Site info & safety
Site info & safety
1. General information about the site
2. Access and egress
3. The Quarry
4. Camping
5. Children & dogs
6. On site facilities
7. Vehicle wash-down & Mud on the road!
8. Vehicle maintenance
9. Emergency arrangements
10. Raffle
11. Official photographs
This
years event is held on a former WW11 airfield, now owned by Ford Motor Co. Until
recently, much of the site was used by Ford motor sport for product development,
and there is still visual evidence of this. We do not have access to these
tracks, no matter how appealing they look…
The
site is on a large sand and gravel seam that is being progressively extracted by
Hanson. Areas of the airfield are signed over to Hanson for extraction and
subsequent back fill, and it is these areas that we have access to for our
event. The rest of the green areas are leased to local farms, and are either
actively farmed or are designated as set aside land – obviously, we don’t
have access to this space.
The
exception to this is the Police Air Support Unit, and Essex Air Ambulance which
are based on the site. We definitely do not have access to these areas either!
So,
apart from following the access route to the entrance gate, it is important for
us all to stay within the area designated for our use. Straying off into areas
that are we are not permitted to use could cost the club the future use of the
site!
The access route across the site from the gate marked on the map has been specifically negotiated – It will be marked with A3 sized arrows. Please stick to the designated route at all times. The route crosses the Police ASU runway; before crossing you MUST check above you as well as for aircraft on the ground. If an aircraft is approaching you MUST wait back from the runway until the road is clear. Headlamps, if used, must be dipped.
If
a helicopter is on the ground with it’s rotor spinning, you are NOT
permitted to cross the runway.
The access routes have a general 20mph speed limit, and the camp site has a nominal 5mph speed limit in force at all times.
Hanson
have a large processing plant at the opposite end of the site from the event.
This is beyond gates which will be closed for the whole weekend. Throughout the
weekend there will be activity on-going in the plant area as changes are being
made to the main plant equipment. This area is strictly out of bounds.
The
only plant that will be left in the quarry will be the conveyor belt and
associated workings. Nobody is allowed to interfere with this in any way –
that includes leaning against it, sitting children on it, climbing over/under
it. Anybody found breaking this rule will be removed from site.
Hanson have explicitly set out that damage to the conveyor may cost the club,
and the 4x4 scene generally, access to their quarries in the future. Please keep
children away from the conveyor!
There
is a large man made pond and silt trap on the site – these are deep. Make sure
you, and any children in your care, are aware of where these are and make sure
everybody stays well away from them.
The
perimeter of the quarry has near vertical excavation faces that are 6 – 10m in
places (18 to 30 ft in old money). Please make sure you know what is the other
side a small bank you or your children are climbing.
Because
we are camping adjacent to an operational air support unit floodlights need to
be positioned carefully. ALL floodlights must be positioned such that they point
downwards at all times. This includes lights you are using when fixing vehicles
in the evening. Flood lights pointing skyward present a significant hazard to
night operations for the ASU. Please
do not be offended if a marshal asks you to re-position a light.
A
water standpipe is provided for drinking water and will be signposted on site
– this has low pressure, so it would be best if you can arrive with some water
on board for use for the first night. Water for toilet flushes etc must only be
taken from the water bowser near the mobile toilet units. There is a free
standing tank for your elsan disposal adjacent to the toilet units – please
wash down any spillages to keep the area reasonably pleasant to use.
A skip has been provided, please use it and leave the site clean and tidy because we would like to come back again. There are separate bins for recycling plastic bottles, cans and bottles – please be environmentally aware and recycle what you can. Broken vehicle parts may be put in the skip, but no oils/fluids or tyres.
5.
Children & dogs
Children
and dogs are a part of the club and it wouldn’t be the same without them.
Please keep them under control and under supervision in the competitive areas.
We ask that children of all ages wear a hi-vi vest when in the
competitive areas (we have some you can borrow in the admin area) so that
marshals and competitors can see them when they wander off.
6.
On site facilities
‘Truly
Scrumptious’ caterers will be on site throughout the weekend providing very
tasty fare at more than reasonable prices. They will be based close to the main
administration area – so call in and get a nice cup of tea & fresh cake.
A
marquee will be set up from Thursday to Monday. There is no bar, but we
might arrange some evening entertainment and there will be a large bar-be-que
fired up, so bring your meat and something to share on the table (salads or the
like) and bring a beer & have a chat.
7.
Vehicle wash-down & Mud on the road!
We
have not provided a specific wash down area, you are free to wash off vehicles
wherever you want to, but please be considerate of others on site.
If
you have muddy wheels, please knock off as mush as you can before driving across
the site to the road. When all said and done, use common sense!
8.
Vehicle maintenance
We
hope that you won’t need to do much of this through the weekend, but in case
you do, put a ground sheet down to catch anything, clear up afterwards and
don’t make too much noise in the evenings, and none after 11.00pm.
9.
Emergency arrangements
First
aid equipment is available at the admin area. There will be an ambulance unit on
site for the comp safari on Monday only.
If
you need to summon emergency services, make sure to advise a marshal so that a
marshal can be dispatched to ensure the gate is opened for them. The emergency
services have been advised of the event and a RVP agreed – give details to the
operator as ‘Essex Land Rover Club at the Police Air Support Unit base’
10.
Raffle
There
will be a raffle at the event raising funds for the Essex Air Ambulance who are
based on site – please be generous in your support for them.
11.
Official photographs
Ralph Coulson of BosunCam will taking photos all weekend of all the events. At the end of the day these will be available for viewing, and ordering copies of at the central marquee. After the event, a selection of the photos will be available to view on-line at the BosunCam website, linked from the ELRC homepage. www.essexlandroverclub.co.uk
Please note – the site speed limit in the camping area
and car park is 5mph. People, especially children, have right of way at all
times!
If you need any assistance over the weekend and
cannot track down a marshal or a radio to call a marshal, call Karl Reilly on
07976 800416.