This digest is in the form of notes about each meeting of the Parish Council and about each Annual and Special Parish Meeting since the Council was formed in 1894. The notes give the date of each meeting and a serial number to each for future reference.

17/3/1948 PC 471
Disagreement over water supply responsibility: DC or National Fire Service?
DC to be asked whether football field is scheduled.

17/3/1948 PM 83
Rats: Mr Watson complained that he had been charged for mileage and labour by DC for disinfecting his house.
Non-PC notices being put on PC notice boards.
Complaint that Tatsfield milk goes out of the village and supplies come from Aylesbury and Battersea.
Call for lighting on the approach roads to the village.
Schoolchildren soon to travel to Warlingham.

5/4/1948 PC 472
Refuse collection said to be inadequate.
Mr Dagois’ cows straying at Hillside Road.

26/4/1948 PC 473
Little Chairman
Mr Montieth’s dump at Ship Hill thought likely to become permanent unless refuse collection improved.
SCC to be asked to confirm that playing field at rear of village hall is scheduled.
Complaint about the surface of “Jacob’s ladder, Ricketts Hill”
School had 107 pupils, 31 having been transferred to Chelsham. Transport for these was still being sought. Sanitation work awaited.

7/6/1948 PC 474
Continuing dissatisfaction about refuse collection.
Headmaster of Warlingham school praised arithmetic standards of Tatsfield children.
Medical Officer of Health to be told that no surgery exists in the parish - nor is there a chemist.
Green Line 706 being diverted to serve Tatsfield. PC to continue to press for an Oxted bus service.

5/7/1948 PC 475
Call for parity with Oxted and Limpsfield over refuse collections - they get a fortnightly collection.
Bus shelter unsafe.
Call for road names to be marked.
King George Playing Field in Westerham to be opened on 24th July.

6/9/1948 PC 476
General dissatisfaction about the Greens.
Mr Kelly - former clerk and member - had died.
Furze Corner to Beddlestead FP obstructed.

4/10/1948 PC 477
Further call for a dispensing chemist.
Continuing dissatisfaction with milk supply arrangements.

1/11/1948 PC 478
Local health authority believes Tatsfield adequately served by existing medical facilities at Biggin Hill.
Call for more National Savings activity in Tatsfield.

6/12/1948 PC 479
Health Service asked for details of cases of hardship of elderly people caused by the lack of medical facilities in the village.
School and BBC National Savings Groups operating.
Tatsfield footpaths had appeared in “Southern Rambles”.
CG Leveson-Gower, the squire, had died.
Cudham Road notice board was misleading.
School sanitation now working.
Suggested that the PC should associate itself with recent letter to the press from Mr Minnett complaining “about the unsatisfactory references to Tatsfield “ in Richard Church’s book on Kent.

3/1/1949 PC 480
Call to reinstate the Greens Committee because of the alleged failure of the DC to address PC wishes about the Greens.
Further discussion of Richard Church’s book on Kent in which Tatsfield had been described as a “squalid” village in Kent.

7/2/1949 PC 481
Election to be held on May 14th.
A petition had been signed by 31 Council House tenants about lack of repairs and the state of cesspools. “Recent trouble at 5 Westmore Cottages”.
Mr Rushen suggested that some footpaths were no longer needed.

9/3/1949 PC 482
Mr Laslett had died.

9/3/1949 PM 84
24 people attended.
Mrs Dothie asked for the time of the bus to Chelsham to be changed to allow a connection with the Oxted bus at Botley Hill. 403 bus and 706 Green Line both left at 8.15 a.m. Complaints about Green Line timekeeping.
Main drainage not yet likely because of government spending restrictions.
Call for portable pumps for sewage emergencies.
Refuse collection complaints.
Pond needed cleaning.
Mrs Kerrison had apparently agreed with the “squalid” description in Richard Church’s book because of the insanitary conditions.

4/4/1949 PC 483
No new issues.

