WGA/Channel 4 Trailer
The Wiltshire Groundsmans Association (WGA) is a member Wiltshire Cricket Ltd (WCL) and plays an integral part in ground development and maintenance throughout the county.
The role of the association is to support clubs throughout the county when it comes to pitch advice and to offer support and guidance when it comes to issues such as ground relocation or machinery funding applications.
One of the great benefits that the WGA can offer to clubs is the ECB Channel 4 Trailer that is owned by the association and is available to hire by any affiliated club in Wiltshire. The trailer consists of a scarifier, spiker, broadcast spreader, sarrel roller and loam spreader. The trailer was given to the WGA during the times of Channel 4 coverage of Test Match cricket but since this time the trailer has been added to in terms of pieces of machinery with WCL securing funding through the ECB Machinery Grant to add pieces of equipment such as the loam spreader.
WCL and WGA are very proud to have the trailer available to clubs to hire and want to see the trailer continually improved and maintained so that it remains a fantastic service for clubs. Many clubs have got great use out of the trailer over the past few years for support with autumn renovation but the WGA would like to see far more clubs make use of the trailer.
Obviously it is very important that the trailer is kept clean and is returned in the same state that it is delivered. This has been an issue in the past and so going forwards the preferred method of hire of the trailer will be with an operator who will transport it to the ground and carry out the work with the assistance of the club groundsman. This will help ensure that the kit is kept in good condition and is used correctly. Also, through using an operator it will mean that the trailer can be transported to and from a ground within one day meaning that clubs will not, for example, have the trailer for a whole weekend. This process should help the trailer to be used by more clubs as availability of dates during the peak time of the year for autumn renovation will be better.
Please note that since 2009 there has not been a weekend option for hire of the trailer. Clubs will only be permitted to have the trailer for one day unless they have two squares. The WGA will not be enforcing that clubs use an operator but would strongly urge that clubs consider this.
Rates from 2011 onwards
To hire the equipment for a full day complete with an operator will now cost £90.00 per day for hire of Trailer plus £130.00 per day for operator (£220.00), (Based on an 8 hour day and charged out at £16.25 per hour labour). Clubs undertaking this hire arrangement must provide at least one member from the hiring club to assist with the renovation works for their club’s square. If for some reason the renovation works runs into the second day, even if only a part day, then the full charge per day will be levied to the respective hiring club. Please note that the costs as set out above are inclusive of transport costs and fuel. The clubs hiring the trailer equipment on this basis Must have all of the materials, loams, seed and fertilizers on site for use on the day of the booking and must have the square suitably mown off and ready for scarifying.
Alternatively, for clubs who still wish to carry out the renovation works themselves and hire the Trailer system without the operator, will only be allowed to do this on the basis that the club’s Groundsman has been fully trained to IOG Foundation Parts A and B or as previously known as IOG Level One Parts A and B. The hiring club will also be responsible for any damage to the machinery caused by misuse etc. and will be at the discretion of the WGA secretary.
The charges levied for clubs wishing to self use are £90.00 per day for the hire of the Trailer equipment plus a transport charge of £50.00 (£140.00). Clubs will be responsible for providing their own fuel, but a cleaning charge of £25.00 will also be added should the machines be returned in an unacceptable state.
The WGA has made arrangements for two trained operatives to use and or deploy the machinery throughout the county and each operative will have a designated working area. The two operatives are Phil Mortimer and John Wilkins. All bookings must be made through the WGA secretary, George Clift (tel: 01380 813928) who will then co-ordinate/liaise with the operators and also as dual role as treasurer, will then invoice the respective club’s treasurer once the works are completed for record purposes. The committee has made a decision, that once a firm booking has been made, then payment must be made to the WGA Treasurer G Clift and cheques made payable to the Wiltshire Groundsmans Association, in advance, no later than three weeks prior to your clubs confirmed booking date.
If you have any queries regarding the new hiring system for the Channel 4 Trailer or would like more information on the service itself please do not hesitate to contact either George Clift or Pete Sykes.
