February 2, 200620 yr I've got a couple of fields which haven't made any money for years, I was thinking about digging a few holes etc to use it for a bit of trials practice. The smaller field is 6 acres in size, it is fairly flat with no trees or natural hazards, so I would have to change the appearance of the land. (If it was any flatter, it would be a football pitch, if you get my drift.) Has anyone any experience with doing this sort of thing? I would appreciate any thoughts on the matter. ie planning problems, insurance, compensation concerns etc. Basically, is it worth the effort?
February 3, 200620 yr Pete, Digging holes, making mounds, etc could be construed as development and could bring the planners down on you, let alone possible grief from noise complaints and so on. Rent the land out for horsiculture, put your bike on the trailer and use the rent you receive to pay the farmer near Broadway (that you mentioned recently)
February 3, 200620 yr sounds like a good reply MPM...although..(and I have no experience of this)..surely just a few big rocks, placed strategically (purely for marking the boundary of your land or something could make for a good bit of practice now and then??
February 3, 200620 yr The photo shows a number of houses in the vicinity. I read of someone up this way who wanted to open a quad track on his property. The neighbours put a stop to it before it even got off the ground.
February 3, 200620 yr Author I appreciate all the comments on this, I'm afraid it is pretty much as I was expecting. Some of the land is still profitable, however the field shown in the photo doesn't make the cost of a decent round of drinks each year. The cost of fencing it for horses would take 5 years to break-even. It's just so frustrating that it can't be made into a practice area. The machinery is no problem..... it's all the red tape. How do the MX tracks get around this?
February 3, 200620 yr Sell it for a pony paddock....people are paying stupid money for these. Then use the money to buy a piece of woodland away from any houses, which dont sell for much. With the money left over you can buy yourself a new bike or 3!!! Regards Martin PS....anyone living in the nearby houses got a horse? if so there's your buyer! Edited February 3, 200620 yr by MartinM
February 3, 200620 yr Author Sell it for a pony paddock....people are paying stupid money for these. Then use the money to buy a piece of woodland away from any houses, which dont sell for much. With the money left over you can buy yourself a new bike or 3!!!Regards Martin PS....anyone living in the nearby houses got a horse? if so there's your buyer! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Ohh how I wish it was that easy. I'm afraid your idea sounds perfect, there's just one problem. Pony paddocks around the Cotswolds are two-a-penny, where as wooded banks for sale are very rare. Unless you are interested in buying a field yourself? I have more of these if you need a choice. Come and make me an offer I can't refuse. I'll take a wooded bank in part ex or maybe do a swap. Hell... I'll even put some cash on top for the right deal!
February 3, 200620 yr Author For anyone interested, here is the view from the top looking down. All this space and no where to practice.
February 3, 200620 yr Probably easiest to plant some mature trees at the top of the bank, dig some "features" at the bottom and also put some mature trees in to add to the feel. Also plant trees on the rest of the land. You'll have a smallish area to start with that should grow in time.
February 3, 200620 yr the previous post probably echos my own thoughts, plant trees.. lots Christmas trees are ideal, mature relatively quickly to a 'cash crop' fantastic at reducing noise. amongst the trees create artifical sections (just like horse paddocks have artifical jumps) from logs, trees, rocks (concrete waste). result a small income and area to practice
February 3, 200620 yr Author Now there's an idea I hadn't thought of... Christmas trees with sections in between... brilliant!!
February 3, 200620 yr Forget it. You will have to pay rates on the land if you intend to use it more than 28 times a year and insurance will cost you at least
February 3, 200620 yr Who and where is the farmer in broadway, who allows practise on proper terrain. I'll pay him
February 3, 200620 yr Author Rent it to the gypsies. Within a few weeks you will have a trial park. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I said that to the planning authority when they turned down my application to build one house for myself.
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