get into them. And no farmer is going to spend to buy a tractor or combine that won't go through the gates. Because then he's got to widen all the gates. And that costs money. And farmers don't like spending money.
And, coincidentally, 2,550mm width is also the cutoff point for "no restrictions" on movement. Between there and 3m width, there's still no police notification required, just a maximum speed. Which probably also pisses you off.
It may well be that the eejit who drives that particular tractor is pissed off with selfish townies leaving barely enough room to get a car through.
And, after all, that 2,550mm width is SO ridiculously over-wide compared to any vehicle that anybody might actually ever contemplate bringing down a residential street.
Like, say, a bin wagon.
http://www.dennis-eagle.co.uk/products/elite6-chas...
Oops. Wait a second...
Sorry, well stop harvesting and just turn the fields over to grass so we can import all of our food and if we make the combines smaller then the grain prices won't be competitive at all but at least we an get down the road. I'm off to order my sampo plot combine 
Another issue which we don't have but a friend does is the road to his farm has a weight limit and every year someone calls the police or goes one better and actually blocks the road when the grain lorries come only for them to be explained there's permission for local access.
Another issue which we don't have but a friend does is the road to his farm has a weight limit and every year someone calls the police or goes one better and actually blocks the road when the grain lorries come only for them to be explained there's permission for local access.
Edited by Silent1 on Wednesday 30th July 15:04
TooMany2cvs said:
Hooli said:
As for the size, they sure look larger but if the poster who runs them knows better then I accept it. TBH I was thinking more of tractors than combines at that point. I know they've grown as a Grey Fergie is a touch smaller than a current John Derre.
John Deere, y'say? Well, if ONLY they had such a thing as a website, so we could easily find dimensions...Oh, what's that, Skippy? They do?
Bugger me, will miracles never cease?
So let's take a look at how wide one of their big tractors is, shall we?
2,550mm, max, for the big 6R series.
http://www.deere.co.uk/common/docs/products/equipm...
Y'see, the thing with fields is that they have gates to get into them. And no farmer is going to spend to buy a tractor or combine that won't go through the gates. Because then he's got to widen all the gates. And that costs money. And farmers don't like spending money.
And, coincidentally, 2,550mm width is also the cutoff point for "no restrictions" on movement. Between there and 3m width, there's still no police notification required, just a maximum speed. Which probably also pisses you off.
It may well be that the eejit who drives that particular tractor is pissed off with selfish townies leaving barely enough room to get a car through.
And, after all, that 2,550mm width is SO ridiculously over-wide compared to any vehicle that anybody might actually ever contemplate bringing down a residential street.
Like, say, a bin wagon.
http://www.dennis-eagle.co.uk/products/elite6-chas...
Oops. Wait a second...
Bin lorries etc have no issues getting through the village, oddly enough they slow down enough to aim for the gap not just sort of at it as well.
Sounds like a breakdown in communication (both in said village and in this thread ).
IF the farmer could publicise when he needs the roads to be clear for a few hours (and it's not often...), with some sort of ongoing benefit(s) for the villagers to get them 'onside' as well?
I know, I know...
).IF the farmer could publicise when he needs the roads to be clear for a few hours (and it's not often...), with some sort of ongoing benefit(s) for the villagers to get them 'onside' as well?
I know, I know...
aw51 121565 said:
Sounds like a breakdown in communication (both in said village and in this thread ).
IF the farmer could publicise when he needs the roads to be clear for a few hours (and it's not often...), with some sort of ongoing benefit(s) for the villagers to get them 'onside' as well?
I know, I know...
That'd be sensible, but I suspect we'd then get a "does the farmer have any legal basis to get us to move our cars" type of thread. ).IF the farmer could publicise when he needs the roads to be clear for a few hours (and it's not often...), with some sort of ongoing benefit(s) for the villagers to get them 'onside' as well?
I know, I know...
Incidentally, today I heard of;
Environmental health getting called out to a donkey neighing
RSPCA getting called out because "cattle are bellowing"
aw51 121565 said:
Sounds like a breakdown in communication (both in said village and in this thread ).
IF the farmer could publicise when he needs the roads to be clear for a few hours (and it's not often...), with some sort of ongoing benefit(s) for the villagers to get them 'onside' as well?
I know, I know...
Daft idea... ).IF the farmer could publicise when he needs the roads to be clear for a few hours (and it's not often...), with some sort of ongoing benefit(s) for the villagers to get them 'onside' as well?
I know, I know...
Considering it's one village of 12 houses between his two farm yards, it wouldn't be difficult to let us know the combines are next tuesday or something similar. But then the way they drive into cars & over flower beds without even slowing I don't expect to have any consideration for us.
Hooli said:
TooMany2cvs said:
It may well be that the eejit who drives that particular tractor is pissed off with selfish townies leaving barely enough room to get a car through.
You know, you could accept that cars & gardens getting damaged on a regular basis because of idiot tractor drivers pisses people offHave you considered that there might be a mutual issue here, and one side has a FAR easier solution in their hands than the other does?
Hooli said:
& gets them wondering what could be done to prevent it.
OOOoooh! I know the answer to this one!Don't park like an arsebiscuit.
Hooli said:
Daft idea...
Considering it's one village of 12 houses between his two farm yards, it wouldn't be difficult to let us know the combines are next tuesday or something similar. But then the way they drive into cars & over flower beds without even slowing I don't expect to have any consideration for us.
I guess you did not do your homework before you moved here, or you would have known about the tractor issue.Considering it's one village of 12 houses between his two farm yards, it wouldn't be difficult to let us know the combines are next tuesday or something similar. But then the way they drive into cars & over flower beds without even slowing I don't expect to have any consideration for us.
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