Transcript Historical Minute Book 1952 to 1965 - Ashdown Forest

5. Machine suitable for cutting fire breaks on the Forest.
The Clerk read a letter received from Mr. F. Mees, Chief Fire Officer East Sussex Fire Brigade enclosing details of a
machine suitable for cutting Fire Breaks on the Forest.
It was unanimously resolved that the Special Purposes Committee should meet and arrange a demonstration with a
similar machine known as the Mayfield Cutter at present used by the Manor Charitable Trust.
6. Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club ,and to consider an increase of Acknowledgement rent.
The Clerk reported that in 1931 the Golf Club had entered into an Agreement to pay the Conservators an annual
acknowledgment rent of £80.
The Conservators met the Committee of the Golf Club on the 9th October 1940 when it was agreed to reduce the
Acknowledgment rent from £80 to £60 owing to the falling off of Membership due to the War. In October 1942
the Acknowledgment rent was again reduced from £60 to £40 per annum and from that date until the present day
it had remained at £40.
The matter was discussed at length and Mr. Owen proposed that the rent now be charged at the original figure viz:-
£80.
Mr. Wolfson informed the meeting that it was only now that the Club was out of the Red for the first time since the
war and that by giving the Ladies Golf Course they were not using the same amount of Forest-Land as originally
used. On the amendment of Mrs. Looker seconded by Miss Blount it was proposed that the rent be charged back
to its original figure by easy stages over the next two years. This and a further amendment was lost and it was
decided that the rent be charged at £80 per annum as from the year commencing the 1st January 1956.
7. Weir Wood Water Board and tour of inspection of pipe line.
The Clerk reported that in company with the Chairman the Forest Rangers and two officials of the Weir Wood
Water Board he had made a tour of the pipe line and found that there were still several parts of the Forest yet to be
reinstated to its natural state. He had given the Rangers a Summary of the work that required to be done and would
again inspect the site when he received satisfactory reports from the Rangers. It was unanimously resolved to
withhold Clearance Certificate until this work had been made good.
8. RANGERS REPORTS
13th July 1955
Blind Corners
In company with Ranger Conley, I have cut undergrowth from blind corners on the Forest near Hindleap.
Military Vehicles.
Since the previous trouble that has been experienced from military vehicles parking on the Forest there has been an
improvement and necessary parking has been done on the tracks set apart for this purpose.
Advertisement Boards.
Unauthorized boards advertising various articles have been erected by different firms on the Forest at Forest
Holmes and Duddleswell. Those have all now been removed.
Gilbert Day
Forest Ranger.
14th July 1955
Forest Row Lumber Company
I wish to report that this company have not yet cleaned up the mess that was made by thorn on the Forest after
removing trees from Ashdown Place.
Licence Board
Permission was granted to Dr. Silby of Water Farm, Forest Row, for a direction board to be placed on the Forest.
Stone Quarry Gillslap.
This stone quarry is being worked by KIRBY & VINTON of Nutley who have erected three strands of barbed wire
around the pit. The Office I understand is now dealing with this matter.