Transcript Historical Minute Book 1913 to 1923 - Ashdown Forest

General Account £104:17:102nd Ranger Account £49:8:9Protection and Improvement Fund £65:2:4Forest Row house refuseThe Clerk reports that immediately after the last meeting he wrote to the Clerk to the East Grinstead R.D.C. withregard to the removal of house refuse at Forest Row in accordance with the Resolution passed at that Meeting andas yet has merely received an acknowledgment of his letterThe Chairman points out that from the newspaper report of a meeting of the East Grinstead R.D.C. held since thelast letter written by the Clerk to the Conservators it would appear that the Council has resolved not to alter theirdecision.Mr. Freshfield states that the Conservators are constantly receiving complaints from Commoners of the defacementof the Forest by the deposit of refuse which the Conservator’s Officers have to remove and that in some parts oftheir District he believes the Council undertake the scavenging.It is Resolved that in the event of a satisfactory reply not being received within the two months mentioned in theClerk’s letter, the matter be brought before the Local Government Board the communication to that Board to befirst approved by the Forest Row Committee.School site near the RidgeThe Clerk reports that since the last meeting Mr. Husey-Hunt has forwarded him a copy of a letter dated 30thJanuary last which he received from the Clerk to the County Council, who stated that he had communicated withthe Board of Education, who referred him to the Board of Agriculture, who replied to the Clerk of the CountyCouncil as follows:-“Regard being had to Section 36 of the Commons Act 1876 the only mode of acquiring a part of the regulatedCommon to which you refer would appear to be by Special Act of Parliament or under Section 20 of theElementary Education Act 1870, by the procedure laid down in Sections 99–107 of the Land Clauses ConsolidationAct 1845, which I am to point out involves the purchase of the rights of common as well as the Lord’s rights in thesoil.”The Clerk to the County Council adds that the procedure under the Elementary Act 1870 requires a ProvisionalOrder confirmed by Act of Parliament, which means the giving of notices in October and November.Ladies Golf Club proposed extensionThe Clerk reports that on the 26th February last he received an application on behalf of the Ladies Golf Club forpermission to make (1) a new Tee below and behind the present ones to the 4th hole; (2) a new 5th Green towardsthe present 6th Tees; giving up the present green in front of Mr. Frost’s, (3) a new Tee in the rough ground nearerthe Cricket ground for a short shot on the 6th Green (4) a new green from the 7th above and beyond the presentgreen keeping the latter for putting competitions and (5) a new Tee to the 9th to the right of the present tees, thelast being the least important, though it would be a better drive on Medal days.The Forest Row Committee present the following report which is read and it is Resolved that it be received andentered on the Minutes namely:-The Committee refer to Ranger Brown’s reports as to furze cutting and Reed’s case.They have to point out that a very considerable area has been protected from fires by lane cutting at a relativelysmall probable cost to the Board.They would call attention to the danger caused by the road authorities leaving loose cut gorse mixed with thegrowing gorse.13Ashdown Forest Historical Minute Book