4 Mar 2010 by Mike
Hello all,
We currently have an issue which is causing me a few headaches, and as it is proving difficult for me to get this issue sorted sorted out before the start of the cricket season, it appears that we are going to start the season with what I, and several others consider to be a dangerous outfield.
Cut a long story short, we had a foul water drain installed across our field last year. The people who re-instated the ground have made a bit of a mess of it, and we are now left with a severely undulating and rutted area that runs alongside our 1st square (within 2 metres) and runs far beyond the boundary - I guess this follows on nicely from Vic's thread re choosing contractors... needless to say, we chose wrong! With our first match only seven weeks away, it is looking like rectifying this situation is simply impossible before the season starts. Problem is, we have now taken bookings for the season from 2 clubs, a relatively prestigious tournament, and school fixtures are being compiled now. At some point, someone is going to have to put their foot down and take the square out of action until the outfield is made safe. This would obviously be a big call, and with much revenue hinging on any decision, its a call that couldn't be taken lightly.
So, my question is, who does this responsibility fall upon? Is it the duty of the groundsman, teachers, umpires, club officials etc? Also, what would be the best means of putting this across - a risk assessment perhaps?
Mike
Mike, I find your thread a bit puzzling, I remember you mentioning the drain was going to be installed, this was last year and yet 7 weeks before the first game the problem of re-instatement still hasn't been resolved, one might therefor think that the contractor ain't going to do it, also bearing in mind that on a small island such as yours the cricket grounds at the school not only provide you with an important revenue stream, but the island with a vital social sporting resource, bearing in mind the pitches are already hired out then the best option might be for you lot to get on and sort the damned problem out, some seed mixed into a topdressing and applied now and levelled would surely have time to germinate and at least provide a safe surface, I realise it may be the contractors fault, but if you keep a complete inventory of costs you can then supply this to them with the option to pay, if they don't then the only option is through the courts, the one thing for certain is that it isn't the clubs who have hired the grounds fault and that it will be the schools fault if someone gets hurt when they sue. Someone sort it out!
Is it just me, probably, it's been a hard couple of days.
4 Mar 2010 by Mike Last edited 4 Mar 2010
You find it puzzling... i've been banging my head against a brick wall going on for a year now regarding this matter... frustrating to say the least! I have been trying and trying to sort this out, but ultimately I don't make the decisions. I must say that this isn't all down to the contractor - we as the customer didn't take due diligence - we appointed someone who didn't have the skills to carry out the work - I must say though, that I did warn of this happening, but my warnings were net headed. We didn't specify any tolerances, didn't ask for a guarantee period etc. If I have to take this square out of commission, it will be a huge blow to cricket over here as there just isn't enough venues to re-allocate the fixtures.
I don't think the dressing and seeding option will work. We are right on the coast, and with no readily available water supply for the length of the pipeline, I feel that the seed will just dessicate - we have major difficulties during renovations with germination. Also, with settlement of anywhere between 50mm and 500mm spanning across 900m2, we would be looking at an awful lot of dressing!
Mike
I find it puzzling because a considerable ammount of time has passed and the school seems to have decided that they are going to use the pitch concerned, so do they consider it's not dangerous?. Why would you need to water it it's March and April we are talking about, it would be great to think that a lack of rain would be a problem and from what you have put then it would seem that the school are going to have to get it sorted or leave it as it is, if it's not your decision then leave it to the powers that be to attend the court hearing.
I know it is no help but why did you pay the contractor?
on a positive note if you are going to lose revenue why not topsoil and turf the worst areas then cover with fleece to reduce
transpiration if this is done soon and done well it will be fine by mid April.
4 Mar 2010 by Mike
Long story Martin that I really don't want to go into too much - part of a multi million pound development, so any issues of non payment could halt the progress of the entire project. Thanks for your input though. My original question was who's responsibility is it to cancel the fixtures - is it for me to take the square out of action until further notice, or should clubs/umpires/teachers be saying that the surface is unsafe, and therefore refuse to proceed with any matches. Effectively, I don't want to put my behind on the line for someone else's errors.
4 Mar 2010 by Vic Demain Last edited 4 Mar 2010
Mike, as I read it you have but one option. Doing nothing for even another week is not going to help. You need to do the job - somehow - otherwise the pitch can't be used for anything.
Hopefully a nice contractor will read this thread and offer to help you as a good will gesture.
If not, dig out some topsoil from somewhere, fill it and either turf or seed as finances allow.
Get cricket on and you win, start cancelling games and there will only be one loser I'm afraid.
Good luck.
Edit as our posts crossed.
Think you need to take your line manager out there for an inspection Mike and talk him/her through the issues raised and the financial situation as well as the H&S implications. You than have pointed out your concerns, maybe even get them minuted, if the employers then decide to go ahead without putting the matter right, it is not your neck on the line.
OK, I'd suggest that you either say that the entire square is out of action or do some emergency work.
If YOU think that it is unsafe then it is YOUR duty to bring this to the attention of your employers. The umpires on the day could turn around and say that they won't allow the game to go ahead - that's their right - and if they did that then it would be embarrassing.
