Advice & Guides

Protecting Your Property, Livestock, and Machinery  If you farm in the Midlands, you already know that rural crime is a fact of life. The good news is that the latest figures from NFU Mutual show rural crime costs falling significantly across Shropshire and Staffordshire in particular. The less encouraging news is that tractor and livestock theft […]

Automated gates make life more convenient and improve property security, but they are pieces of moving machinery that can cause serious injury if they are not properly designed, installed, and maintained. This guide explains what the safety requirements are and what you should expect from a professional installation. 

If you are looking into automated gates, you may have come across the term Gate Safe. It is worth understanding what it means, because it has a direct bearing on the safety and legality of your gate installation. 

When your caravan or motorhome is laid up for the winter months, it becomes a sitting target. Thieves know that caravans are often left unattended for weeks at a time during the off-season, and they know that many are not adequately secured. A few sensible precautions can significantly reduce the risk. 

It is one of the fundamental decisions when choosing gates, and there is no universally right answer. Both timber and metal have genuine strengths, and the best choice depends on your property, your priorities, and how much maintenance you are prepared to do. 

It is a question that comes up on almost every project, and the answer is not always straightforward. In many cases, you can install gates without planning permission under permitted development rights. But there are situations where permission is required, and getting it wrong can mean being asked to remove gates you have already paid for and installed.