Transcript Historical Minute Book 1977 to 1993 - Ashdown Forest

7. TO CONSIDER THE ISSUE OF LICENCES FOR MAKING UP ROADWAYS OVER THE
FOREST
(1) Hillside Cottage, Coleman Hatch -approved.
(2) Camphill Cottage, Duddleswell - approved.
(3) Crabtree Farm, Crowborough - not approved.
b. A request to tarmac part of the Forest track between the A22 and Balfour Gardens was granted.
8. SUNDRY MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA
a. Mounted Ranger. The Superintendent reminded the Conservators that when they had considered the idea of
having a horse and instituting mounted ranger patrols, the idea had been favourably considered but had been
shelved on two counts, The Conservators had no field or stables, and the time was inappropriate to ask the County
Council for an increased budget to pay for winter keep, etc. The Superintendent had recently received an offer by a
local resident to loan, for an indefinite period, stables and a six acre paddock, and to provide £100 annually
towards the cost of winter keep. Should the Conservators approve the principle of having a mounted ranger, the
Friends of Ashdown Forest could be approached with a request to purchase the horse.
A committee consisting of the Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Mr. Glover and Mr. Logan was appointed to study the
problem and report back to the next Conservators meeting.
b. 1978/79 Estimates. The East Sussex County Council had approved the estimates for the next financial year. This
included the employment of a fourth ranger, provided that the Conservators continued to pun a Job Creation
Project.
c. Job Creation Project. The present scheme, which had been due to end on 31st March, had now been extended
until 28th April. Approval was being sought for a Project Based Work Experience Team to be employed during the
summer, principally on the reconstruction of car parks.
d. Information Caravan. An offer had been received from Mrs. Kirk, of Little Foxes, Duddleswell, to help run the
Information Services. The Superintendent had discussed the proposal, and it was hoped that Mrs. Kirk, and
possibly other volunteers, would be helping the Rangers before long.
e. Forthcoming Prosecutions. The Police had decided not to proceed with a prosecution re. taking a deer off the
Forest.
A prosecution was pending for a breach of the Bye-laws for flying a model aircraft by an unauthorised person, and
from an unauthorised part of the Forest.
f. Oil Survey. The survey being undertaken by CONOCO had been completed. Minimal damage had been caused
for which £30 had been paid in compensation, together with a fee of £130. The Lord of the Manor had generously
agreed that this fee should be paid to the Conservators. He had stated this should not be taken as a precedent for
any fees which might be payable for similar operations.
g. Restrictions on horse riding and the use of car parks. The Superintendent reported that during the recent spell of
wet weather the condition of the Forest had become unduly waterlogged. He had, with the agreement of the
Chairman, stopped the Riding Schools from using the Forest for a period of seven days, instructed the Old Surrey
& Burstow hunt to cancel hunting on the Forest, and had closed twenty of the worst affected car parks. With the
return of comparatively dryer weather the restrictions had been lifted.
h. Voting by Commoners in the Election of Conservators. The Ashdown Forest Act 1974 makes provision for a
system of proxy voting for commoners unable to attend the A.G.M. It was apparent that the majority of
commoners did not understand the difference between proxy and postal voting, and at the A.G.M. held on 10 th the
commoners present had set up a committee, consisting of the five elected Conservators, to study the possibility of
a change to Postal Voting. Any such change would need the approval of the Conservators. If the Conservators
approved the change the East Sussex County Council could be asked to include an amendment to the Ashdown
Forest Act 1974 in legislation which they are promoting this year. The County Council would wish to be assured
that the commoners approved the change, and that it was unlikely to generate concerted opposition. In view of the