Transcript Historical Minute Book 1913 to 1923 - Ashdown Forest

Forest Row house refuseThe Clerk reports that he this morning received a letter from the Local Government Board, enclosing a copy of aletter which they addressed to the East Grinstead Rural District Council on the 28th January last expressing regretthat the Council had not decided to adopt bye laws with regard to the removal of house refuse and the cleansing ofearth closets, ash pits etc. in the Parish of Forest Row, and pointing out that as the accumulation of refuse in thevicinity of dwellings tends to produce conditions that are detrimental to the public health, the Board consider it amatter of considerable importance that the removal and disposal of refuse should be carefully regulated, that at thepresent time the removal and disposal of refuse at Forest Row is not apparently, in any way controlled or regulatedby Local Authority, and urging the Council to re-consider their decision with regard to the adoption of bye-lawsand to inform the Board of the results. The Local Government Board in their covering letter to the Clerk pointedout they have no power to compel the Council to adopt Bye Laws on the subject.Camp at Forest Row creation ofThe Clerk reports that in pursuance of the Resolution passed at the last meeting, the Chairman and Mr. Freshfielddrew up a memorandum with reference to the location of the huts, latrines etc. at the Forest Row Camp, which theClerk reads, and he reports that a copy of the memorandum was on the 15th January last forwarded by him with acovering letter to each of the following, namely; (1) The Secretary for War (2) The general commanding the 2ndArmy Central Force at Tunbridge Wills, and (3) The Officer commanding the Military Camp at Forest Row.The Clerk further reports that he received a letter dated 3rd instant from the General Officer commanding the 2ndArmy Central Force acknowledging receipts of the memorandum and stating that a copy of it had also beenforwarded to him by the War Office and that his report will accordingly reach the Clerk through the same channel.Mr. Freshfield supplements the memorandum with a very clear statement as to the position.It is Resolved that the Board do approve the memorandum and tender their thanks to the Chairman and Mr.Freshfield for the great care and trouble they have taken in drawing it up.Forest Row camp sanitationThe Clerk reports that as directed at the last meeting, he wrote to the East Grinstead Rural District Council withregard to the sanitation of the Camp at Forest Row, and received a reply from the Clerk of the Council dated 23rdJanuary last stating that the sanitary arrangements were under the control of the Military Authorities, who werereceiving assistance from the officials of the Council, but they were not in a position to report thereon at present,and later he received a letter from the Clerk to the Council dated the 19th inst. stating that the sanitaryarrangements of Military Camps are outside the jurisdiction of the Council. But that, in this particular instance themilitary authorities are working most harmoniously with the Inspector of the Council.Forest Row Committee reportTelephone CableThe Forest Row Committee report that they have considered an application from the Post Master Generalaccompanied by a plan for the assent of the Board to the laying of two lengths of underground telephone cable (1)from a point near the Ashdown Forest Hotel at Highgate and (2) from the existing underground cable there toGreenhall and for the erection of one telegraph pole at the South East corner of Mr. Walsham’s property, andoffering to pay a yearly acknowledgement of 1/- for each; and the Committee recommend that consent be given.It is Resolved that the Board approve the recommendation and that the Clerk be and is hereby authorised to signthe necessary consent on behalf of the Board.R.A.F. Golf Club application to reduce contributionA letter is read dated 10th February instant from the Acting Captain of the R.A.F. Golf Club, stating that owing tothe War the Club is now being run at a considerable loss, asking the Board to favourably consider an appeal forsome reduction in their contribution towards the Forest expenses.41Ashdown Forest Historical Minute Book