Transcript Historical Minute Book 1923 to 1931 - Ashdown Forest

Scouts campingAdmiral Colville reported that in the Chairman’s absence abroad he had granted an application for camping on theForest during Easter to a party of Senior Scouts under Mr. C. O’Connor on the usual terms.Forest SurveyMr. Freshfield called attention to the inaccurate and inconsistent manner in which the various parts of AshdownForest were coloured and distinguished in the maps in course of preparation by Messrs. Wood and Walford of EastGrinstead acting as local agents of the Forest Survey of England undertaken by His Majesty’s Government. He hadrecommended the Firm to communicate with Mr. Raper.R.A.F. Golf Club motor standA letter from the Secretary of the Ashdown Forest Golf Club was read declining the offer of the Board for theenlargement of the Motor Park. The Committee decided to recommend the Golf Club to submit to the nextmeeting of the Board a plan to scale showing exactly the limits of the extension they desired and how theyproposed the cars would stand.Notice Boards re refuseMr. Freshfield read letters from Mr. Follett and reported that at Mr. Follett’s request he had authorised Brown toemploy Waters to erect the posts and boards ordered by Mr. Follett.Ranger Brown reported he had seen a man named Wheatley strike purposely and break one of the posts and that hehad reported to the Clerk. The offender was to come before the Bench on the 16 th inst.Fires – future PolicyThere was some discussion as to the steps it might be desirable to take before the next fire season to rouse publicopinion in the neighbourhood against local incendiaries by propaganda and it was resolved that members of theCommittee should bring the matter before the next Board for consideration.An application by Mrs. Whitfield for a post forbidding rubbish being thrown near her house at Highgate wasreserved for further consideration.Forest Row Recreation Grounds – SeatsMr. Martin brought forward the need for seats on the Cricket ground but the Committee considered it was not thebusiness of the Board to provide them.Douglas W. FreshfieldOfficial Survey of CommonsIt is resolved that the Clerk communicate with Messrs. Wood and Walford with a view to ensuring that the officialboundaries of the Forest be accurately defined in the Survey.R.A.F. Golf Club stand for MotorsThe Clerk produces an amended application received from the R.A.F. Golf Club with plan for the enlargement ofthe area of the Motor stand received since the above report of the Forest Row Committee and after consideration itis resolved that it be referred to the Forest Row Committee with power to act and that the Clerk do what isnecessary to give effect to their decision.Sydney Wheatley convicted for damaging noticeThe Clerk reports that Sydney Wheatley was convicted at the Petty Sessions at East Grinstead on the 16 th instant ofa breach of Bye Law 13 A for damaging one of the Conservators’ Notice Boards and was fined £ 1 with £ 1:1:0costs.Additional notice board, re refuse new Bye Law Board etc.It is resolved that the Forest Row Committee be authorised to order and have fixed a notice board prohibitingdeposit of refuse on the Forest at Highbeech and a new Bye Law Board near the Goat and to do any necessaryrepairs to other Bye Law Boards in their District the cost thereof to be paid out of the Protection and ImprovementFund.Barrier against gipsies at Pound Gate – Protection and Improvement FundThe Maresfield Committee report that gipsies having recommenced camping near Pound Gate School owing to thedestruction of the barrier constructed along the roadside some years ago, they caused a new posts iron bar and