I've struck Tarmac

Codework · « **on:** March 15, 2008, 22:28 »

First let me say hello, not only am I new here but to allotment ownership overall. It's been an exciting 2 months that I can only image gets better as the year progresses.

Secondly, I need your advice. I've been digging some beds in over the last 2 months since I took the plot on, and today, about 4 inches under the surface, I've hit a very neatly layed 5M X 5M section of tarmac. It looks like a path or road that runs under my plot and those either side.

What do you think I should do with it? Is it going to be safe or wise to plant on it? Build raised beds over it to create some height away from it? Dig it up? Get the council to dig it up for me? Hardstanding for an Orangery? Or just ignore it's there altogether?

Thanks for your ideas and advice.

Jim

jack russell · « **Reply #1 on:** March 15, 2008, 22:39 »

Hi, i would do a little investigating to find out why it is there, if it is just a piece of hard standing then put a shed or green house on it if it is a car park then find a new plot

Should have said, if the gypsies have done it then it is not a problem it will only be an inch or so thick

Trillium · « **Reply #2 on:** March 16, 2008, 03:43 »

If it was me, I'd be onto the allotment people asking for both an explanation of what the patch is, and an extra piece of ground/part allotment to makeup the difference. Get it while you can before the area fills up and you're stuck with less than you planned.

naturesparadise · « **Reply #3 on:** March 16, 2008, 05:11 »

id say the same get onto the allotment people and see what can be done mate

compo · « **Reply #4 on:** March 16, 2008, 07:17 »

You could have a drainage problem there eventualy, wether the council new about the tarmac before they gave you the site, who knows, but the plot sounds like its not fit for the purpose intended. 5 x 5 is a large area thats wasted. Get the council called asap so as not to have your growing season disturbed too much later on...........

Oh, and welcome!

richyrich7 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 16, 2008, 07:53 »

Morning Codework and welcome to the forums

I'd get onto the allotment society pronto, your losing about a 10th of your plot with that underneath !

shaun · « **Reply #6 on:** March 16, 2008, 09:07 »

sounds like a good base for a shed or greenhouse

Codework · « **Reply #7 on:** March 17, 2008, 11:44 »

Thanks all for the suggestions. The council are going to take a look at it today and see if they can excavate it. Fingers crossed!

compostqueen · « **Reply #8 on:** March 17, 2008, 11:45 »

well done you for getting a council response

hell would freeze over first with our council :roll:

Codework · « **Reply #9 on:** March 21, 2008, 22:07 »

Thanks for all the advice it's really paid off. Here's a quick update.

The council excavated the tarmac with a digger 1 day after I reported it to them and are now in the process of topping up the site with new top soil from another site.

Aparently they remove two flat bed transit truck loads of tarmac including some newspapers that were under it dating from 1959!

Thanks all!

Jim

Ice · « **Reply #10 on:** March 21, 2008, 22:09 »

RESULT.

Trillium · « **Reply #11 on:** March 22, 2008, 02:28 »

Those who ask, often get. Though it makes me wonder just what the tarmac's original purpose was for, especially with the newspapers around. Perhaps a WW2 base?

yanfoex · « **Reply #12 on:** March 23, 2008, 20:00 »

Hang on - the newspapers under the tarmac were dated 1959. Round these parts WW2 ended in 1945!

babe · « **Reply #13 on:** March 23, 2008, 20:11 »

Quote from: "jack russell"

if the gypsies have done it then it is not a problem it will only be an inch or so thick

hey!! i resent that comment

mikem · « **Reply #14 on:** March 23, 2008, 21:53 »

Quote from: "babe"

Quote from: "jack russell"

if the gypsies have done it then it is not a problem it will only be an inch or so thick

hey!! i resent that comment

I don't :!: :twisted:

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I've struck Tarmac

Trillium

Trillium