Personally, unless you're already going down the route of legal action which might forbid remedial work, I'd rip of any grass coverage, integrate some top soil and make it reasonably level, reseed that area (or even re-instate the ripped off grass) then water it in.
7 weeks is plenty to get a smallish area of an outfield established enough so that games can go ahead.
Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.
4 Mar 2010 by Mike
OK - thanks Vic/Jon
Mike, who organised the laying of the drain and commisioned the contractor to do the work? Bursar, development director, estates manager?
I would bat this straight back to them, tell them that unless it is resolved to your satisfaction then you will have no option but to take the square out of play, but make sure you get your ( if you have one) director of sport on your side, get him to battle from an academic / sport perspective, and also get your cricket coach / master in charge of cricket in the loop if they arent already.
we had a similar issue here in September last year, PM me if you want more info.
4 Mar 2010 by Mike
Vic - I think that was the answer that I was looking for. I have had the powers that be out there, but only informally - repeating this and having minutes taken would appear to be the best option I have, at least if things go pear shaped then, I have some proof that I have done everything that I could.
Mike
How did you get cricket on last year Mike ?
4 Mar 2010 by Mike
The pipleline was laid from either end of the field up to the cricket boundary until the season finished - the pipeline was finished once the playing season was over.
4 Mar 2010 by mackay
If you do take action on the turf then engage a decent contractor who specialises in grounds construction. Be prepared to have to remove some of the existing backfill and replace with dry stuff if it is too wet to firm up. If you want to be able to guarantee play then use a 40mm cut turf (I would use Lindum turf personally). I wouldn't want to be using seed on this at this time of the year - at least around the square. This does carry cost implications but it would ensure play could go ahead. You could try using thinner turf, but in such a high pressure area near the square (in the last few metres of the bowlers run up) it probably wouldn't stand the battering (even if you had four or five weeks to grow it in).
4 Mar 2010 by Mike Last edited 4 Mar 2010
Mackay - these were pretty much my exact recommendations which I made early in January. I identified Turftrax as the company to consult on the subject, draw up a programme of works and to oversee the re-establishment of the area. The initial suggestion was to excavate to 24", proof roll to identify any air pockets (trench was backfilled with wet soil, hence the settlement which is now evident), possibly rip the remaining soil, backfill properly and lay thick cut turf. That seems to have fallen by the wayside however as nothing has done to proceed with the process of rectifying the situation, hence my asking what to do next, as I feel that the window of opportunity to have such remedial works take place before the seasons start has passed us by. I am meeting with the relevant parties in two weeks, which will only leave us with 5 weeks for any remedial works - I can't see that any of the consultants or reputable contractors could complete this sort of turn around in 5 weeks... although I may be wrong.
7 Mar 2010 by vid
Mike, I havent got time to read all of this so I might be repeating someone else - if so sorry!! ignore me. As a groundsman you need to be seen to be doing the best for your employer. If the contractor has left a mess but is still on site then the school needs to give you permission to attempt to put it right. With that will come a budget from you to do so. It is for the school then to approve the work because this may absolve the contractor of responsibility.
The responsibility is for you to advise the school to the best of your ability as to the condition and playability of the pitch and what is needed to put it right. It is not for you to take the decision to take it out of play - that is for the staff and school to decide in the full knowledge of your written advice. Mike - try not to get too personally involved - inform the right people, ask for a decision then take action to satisfy that decision - make sure the school has all the facts but make sure that they know they need to make a decision. After all that, advise carefully on the safety of the situation and the playability of the pitch - it may not be possible to make it playable in the time span. If you have done all of that you will not need to take this responsibility on - it really is the schools decision not yours.
7 Mar 2010 by Mike
Thanks for your input Vid. through a combination of jl's, Vic's, Mackay's and Neil's advice, and subsequently, your input, I think I have the answer.
I compiled a report and made my recommendations on how best to have the problem solved - effectively, it was put back onto the decision makers shoulders back in Jan. Since then, nothing has happened, and I haven't been given permission to proceed with any works to rectify the situation - this is where things stand today. I am getting anxious as fixtures have been booked, and school fixtures are being compiled now. It seems that the best way forward is to 'remind' people of the impending problem, and hope that they make a decision to allow me to sort the area out, or failing that, recommend that the area be taken out of play until safe. I think part of it is just me - I don't like to see people sitting back when there is a problem on the horizon.
Mike
Mike, you are right to keep it at the forefront of all involved, all too often issues get swallowed up by other things and is often left to some poor sod to resolve it all, usually at the last minute and usually the groundsman!!!!!
7 Mar 2010 by vid
Sounds like you are in a good position Mike and I dare say they know only too well that you do care about it. Keep on pushing - especially the PE staff - and dont be tempted to take things in to your own hands. Theres a lot of satisfaction in being able to say I did all that I could and vrtually none in I told you so!!
7 Mar 2010 by Mike
Wise words Vid... cheers mate!
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