Railway sleepers used as kerbs - Isn't it illegal to use old ones?

dig dug dan · Post: # 42838Post **dig dug dan** Tue Nov 03, 2009 1:35 pm

my local parish council in their wisdom has decided to go ahead with installing railway sleepers along the length of the village green, behind the existing kerb(but higher) to stop cars from driving across it.
I told them they couldn't use old ones, but they have gone ahead and done so anyway(meaning my quote was more expensive for the work!!)
I thought there was some legislation that i could throw at them about the use of old sleepers.
More to the point, is this highways approved?

cookiewales · Post: # 42840Post **cookiewales** Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:26 pm

I may be wrong but old ones are carcogenic
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcinogen and http://www.railwaysleeper.com/railway%20sleeper%20treatments.htm

and by the way, I have not gone all clever got the wife to cut and paste...... Hope this is helpful and wins you the job back.

PS You can buy new ones cheaper than old.

Cheers Cookie.

dig dug dan · Post: # 42841Post **dig dug dan** Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:31 pm

I had read that too, but what i really need to do is report it. But to who? who enforces this ec directive???

new sleepers round here are 17.99each. old ones are Â£11.

cookiewales · Post: # 42842Post **cookiewales** Tue Nov 03, 2009 4:16 pm

a call to the local rag without giving name should stir the nest up pointing out the dangers to children playing and sitting on sleepers as a concerned local

Tue Nov 03, 2009 5:09 pm

i suppose it could be dangerous while they sit there chuffing away on their spliffs and drinking "force 10 " lager
my reading of that is that it may/may not be ok for the village green
its a grey area by the look of it
LLL

darrenba · Post: # 42845Post **darrenba** Tue Nov 03, 2009 5:35 pm

It also depends on what type of railway sleepers they are. I did a job last week where the customer supplied some reclaimed railway sleepers but they were hardwood ones (fecking heavy and tough to cut) and seem to have no creosote/tar in/on them.

Post: # 42846Post **Dave_L** Tue Nov 03, 2009 6:22 pm

lutonlagerlout wrote:i suppose it could be dangerous while they sit there chuffing away on their spliffs and drinking "force 10 " lager
my reading of that is that it may/may not be ok for the village green
its a grey area by the look of it
LLL

If they are stupid enough to sit on them and get tarry arses let 'em carry on!!!!!

Edited By Dave_L on 1257272591

dig dug dan · Post: # 42863Post **dig dug dan** Wed Nov 04, 2009 6:59 pm

If they are stupid enough to sit on them and get tarry arses let 'em carry on!!!

I like that idea!

rimexboy · Post: # 42872Post **rimexboy** Wed Nov 04, 2009 9:24 pm

Hi
well i bought some sleepers of fleabay and did not know the law on them.
I was going to use them in the rear garden for raised flower beds but once i realised i could not as my mrs is a child minder and the kids use the garden, i then contacted the company i bought them of and they changed them for new ones and i just paid them the diffrence.. and i just emailed them the same link that mentioned..

Maybe it would be a good idea to point out to your local parish they should not be used in certain applications and they should contact the company that did supply them and inform them of your link.

Then if you still dont get the job atleast they will know you know what you are talking about for further jobs.

good luck

Post: # 42881Post **Tony McC** Thu Nov 05, 2009 9:29 pm

It'd be the local Environmental Elf that would deal with potentially dangerous substances in a public location. In effect, the council would have to kick the council's arse.

rab1 · Post: # 42886Post **rab1** Thu Nov 05, 2009 9:53 pm

council kicking the councils arse, now i know why my council tax is going to go up. i`m so happy they spend it wisely.

rimexboy · Post: # 42931Post **rimexboy** Sat Nov 07, 2009 2:04 pm

Tony McC wrote:It'd be the local Environmental Elf that would deal with potentially dangerous substances in a public location. In effect, the council would have to kick the council's arse.

yep its sounds good to me...

dig dug dan · Post: # 42942Post **dig dug dan** Sat Nov 07, 2009 4:50 pm

have already reported to highways who are informing the local council.
Will phone environmental health and get them on the case too!

dig dug dan · Post: # 43632Post **dig dug dan** Wed Dec 02, 2009 5:28 pm

just to bring everyine up to date:

contacted highways who are "looking into it"

Phoned local council environmental health. they said "it's a grey area" and not something they enforce. He said phone trading standards.
Phoned trading standards, and they said, nothing to do with us, phone health and safety.

Have yet to do that, but have been told by a friend who is a bod on health and saftety, that i need to contact the environment agency, as the old sleepers are a waste product and need a licence in the first instance.

Will phone them tomorrow and see what happens.

if no one is interested, then whats the point of the eec directive taht governs thier use?

dig dug dan · Post: # 43651Post **dig dug dan** Thu Dec 03, 2009 8:50 pm

contacted the environment agency. They are not interested. Try health and safety
Tried them, They are also not interested. They said try the local council.
So I have now come full circle, and have come to the conclusion that the EEC directive on the use of old sleepers is a farce as no one wants, or knows how to enforce the ruling.