Blackheath Village Society Minutes 27th May 2025

Minutes of the Meeting Held at Theobalds on Tuesday, 27th May 2025, Commencing at 7:30 pm

Present: David, Paul, Anne, Simon, Max, Andy, and Laura. Apologies: Ranald and Ralph

1. The Minutes of the Meeting Held on 10th April 2025 were approved, and no points arose.

2. Village Fair 2025:
The actual amounts are still to be finalised as some credits are still due to be paid in. We estimate a turnover of £18/19,000 with net profits forecasted to be between £8,500 and £9,000. It was agreed that this was a very successful fair with a large turnout from the local community. However, the “sum up” machines did stop for a short period of time, which probably resulted in takings being reduced by £1,500 to £2,000. Next year, we will advise “sum up” that we have a number of multiple devices being operated during the course of the May Day afternoon.

Thanks were conveyed to everyone who helped on the day, and more importantly, the fair committee for all of their hard work during the build-up and aftermath of this year's fair. There are a number of issues that need to be discussed for next year's fair by way of improvements:

a) More people need to be helping with the raffle tickets.
b) We need more food and drink stalls, including alcohol.
c) Perhaps we will ask Billy Benson to come with his fairground rides in 2026.
d) It was suggested that we have a separate stall for beef burgers and sausages.
e) To separate the Pimms tent from the beer tent.
f) To continue with the music, which was wonderful this year.
g) We clearly need more stallholders for the afternoon.

Dave will advise Paul of any prizes that need to be distributed to the winners on the various stalls. Paul will purchase some gift vouchers and distribute them accordingly.

It was agreed that we would ask residents of Blackheath who would like to form a new finance committee to distribute any funds for either charitable or community projects. There are certain elements that we have to pay for and these are as follows, with suggested amounts for each:
The Abbey £500
Wonersh and Shamley Green School £500
Wonersh Scouts £100
Cricket Club £500
Village Hall £500
St Martin's Church £200

This will leave the finance committee with approximately £2,000 that can be distributed for local causes and Paul will send an email out to the residents asking for volunteers

3. Accounts for Year Ending 2024:
Anne presented the accounts for the 12-month period, which will be finalised and agreed at this year's AGM. As a result of our discussions, a few adjustments and updates were made, but the bottom line remains unchanged.
Our current account presently is credited to the sum of £25,908.22 (26th May 2025) but there are significant expenses to be paid as a result of the fair.

4. Summer BBQ:
It was agreed that this would be held on Monday, 25th August 2025 and will be on a donations only basis with suggested amounts of £10 per family and £5 for guests.

We will have the usual attractions of the tug of war, and we will ask the Haywards if they will arrange the children's games as before. Hopefully, Ralph will provide music during the course of the afternoon, and Ranald is available for cooking duties. Andy will make enquiries about providing the village with two lambs from his in-laws, and will again ask the residents to bring salads and desserts to the event as “rules of entry”:

We intend to hold the event at the cricket club, and Simon will formally ask Nick if it is available with the bar open, and all profits of the bar will be for the benefit of the cricket club.

4. The Villagers (Volunteer) Public House:
We have been notified by Waverley Borough Council that application WA/2024/00149 is being determined for a second time by Waverley Borough Council following the Judicial Review and quashing of Waverley’s original decision.

David provided an explanation and a history of the public house to Andy as a new member of the Committee, and Paul will be submitting the thoughts of the BVS subcommittee on Waverley’s planning portal as part of this process.

We are still very positive and ambitious to open the pub/cafe based on the successful operation of “Pull and Pour”, which operates a couple of days a week in the adjacent car park.

5. Annual General Meeting:
It has been difficult to obtain an evening at the village hall during the months of June and July as it is fully booked. It was therefore agreed that Paul would speak to Jane Hayward at the village hall to seek a date in September 2025 for this year's meeting.

6. Wonersh Parish Council:
Max confirmed that the AGM was held on 22nd May 2025, and he was the only representative of Blackheath at the meeting.

Barnett Hill fields and Healey Woods have been purchased and renovated, which has proved to be very successful. Gerald's Wood is also being cleared along the pathway with local volunteers in Shamley Green helping. The BVS would like to thank the Parish Council for contributing £500 to this year's village fair, and they have also suggested helping to finance a small village play area for children, if this is something that we progress in the village.

A sum of approximately £1,000,000 has been raised to refurbish Arbuthnot Hall, and there is still more money to be raised over the next 12 months.

Surrey County Council are considering 20 mph speed limits in the local area, and this is also likely to affect Blackheath village sometime in the future, and Max will keep us updated accordingly.

7. Village Hall:
Simon explained that Graham Hayward was concerned that the condition of the village hall after this year's village fair was unsatisfactory. However, we did employ a professional cleaner and Laura confirmed that Jane Hayward was quite happy with its condition after the event.

Paul will also forward Simon the plan and lease agreement with the area used for parking along Blackheath Lane adjacent to the village hall to ensure that everybody understands whose responsibility the strip of land is.

8. Cricket Club:
No comments were received in conjunction with this item.

9. Any Other Business:
a) It was confirmed that Billie's birthday party will be held on 31st May 20235 at 4:00 pm, organised by Jan Cope and others.
Jane Barlow has collected a number of photographs which can be displayed on the television in the cricket club during the course of the event.

b) It was agreed that we should put together a welcome pack for new residents of Blackheath. Paul will send the old package that was used and requires updating to Simon, who will organise a more up-to-date version.

10. Next Meeting:
It was agreed that the next meeting will be held at 7:30 pm on Monday, 14th July 2025 at Theobalds.

The meeting ended at 10:00 pm.
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Blackheath Village Society
http://www.blackheathsurrey.co.uk
Mobile: 07768850003 Email: paul@bil.uk.com
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