23/5/1949 PC 484
ECG Weatherly Chairman
Elected
NA Little
Mrs Laslett
Ridler
Simpson
Geary
Brown
DC had said there would be no Greens Committee.
Resolution passed thanking Rev Goundry for his work as District Councillor - see June/July 1946 minutes.

20/6/1949 PC 485
New occupant - Mr Coombs - offered to meet the PC about Hillside Road. No cattle seen grazing since change of ownership.
Dissatisfaction with local newspaper accounts of PC matters.
Clerk - Mr Dothie - resigning because of foreign travel obligations.

18/7/1949 PC 486
Suggested that the new Town and Country Planning Act might affect the status of estate roads such as Hillside Road and future plans for them.
Miss Kelly appointed Clerk.

5/9/1949 PC 487
Mr Goundry to resign as District Councillor.
Mr Geary wanted RDC to make Chestnut Avenue, Goatsfield Road, Maesmaur Road and Ninehams Road, for example.
Railings around the pond “in a bad state”.
Call for a low fence to be erected around the pond to prevent young children falling in - water level low and lots of mud.

3/10/1949 PC 488
DC says pond now cleaned and would fill naturally.
DC had indicated that there might be a further distribution of food parcels. The District Nurse had been responsible for the previous distributions.
Mr Simpson resigns.
Guard rail needed at the school.

7/11/1949 PC 489
Mr Maynard is the new District Councillor.
DC to be asked for a notice board opposite the Manor House.
Long discussion on footpath diversions and history of footpath at Franklyn.
E Beagley co-opted to succeed Mr Simpson.
Alleged encroachment of vehicles in front of the Parade. DC asked for kerbing.
Original bus shelter sign to be reinstated after the war emergency.

5/12/1949 PC 490
Rumour that Green Line coaches would stop coming into the village.
Major discussion on footpaths report. Routing of path in Parkwood Road and at Firsdale noted.

2/1/1950 PC 491
Mr SD Coombs and his two sons would fix the Hillside Road fences.
London Transport assurance that no change to the Green Line service being contemplated.
Various footpath reports.
SCC complaint that PC meeting had gone on until 11 p.m.

6/2/1950 PC 492
Permission given for notice board opposite Manor House.
Kerb on the way for the Parade.
Condition of road at Well House.

8/3/1950 PC 493
Little of note.

8/3/1950 PM 85
Village end of Lusted Lane said to be too narrow.
Mrs Dothie asked about making up of Goatsfield Road and Maesmaur Road.
Is the hall “Parish” or “Church”?

17/4/1950 PC 494
Weatherly Chairman.
Village Hall suggested as Polling Station instead of the School.
Mr Brown frequently absent from meetings.
Call for more frequent refuse collections.
Call to ban political notices from notice boards.
Part of the frontage of the school to be cleared and tarmaced.
5/6/1950 PC 495
Mr Hodgson - new DC representative.
Polling station not to be moved, says Reigate Town Hall. PC to dispute reasoning.
10/5d sent towards memorial for Sir Lawrence Chubb.
Some passengers being left behind by single deck bus at Chelsham. Call for double-decker at 3.48 p.m.

3/7/1950 PC 496
Query about the status of the hall had produce the following response from Ven Archdeacon GH Marten via the Revd W Bywater:
“The history of the Hall built in 1908/9 is an interesting one, but the relevant fact is that it was a Church Hall, supported by Diocesan funds and opened and dedicated by Bishop Talbot, who brought with him for the occasion the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Davidson. It was through all my time, i.e. till 1913, used for Church purposes. We had alternate Sunday Evensongs there in the winter as the Church is so remote, and every day it was in use. I heard to my disquiet that during the 1913-18 war it was handed over to the YWCA but don’t think it was ever a legal transaction. It was vested in the Southwark Diocesan Church Trust, and I am finding out on Thursday from Mr Hartwright whether it is still held by the Trust. I will let you know for certain what the present position in”.
PC delegation to visit Archdeacon Marten and to view the legal documents.
More on bus service.
Mr Brown to resign. Mr Drane to be co-opted.
Scheme drawn up by Surrey to widen Lusted Lane.
Suggested that any scheme to make up Goatsfield Road and Maesmaur Road should wait until drainage plans had been achieved.
Meeting to discuss Festival of Britain to be held in hall in July.

