Transcript Historical Minute Book 1952 to 1965 - Ashdown Forest

The Meeting was convened to consider what action should be taken against the Military Authorities for the
continual contravention of the Ashdown Forest Act 1949.
The Clerk informed the meeting that since the beginning of the year he had received from the Rangers numerous
reports regarding the Military misusing the Forest, and that on each and every occasion he had reported the
complaints to Colonel Hogge, the officer commanding Home Counties District. He had always received replies
from Colonel Hogge, who had attended to the complaints and where any damage had been done to the Forest it
had been put in order.
The majority of complaints came from the fact that several different units were parking their vehicles on the Forest
for the purposes of exercises. Colonel Hogge had promised that he would have orders issued to all units under his
command giving them particulars of the authorised roads to be used, yet these complaints continued to come in.
It was noticed that the key to the map supplied by the Military to their own units concerning the use of the Forest
and its tracks was possibly misleading and could be improved.
Colonel Clarke proposed that the General commanding the Home Counties District, in company with Colonel
Hogge, should meet the Chairman the Clerk and himself at his house in London at 1.15 p.m. on Monday 19th
instant to discuss points for over coming these difficulties. It was resolved that the Clerk should arrange for the
meeting.
S.J. Marsh.
Chairman.
[several pages missing from original book]
Litter Baskets. All baskets nave now been put on the Forest at various points where they were needed.
Londonderry Track. The new bridge erected across the stream withstood the heavy rainfalls we had last month.
Slit Trenches. Rubbish has been collected at various points on the Forest and put into these trenches, afterwards
having a layer of soil put on the top a foot thick.
RANGER CONLEY.
8A. The Forest Rangers claim for Clothing Damaged by Forest Fires.
The Chairman informed the Meeting that the Rangers had suffered hardships by their personal clothing being
damaged by sparks while fighting Forest Fires and proposed that their claims for replacements be met by the
Board.
Mr. Griffin raised the point that the Fire Insurance Policy should cover these claims.
The Chairman pointed out that no Insurance Company would cover claims of this description.
It was unanimously resolved that the Board should meet the claims of Ranger Day £7.5s.0d. and Ranger Conley
£7.0.0.
9. Finance.
Since the last Meeting the following amounts have been collected.
Rates £128.10.0.
Acknowledgments. 102.0.0.
Compensation Rents 0.9.8.
Miscellaneous Interest on Investments
Church of England Bldg. Soc. £15.0.0)40.0.0. Hastings & Thanet Bldg. Soc. £25.0.0)
Local Authorities Contributions. 267.19.6.
Cuckfield R.D.C. £66.19.11
Uckfield R.D.C. £200.19.7
Bank Accounts, showing the following balances