Transcript Historical Minute Book 1977 to 1993 - Ashdown Forest

MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE CONSERVATORS OF ASHDOWN FOREST
HELD AT THE VILLAGE HALL, FOREST ROW, ON WEDNESDAY 15th MARCH 1978 at 2.30 P.M.
PRESENT: Brigadier L.M. Scott (in the Chair), Mrs. C.M. Maudsley, Miss B. Willard, Hon. C.A.S. Grimston,
Messrs. R.G. Edwardes-Jones, E.W. Ellison, J. Gent, R.J. Glover, M.G. Hall, D.L. Kavanagh, F. Kennard, J.A.A.S.
Logan, M.G. Taylor, A.L.H. White
1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Mr. L.C. Hardy and Mr. A.J. Miller
The Chairman opened the meeting by welcoming Mr. Kennard as a new Conservator elected in place of the late
Mr. Balfour-Smith.
2. MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on the 11th January 1978, which had been previously circulated, were approved
and signed by the Chairman.
3. MATTERS ARISING
a. Roadway - Misbourne Farm. The Superintendent reported that he had taken advice from the County Council and
had been advised that the Conservators could, if they wished, issue a conditional Riding Permit which would limit
the use made of the roadway. This would, however, be difficult to enforce.
Miss Willard reported that at present there was a sign reading "road closed".
It was agreed that no further action should he taken for the time being.
b. Old Surrey & Burstow Hunt. The Superintendent reported that the Hunt had doubled their donation to £100
this year.
c. Plawhatch Hall - Riding Permit. The Superintendent reported that Mr. Winter had not made any reply to his
suggestion of a meeting to try and resolve the problem. At the present time horses from the stables were not using
the Forest, but it was anticipated that they would wish to do so as soon as the weather improved. Plawhatch Hall
had three horses stabled at present, although the original request was for a licence for six horses. It was agreed that
Mr. Winter should be reminded that the matter had not been resolved, and that if he required any form of riding
permit he must put his proposals to the Superintendent.
d. It was agreed that a Special Meeting of the Conservators would be held on Tuesday 11th April to consider
Heathland Management and the general distribution of Heathland and Woodland areas on the Forest.
e. Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club. The Chairman reported on a meeting held with representatives of the Golf
Club, the minutes of which had been circulated. The Superintendent stated that he had received a list of chemicals
which the Club would like to use, and had forwarded it to the Nature Conservancy Council and the Royal Society
for the Protection of Birds for their observations.
It was agreed that the minutes of the meeting be adopted.
4. REPORT ON THE ELECTION OF NEW CONSERVATORS
The Sperintendent reported that at the Commoners Annual General Meeting held on 10th March, Mr. F. Kennard
had been elected to serve as a Conservator for a period of one year in the place of the late Mr. C.H. Balfour-Smith,
and that Mr. G.H. Wills had been elected to serve for five years in the place of Mr. M.G. Hall who retires by
rotation on 31st March 1978.
Mr. Hall stated that he had an objection to the method of election at the Commoners Meeting. The Chairman read
a letter from Mr. Hall stating that objection, but affirmed that the election of Conservators was a matter for the
Commoners and not for the Conservators of Ashdown Forest.