4/9/1950 PC 497
Mrs Laslett resigns - going to Kenya.
Double deck bus to run the school service at 3.48 p.m.
Objection from Mr Hinde at prospect of Maesmaur Road being made up.
London Transport signs removed from bus shelter - previous dedication plaque can be reinstated.
Cudham Residents Association ask for support for bus service from Tatsfield to Horn’s Green via Hawley Corner. PC says Tatsfield to Hawley Corner road too narrow.
Lusted Lane widening depends on land acquisition.

13/9/1950 PM 86
To discuss Rights of Way survey. 9 people attended.
Proposals re FPs at Firsdale, Park Wood, Franklyn and Lusted Lane.

2/10/1950 PC 498
WV Rushen’s son died from polio.
Church Hall minute: “The Chairman...had seen the deed...convinced that the transfer was vested in the Church authorities. There was no mention how funds had been made available, but the management had been in the hands of the Rector and Churchwardens and details of its use were mostly religious. The Ven archdeacon Marten had agreed to see a deputation. It had been alleged that an offer had been made to return donations to those who had subscribed not knowing the Hall was to be a Church Hall”.
Mr Goodall, Firsdale, willing to donate land for FP.
R Shrubb co-opted vice Mrs Laslett.
Proposal for barrier 3 ft from pond to prevent toddlers falling into the pond. DC not willing to erect railings.

5/11/1950 PM 87
To discuss diversion of Firsdale FP.
Ten people attended.
Agreed to accept Mr Goodall’s proposal.

5/11/1950 PC 499
Town Clerk at Reigate willing to move polling station to Village Hall.
Church Hall minute reads: “The Clerk reported that she had asked various old residents whether they had any recollection of the Parish Hall being anything but a ‘Church’ hall and whether they had ever been offered back their contributions to the Building Fund. All had replied in the negative. The Chairman then read the report sent in by the reporter of the Sevenoaks Chronicle of his search in his paper’s records of 1907,08 and 09. In this report, Mr Leveson-Gower expressly says that he offered the land free on condition church services be held there when desired. It was agreed that Mr Reid, the Sevenoaks Chronicle reporter be thanked for his kindness in making this search and that the Chairman see Mr Bywater, the Rector, to ask if there were any minute books of the Committee set up on Sept. 19th 1908 to make arrangements for the building of the Parish Hall”.
No joy from London Transport on bus service.
Mr Little to resign - leaving the village.

4/12/1950 PC 500
Double deck bus to run on route 403 at 3.48 p.m. during the winter. Other improvements in summer timetable.
Mr R Shrubb’s appointment void - had not signed declaration of acceptance of office.
Miss Knight elected vice Mr Little.
Mrs Hodgson elected vice Mr Shrubb.
PC agree to extinguishing of FP 29 - through Pilgrims Farm.

1/1/1951 PC 501 (POPULATION 1951 - 1009)
Geary elected Vice Chairman.
Recent snowfalls lead to request to Surrey for Tatsfield to be on the clearance list.
Meeting adjourned because of the coldness of the room.

5/2/1951 PC 502
Future of the pond under discussion after meeting with DC - fill it in; wall; sloping sides instead of present vertical sides.
Call to remove post and rail fence on south side of Westmore Green; railings on north side to be retained.
Call for Civil Defence training.
Call for wire mesh over notice boards to stop boys taking notices down.

7/3/1951 PC 503
DC thinking about building a small number of houses in Tatsfield. Land in Westmore Road had been compulsorily purchased.
Church Hall minute reads: “after exhaustive and comprehensive study of the question of ownership of the Church Hall, hoping that it may not again become the subject of dispute, confident that it may be freely used for the pursuit of ordinary village activities, the Tatsfield PC as at present constituted places on record its view that the hall is correctly entitled ‘Church Hall’ and that it belongs to and therefore must be controlled by, the Church Authorities”.

