Blackheath Village Society Minutes 23rd September 2025

Minutes of the Meeting Held at Theobolds on Tuesday, 23rd September 2025 at 7:30 pm:
Present: David, Paul, Laura, Andy, Ralph, and Max
Apologies: Simon, Anne, and Ranald

1. The Minutes of the Meeting on 19th August 2025 were read and approved with
the following point arising:
a) David will contact either Ronnie or Danny Harrison to discuss their interest in
joining the BVS Committee to encourage the younger fraternity to get involved
with activities in the village.

2. Annual General Meeting Held on Tuesday, 9th September 2025:
The main issue discussed at the AGM related to the fires on Blackheath
Common.  Paul presented the questions and comments from residents that
arose at the AGM.  Members of the committee will consider the various
comments and provide their own amendments.  Once this has been completed,
the BVS will distribute the questions and comments to the residents of
Blackheath Village.  Once any further contributions have been added this
document, it will be forwarded to the Countryside Ranger at Waverley Borough
Council. 

Paul has also contacted the National Trust, where the fire initially started, for their
comments and input.  This matter has been passed onto the Surrey Hills Estate
Office and we are waiting for a response.
Colleen Carter, as a resident of Blackheath Village, has been in contact with the
BVS and has provided information to Waverley Borough Council, The Forestry
Commission and Wonersh Parish Council, in respect to three reports:
The Blackheath Common Fire Plan - 2024.
Blackheath Common Woodland Management Plan - 10 year plan from 2024.
Blackheath Management Plan - 2015 to 2014.

The BVS was contacted by Laura Marinoni, requesting the procedure to appoint
Committee members to the BVS.  Paul has communicated with her and provided
the appropriate section of the Constitution accordingly.

3. Financial Contributions to Local Charities and Other Organisations:
It was agreed that the BVS would make contributions to the following charities
and organisations:
The Blackheath Village Hall for new external benches - £800
The Firefighters Charitable Fund - £1,000
Air Ambulance - £500

Paul will pay the contributions once the appropriate bank details are made
available.

4. Email Communications from the BVS:
There was a general discussion concerning what information the BVS should
distribute to residents on behalf of individuals.  Presently any emails are sent by
Simon and in order to protect his position, it was agreed that we would discuss
and agree what information should be distributed on our email list in line with the
Society Constitution.

The BVS will also invite feedback and suggestions from residents by introducing
a "suggestion box"; on the website and/or a physical box adjacent to the Village
Hall.

5. Summer BBQ:
This was very successful and thanks was conveyed to everyone who helped
organised the event.

6. The Villagers Pub/Cafe:
We have been advised by Waverley Borough Council that responses to the
recent planning application are still being accepted and that the Council cannot
predetermine the outcome since the Judicial Review was decided

"We will accept public responses up to the determination date. We are awaiting the
findings of Mr Moore’s engagement and will review this upon completion. As you
can appreciate, we cannot predetermine the outcome of this. Kind regards, Sam"

It was suggested once WBC made a decision and the planning application has
been revoked, we distribute our “vision”. In the meantime, based on the
responses from recent planning applications it is clear that 90 -95% of residents
are in favour of a new a pub/cafe. The Judicial Review costs were £31,798.13
with income from WBC and Crowdfunding amounting to £22,957. Further
contributions from local residents amounted to £5,000 plus a further sum offered
by the BVS of £4,000, based on the support from the local community.

27/07/2021 WA/2020/1995
Change of use from public
house (Use Class A4) to
residential (Use Class C3) to
provide 1 dwelling.
(187 responses)

Refused - Policy
ICS1 applies.
95% support of the
residents to reopen
the pub/cafe

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29/01/2024 WA/2024/00149
Planning application seeking Subject to the
the change of use of the pub
and amalgamation of the two
units to form one residential
unit. 
(110 responses)
 
Judicial Review
decision.
90% support of the
residents to reopen
the pub/café.

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The BVS has applied for the renewal of the Asset of Community Value and the
consultation period ends on Thursday 25th September with the nomination being
decided on Thursday 16th October 2025.

The Ombudsman for Local Government and Social Care has examined the
complaint by the BVS that the Council failed to pursue enforcement action over a
planning condition requiring the former local pub to be refurbished. The BVS also
complained that the Council refused our request to use a Compulsory Purchase
Order but concluded that this did not cause any significant injustice and the initial
complaint was late and was not investigated by the Ombudsman.

7. Children Playground:
We would like to investigate the possibility of introducing a small playground area
in the woodland to the rear of the car park, adjacent to the Villagers Public
House.  This will require permission from James Herbert together with a
fundraising programme. We will also need consent under Section 38 of the
Commons Act 2006 from the Planning Inspectorate on behalf of the Secretary of
State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, as well as any other necessary
planning permissions.
Initially, we will need to remove any overgrown vegetation and present some
draft designs and plans for consideration - a working party will be organised
accordingly.

8. Village Hall:
The Village Hall appears to be booked throughout the year, and we will continue
with our dialogue with the Chairman of the Village Hall to ensure that we are
doing everything we can to assist with lettings.

9. Wonersh Parish Council:
The fire on Blackheath Common was discussed and concern was expressed that
no time limit has been allocated for the update of the Blackheath Common Fire
Plan. 

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) has increased Waverley Borough
Council's funding by approximately £20 million, and the interest is providing
valuable funding for the Council. We will attempt to secure funding for capital
projects, such as addressing flooding issues in Blackheath and covering the
costs of fire safety measures on the common. "The CIL Regulations 2010 (as
amended) state that we must spend Strategic CIL funds on 'the provision,
improvement, replacement, operation or maintenance of infrastructure necessary
to support growth’. Strategic CIL is intended to focus on the provision of new
infrastructure and should not be used to remedy pre-existing deficiencies in
infrastructure provision unless those deficiencies will be made more severe by
new development.”

10. Cricket Club:
The season has now ended with the last cricket match held on Sunday, 21st
September 2025.

11. Bonfire Night:
This event is being held on Saturday 1st November 2025.
Paul will formally write to Nick Harrison requesting a joint event with members of
the Cricket Club on the evening, and the following arrangements will be carried
out:
Paul will arrange torches for the parade at £2.50 each.
Simon will purchase the fireworks.
Laura will provide toffee apples for sale.

Andy and Ralph will organise the building of the bonfire during the course of
October.

Charlie will design a flyer, and we will send a notification out to the village shortly.
It was envisaged that we would have chilli and rice (by Vicky), with a BBQ
serving hot dogs.

12. Any Other Business:
There is no further business to discuss.

13. Next Meeting:
To be Held a Theobalds at 7:30 pm on Thursday, 16th October 2025