Plant Hire West Cumbria
Plant Hire in Maryport & West Cumbria
Excavators, dumpers, a dozer, telehandlers, crushers and tipper wagons from our yard at Flimby, just down the coast road from Maryport. Self-drive or with CPCS-carded operators, for sites right across West Cumbria.
- Plant hire since 1994
- Self-drive or CPCS-operated
- Fleet kept by our own mechanics
- CHAS member, Constructionline approved
Why hire from Ashcroft
Machines we depend on ourselves
Plant hire is where Ashcroft started. The business was set up in 1994 offering plant hire and civil engineering subcontract work, and the yard at Flimby still supplies machines to sites across West Cumbria.
The fleet we use
We run the same machines on our own demolition, groundworks and construction contracts.
Our own mechanics
The fleet is kept going by our own HGV and plant mechanics, so the machine that turns up on your job is one we rely on.
Carded operators
Tracked excavators, the dozer and the 3CX go out with CPCS operators. Dumpers and telehandlers can be operated if needed.
Local, so swaps are easy
Tell us the job and we will suggest the machine. If it turns out to be wrong, being local makes a swap far easier to arrange.
Accredited contractor. Ashcroft Plant (Cumbria) Ltd is a CHAS member and an approved Constructionline supplier (number 103246).
The fleet
What we hire
Tracked excavators
3 to 30 tonnes
Smaller machines suit drainage runs, footings and tight access; the bigger ones handle bulk earthmoving, deep drainage and demolition support.
Dumpers
1 to 9 tonnes
Straight or swivel skip.
Dozer
Liebherr 724
For topsoil strips, spreading fill and trimming formation levels.
Wheeled excavator
JCB 3CX
The usual all-rounder for trenching, loading out and general site work.
Telehandlers
5 m to 14 m reach
Self-drive, or with a CPCS operator if you would rather.
Crushers
For turning demolition hardcore into reusable aggregate on site.
Tipper wagons
Eight-wheelers
For muck-away, bulk removal and site clearance.
Flatbed wagon and trailer
13 tonne capacity
For moving materials and smaller kit.
Small tools
A good range available alongside the plant.
Machine details are also listed on our main plant hire page.
Hire terms
Self-drive or operated?
Self-drive
Works well for dumpers and smaller telehandlers on sites that already have competent people.
- Whoever drives has to be trained and competent on that type of machine.
- Most managed sites will want to see a CPCS, NPORS or equivalent card before anyone gets in the cab.
- While the machine is with you, you look after it: daily checks, fuel, security overnight and keeping it within its limits.
Operated
One of our drivers in the seat. On anything beyond a small job it is usually the better value.
- An experienced operator gets more done in a shift and is far less likely to clip a buried cable or damage the machine.
- Under the CPA Model Conditions, which much of the UK hire industry works to, a hired-in operator works under the hirer's direction.
- You still need to plan the work, provide a safe system of work and tell the operator where the services run.
We go through the hire terms with you before the job starts.
How it works
Booking plant
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Tell us the job
The site address and postcode, the type of work, any access restrictions, self-drive or operated, and roughly how long you need the machine.
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We suggest the machine
A lot of hire problems come down to the wrong size of machine, so tell us what the job is and we will suggest one.
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Price and terms
Minimum hire periods depend on the machine and the travel involved, and we confirm them when we quote.
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On site as long as needed
Hire can run from a single day to the length of a contract.
Picking the right machine
Before you ring round, it helps to know about:
- Access. Gateway widths, overhead cables, soft verges and weight limits on farm tracks or small bridges.
- Ground. Old colliery ground and made ground are common between Maryport and Whitehaven, and wet clay will bog a wheeled machine down quickly. Tracked plant spreads the load.
- Dig depth and reach. Deep drainage and chambers need a bigger excavator than the trench width suggests.
- Room to slew. Next to a building or a live road, a short tail swing machine keeps the counterweight inside the working area.
- Lifting. Lifting pipes, chambers or kerbs with an excavator, or pallets with a telehandler, is a lifting operation. It needs planning, and the machine should have a current thorough examination under LOLER. Ask to see it.
Where we hire
Plant hire across West Cumbria
Most of our hire work is within easy reach of the yard:
On larger contracts we supply plant further afield across Cumbria, the North of England and South West Scotland, often alongside our own demolition and groundworks teams.
Spoil can come back to our yard
Our tipper wagons haul inert spoil and hardcore to the recycling site near Maryport, where it is crushed and screened into aggregate. Our page on construction waste recycling explains how that works.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a ticket to drive self-drive plant?
The law requires anyone using work equipment to be trained and competent to use it. A card such as CPCS or NPORS is the usual way of showing that, and most principal contractors will not let anyone operate plant without one. If nobody on your team holds the right card, operated hire is the simpler option.
Can you supply an operator for a short job?
Yes. Our tracked excavators, dozer and 3CX go out with CPCS operators, and dumpers and telehandlers can be operated if needed. Minimum hire periods depend on the machine and the travel involved, and we confirm them when we quote.
Who is responsible for fuel and damage?
It depends on the hire terms, so read them before you sign. On self-drive hire the hirer normally refuels the machine and is responsible for loss or damage beyond fair wear and tear while it is on site, which is why many contractors carry hired-in plant insurance. On operated hire, fuel is agreed in the quote.
Do you hire tipper wagons for muck-away?
Yes. Our eight-wheel tippers are hired with drivers for muck-away, bulk removal and site clearance. Inert spoil and hardcore can go to our recycling site rather than to landfill, which often works out cheaper.
How far do you deliver?
We are based at Flimby, between Maryport and Workington, and most of our hire goes to sites in West Cumbria. We do supply further afield on longer hires and larger contracts, so it is always worth asking.
Need plant on your site?
Tell us the job, the site and how long you need the machine, and we will suggest the right plant and give you a quick, accurate price.