Land Suitability Query - Northumbria

[DDMS]

Hello everyone im wondering if anyone can offer some advice.

I have just acquired two small permissions, a 10 acre rural cricket club, and a 25 acre stables. Both are within Northumberland and are fairly local to me which is a bonus. The problem i'm having is with my closed ticket, which has caused me to lose a third permission to someone else.

I have emailed off to my FEO to confirm the land is cleared for my .17hmr, .22lr and .243 for pest and vermin. The cricket club and stables both are over run with rabbits. The grounds man at the cricket club wants the rabbits clearing as they are costing the club a fortune to keep the pitch repaired, and the stables are concerned about horses being injured.

The reply ive had from my FEO is this:

"
Further to the below email you we need the permission slips for all three pieces of land, they need to detail who has given you the permission and have contact details for those persons. The permissions will also need to detail what vermin/quarry you have permission to shoot and using what calibres.



Once we have all of those we’ll look to see if the land is already on our systems. If the land is not on our systems we will do some “virtual” enquiries to establish if we feel the land is suitable or not. If our enquiries are inconclusive we may need to physically check the land and may ask you to be present for this check so that we can understand where your firing points are etc.



Collate all of the above information and send it as one document with attachments and we’ll deal with it from there"

Now i know i have hoops to jump through with a closed ticket but this seems a bit much doesn't it? This delay has already cost me a potential third permission with a fox problem, as another guy with an open ticket has gotten straight in.

Is there anything i can do to speed this process up? I'm happy that i have safe backstops etc and would be more than happy to shoot here.

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Mike L]

By the time you wrote this post you could have collated the permissions paperwork scanned it and sent it off!!!!
Paperwork is always a pain but these days is a necessary evil, if it helpsyou can photograph the paperwork and send it it, my FEO accepts jpegs.

 

[75]

Sounds reasonable to me. They need to confirm you actually have permission to shoot there before doing land checks (otherwise you could just chose some random bits of land, ask to check if it's cleared and then once you've gone through this process loads of times, ask them for an open ticket).

The other option, of course, is just to ask for an open ticket - depends on how long you've had your FAC.

 

[Rusty Gate]

Perfectly normal. Any permission you gain you need it in writing to back you up legally should your insurance require it one day or roadside stop. Once signed its just forwarding a copy to the FEO for their records, shows use & responsibility toward an open ticket in the future.
I include a google map & detail risks I've noted..... public foot paths, bridalways. Sometimes find substations or dwellings obscured by bushes etc. Any info you can pass on including suitable back stop etc can only be positive

 

[CarlW]

As above, your bit of the process is easy: send them an email with a couple of attachments.

 

[Tf223]

Have some forms in the car, when you get offered it, get the forms done there and then to avoid the need to go back to the owner (less hassle for you and them).

It’s a pain to start, but when you’ve added a few bits ask for an open ticket. I got to the stage that the feo has spoken to me a few times (was happy that I could make suitable judgements on land and shots) and would otherwise have had to spend a whole morning with me traipsing around new different parcels of land - they soon opened it up

 

[DDMS]

Thanks for very much for the responses. Two of the lads I’ve shot with had said this was excessive. Just thought I’d get a few other opinions.

I’ve already had the paperwork signed and will send it off today. I just wasn’t aware that everytime I got a new permission I had to send it in to firearms.

 

[CarlW]

Thanks for very much for the responses. Two of the lads I’ve shot with had said this was excessive. Just thought I’d get a few other opinions.

I’ve already had the paperwork signed and will send it off today. I just wasn’t aware that everytime I got a new permission I had to send it in to firearms.

None of it will be necessary once your certificate is opened up.

In Scotland, they (sensibly) open them from the beginning, choosing to validate shooters rather than land.

 

[VSS]

Thanks for very much for the responses. Two of the lads I’ve shot with had said this was excessive. Just thought I’d get a few other opinions.

I’ve already had the paperwork signed and will send it off today. I just wasn’t aware that everytime I got a new permission I had to send it in to firearms.

You don't have to do this every time. Only if the land hasn't already been cleared (which you may be able to find out from the landowner or previous sporting tenant without contacting police for a check) or until you get an open ticket.

 

[bullet chucker]

In the mean time get on there with your pellet gun, and take out the easy bunnies. Or shot gun, but NOT near the stables.

BC.

 

[75]

I just wasn’t aware that everytime I got a new permission I had to send it in to firearms.

You don't. They're only asking for it as you asked if the land was cleared.

Edit: VSS beat me to it!

 

[User00040]

My god is it like this for every county in England?

If so I'm never going south to live or work.

Ridiculous, does the FEO want you to give them a ring each time before you head out?

If you were to go through all this in Scotland (well, in the Highlands anyway) the licensing team would say they actually have real work to do, no time for fannying about.

Sounds like a lot of licensing departments in England are on a cushy job drinking tea eating biscuits and writing emails, responding to inquiries with yes, no, maybe or on Fridays call me again next week and see how I feel about it!

 

[Highfield]

doesnt sound unreasonable to me but why dont you just ask to have the closed condition removed?

 

[JMikeyH]

I keep a couple of these in the motor, easy to sign and send off and it works for Warwickshire/TVP



Agreement of Permission

I hereby give XXX permission to use legally held firearms to control wildlife at the below address for the purposes of crop protection, preventing the spread of disease, conservation and balancing of the local habitat.

I reserve the right to revoke this permission at any time for any reason.

Signed,





Address of Permission:
XXXX

 

[JMikeyH]

doesnt sound unreasonable to me but why dont you just ask to have the closed condition removed?

I recently asked my FEO, I needed to have kept a shooting diary and have proof of shooting such as ammo receipts etc. It's a fair amount of hassle to keep a shooting diary. I would rather wait till first renewal than keep a diary

 

[Highfield]

I recently asked my FEO, I needed to have kept a shooting diary and have proof of shooting such as ammo receipts etc. It's a fair amount of hassle to keep a shooting diary. I would rather wait till first renewal than keep a diary

oh dear. another FEO that has been on a creative writing course

 

[tom308w]

dcd ask northumbria to open your ticket they should do that no problem.i have been with northumbria for years never had a problem mate

 

[DDMS]

dcd ask northumbria to open your ticket they should do that no problem.i have been with northumbria for years never had a problem mate

I havent asked as I’ve only had my ticket for less than a year this time round. Although I’ve just been offered another 200 acres to clear the rabbits so might be worth a shout.

 

[Sonicdmb73]

If you want to speed up the process make it easier for them.
Do a method statement and risk assessment.
Get a copy of the map and mark up safe angles etc. Any unsafe areas should be highlighted too. Then tell them briefly how you will tackle each quarry on the permissions.
Now don’t get me wrong I don’t like the Bull that they come out with and I really don’t want to make life harder for the rest of us.
But if you make it a quick tick box exercise for them it will be quicker than them doing the work they are paid for.

 

[DDMS]

If you want to speed up the process make it easier for them.
Do a method statement and risk assessment.
Get a copy of the map and mark up safe angles etc. Any unsafe areas should be highlighted too. Then tell them briefly how you will tackle each quarry on the permissions.
Now don’t get me wrong I don’t like the Bull that they come out with and I really don’t want to make life harder for the rest of us.
But if you make it a quick tick box exercise for them it will be quicker than them doing the work they are paid for.

Thanks very much. Will take that on board.