7/3/1951 PM 88
18 attended.
Tatsfield was high on the list for main drainage and plans would be ready in a few months.
Old Lane ditch overflowing.
10:3 against filling in the pond.

16/4/1951 PC 504
£2/7/6d to wire each notice board - agreed.
FPs from Swedish houses to Lusted Lane and Westmore Road in poor condition.
Call for signpost at junct Old Lane and Edgar Road to get Biggin Hill traffic to use Ricketts Hill Road.

28/5/1951 PC 505
Mr Weatherly Chairman.
PC invited to a meeting on beautifying the churchyard.
Refuse collection now fortnightly.

2/7/1951 PC 506
All graves untended for a considerable time would be levelled.
Discussion on felling of trees opposite the Rectory with approval of DC just before a Preservation Order comes into force.
Minute on hall: “The Chairman read a transcript from an article published in the Tatsfield Parish Magazine for Dec. 1908. This proved conclusively that the Hall was, in fact, always under the jurisdiction of the Church authorities”.

3/9/1951 PC 507
Concern about barking dogs.
Mr Weatherly resigns.
Mr Geary elected Chairman.
Tree Preservation Orders made by DC:
1 Group of trees in garden of Springfield, Ricketts Hill Road
2 “ near southern end of Crown Road
3 Woodland area on W & E sides of Approach Road
4 “ E side Tatsfield Court Fm extending from Rag Hill 300 yds north.
5 “ W side Westmore Green extending from Lusted Lane 300 yds south
6 “ N side Tatsfield Green
7 “ W side of Crown Road
8 “ W side Church Hill, midway between Church Cottages and School
9 “ N side Tatsfield Green adjoining N side of woodland area No 6 above

1/10/1951 PC 508
Mr Hodgson elected vice Weatherly

5/11/1951 PC 509
Kerb placed on verge opposite the Parade.
New sign erected at Old Lane/Edgar Road.

3/12/1951 PC 510
Milk and other lorries damaging path in front of the Parade on the way to the Club.

7/1/1952 PC 511
Rails on north side of the pond had been dealt with and waste bin provided.
Lusted Lane now to be called Lusted Hall Lane because of confusion by emergency services.

4/2/1952 PC 512
Discussion of alternative meeting place instead of the school because of growing expenses.
Election due on Saturday May 10th.

12/3/1952 PC 513
Held at WI Hall
Depredation by rabbits in Parkwood Road.

12/3/1952 PM 89
Held at WI Hall
19 people attended
Damage to green opposite Manor House; state of Tatsfield Green; Old Lane ditch; main drainage prospects; meeting place changed after 60 years at the school; road to Swedish houses; civil defence; village library at risk.

7/4/1952 PC 514
Held at the school.
Bus shelter in poor condition.
Old Lane ditch had been cleared. Thanks to DC for recent road clearance after snow.

26/5/1952 PC 515
Elected
Chairman: Mr Geary
Black
Drane
Hodgson
Ridler
Simpson
Miss Knight
Main drainage would cost £50,000, but not yet known how much would be sanctioned.
Proposed to hire the large room at the Bakery for future meetings.
Call to improve bus timings.

7/7/1952 PC 516
Held at the Old Bakery
Seats at School Corner and opposite the Manor House had been destroyed in the war.
Mr Watson calls for repair to track in Parkwood Road.
No room on buses on the days that Chartwell is open.
Wells in King Edward VII Memorial Ground said to be dangerous.

1/9/1952 PC 517
Continued discussion about bus timings getting children to school too early.
Chartwell problem solved (no mention of how).
King Edward VII wells covered in.
DC had decided to number houses in Westmore Road now that six new ones had been built. And because of possible confusion, Westmore Cottages would now be numbered as part of Lusted Hall Lane and the Swedish houses would be known as Whitewood Cottages.

