Transcript Historical Minute Book 1952 to 1965 - Ashdown Forest

A. The Clerk read a letter received from the County Surveyor of the East Sussex County Council seeking
permission to lay a footway up to 4 feet 6 ins. wide on the Friargate – Crowborough Road U.C. 474 at Warren
Camp St. Johns.
It was unanimously resolved permission be granted subject to a Licence for the usual acknowledgment rent.
B. The Clerk informed the Meeting that Mr. M. Taite of Braberry Hatch Chelwood Gate wished to obtain a piece
of Forest Land adjacent to his property upon which to breed mink and offered as an equivalent area a piece of land
at the South End of his property near Millbrook Stream.
It was unanimously resolved permission could not be given.
C. The Clerk read the report of the accident to Ranger day's motor cycle and informed the Meeting that he had
written to the owner of the Car that caused the damage demanding £5 this being the amount the repairs will cost.
The Clerk's action was unanimously approved.
D. The Clerk read a letter received from Messrs. Caffyn's Ltd. which stated that under their monthly Service Survey
they advised obtaining replacements, spare parts etc, for Ranger Days motor cycle which amounted to £52.15a. 0d.
This Cycle had done 33,000 miles and upon the assumption that further costs of repairs in the near future may be
incurred he had ascertained that a new machine would cost £180, less £100 allowance on the old cycle.
The Board discussed this matter at length and it was unanimously resolved to purchase a new motor cycle.
IN COMMITTEE
The wages paid to the Forest Rangers were discussed and it was unanimously resolved that they be increased by 5/-
to each as from week commencing July 25th 1955 making Ranger Day's wages £7.0.0 per week and Ranger
Conley’s wages £ 6.10.0. per week.
[signed] S.J. Marsh
A Meeting of the Conservators duly convened and held at the Village Hall, Forest Row on Wednesday 19th
October, 1955 at 2.3O p.m.
Present:- Miss M. Blount M.B.E., Mr. J. Card. Lady Dudley Gordon, Mr. W.D. Gillham, Mrs. S.M. Looker O.B.E.,
Messrs. S.J. Marsh and T.R. Mountain, Brigadier J.K. McNair C.B.E., Messrs. J.R. Owen J.P., E.W. Pye, John Rowe,
G. Warburton and A.C. Wolfson.
Apologies for absence were received from The Marquess of Abergavenny O.B.E., Messrs. A.K.L. Harvey, R.T.
Innes and W. Mitchell.
1. Minutes
The Minutes of the last meeting after one amendment had been made were confirmed and signed.
2. Matters arising from Minutes
A. Machine for Cutting Firebreaks.
The Chairman reported that at the invitation of Mr. Brooke he went to the Isle of Thorns to see one of these
machines which had been employed in maintaining a fire brook round the Estate. Unfortunately the cost of the
tractor and grass cutter and the man power required to prepare the ground before use made it impracticable for the
Board's purpose. Mr. Owen suggested that the Board should consider controlled burning. The matter was
discussed at length and it was resolved that the Rangers should make suggestions to the Chairman as to where the
burning should take place in the spring.
B. Weir Wood Water Board Pipeline.
The Clerk read reports from the Rangers and two reports from Mr. J. Mumford stating that part of this work had
been carried out satisfactorily and that part had not. The Clerk also reported that he had a conversation with Mr.
Higby of the Weir Wood Water Board that morning informing him that the outstanding work of reparation had
now been completed. The Clerk said that he would be receiving a letter to this effect the following morning and
that he would have copies of the letter made and given to the Rangers so that they could inspect the work and then
report.