6/10/1952 PC 518
Mr Easter (DC) described main drainage scheme. Likely to start in 1953 joining West Kent sewers at junction of Lusted Hall Lane and Ricketts Hill. Too expensive to do all the parish, so they would start in the densest area around Westmore Green (106 houses) and then Tatsfield Green as far as the school and Old Lane (44) at a cost of £21,000. 300 houses would complete the whole scheme.
Status of FP 28 questioned.
Meeting on King Edward VII Memorial Ground to be held.
Call for 403 bus (Chelsham to School) to be reinstated.
Notice board padlocks missing - police told.

3/11/1952 PC 519
Good response to George VI Memorial Fund.
Query over status of FP 18 - Cudham Road.

17/11/1952 PM 90
To consider Coronation celebrations.
30 people attended.
Committee formed:
Mr Knight, Mrs J Skinner, Mrs Hodgson, Mr Rushen, Rev W Bywater, Mr Davies, Mr Black, Mr Geary, Mr Player, Dr Sturton, Miss Kelly.

1/12/1952 PC 520
George VI Memorial Fund had raised £31.
Police to be told which vehicles using FP to Swedish houses.
FP21 not restored after ploughing.
Query as to whether Town Planning Map provided for playing fields in Tatsfield.
£50 allotted for Coronation celebration.

5/1/1953 PC 521
George VI Memorial Fund total was £34/6/11d.
DC says no provision for playing fields in local plan.

2/2/1953 PC 522
Chairman to discuss playing field with Football Club.
Fireworks and permanent memorial under discussion for Coronation.
Complaint about the condition of the barn behind the Post Office.

9/3/1953 PC 523
At WI Hall
Displeasure at SCC letter on status of Cudham Road.

9/3/1953 PM 91
AT WI Hall
12 parishioners present.
State of the greens, dissatisfaction about alleged status of Cudham Road as a FP, overhanging hedges on roads, Coronation discussed.

31/3/1953 PC 524
Special meeting to discuss National Flood Appeal Week.

13/4/1953 PC 525
At the Bakery.
Suggestion that the upper half of the field at the back of the Ship could be Playing field.
Mr Coombs, Gorsey Down Farm, gave notice of intention to plough Rosebanks FP.
New seats had been put on the green.
Old Ship deny responsibility for Ship Hill hedge - Page and Overton to be contacted.

20/5/1953 PC 526
Geary Chairman.
Objection on Cudham Road FP to be withdrawn on a technicality.
House to house collection for village sign as Coronation Memorial.
Coronation Memorial Committee set up - Miss Knight, Messrs Black and Geary to represent PC.

6/7/1953 PC 527
Rev Bywater, Mrs Hodgson and Dr Sturton join the Coronation Memorial Committee.
Dance had been held to mark Coronation.
Tatsfield Athletic FC ask for field behind the Ship to be playing field.
403 bus stops outside the village.
Precept £80

7/9/1953 PC 528
Cesspool at new houses in Westmore Road reported to be overflowing.
“Westmore Cottages” sign still up in Lusted Hall Lane.
Call for direct bus service to Oxted.

5/10/1953 PC 529
Letter from Godstone DC:
“The purchase by the Council of the land in Paynesfield Road for housing purposes had not yet been completed, but after such completion the Council were agreeable to Tatsfield Football Club being allowed, as a temporary measure, to play on such land, but they could not guarantee to find alternative accommodation for the Football Club when building operations were commenced on the land”.
Continuing grumbles about the cutting of the greens.

2/11/1953 PC 530
3 acres of land at the Ship scheduled for building.
London Transport says there’s not enough traffic to justify a direct bus to Oxted.
Drain silting up in Old Lane.
Tatsfield still had “priority” for main drainage.

7/12/1953 PC 531
Coroner’s Court to move to Sutton.
Proposal for 24 houses in Paynesfield Road.
More trouble with cesspool at council houses in Westmore Road.

4/1/1954 PC 532
Lower end of the field behind the Ship had been purchased and Football Club could use it.
London Transport to be asked to reduce Green Line buy fare from 10d.
Call for mobile library.

8/2/1954 PC 533
706 Green Line bus fare cut from 10d to 5d from Tatsfield to Botley Hill.
850 books at local village centre - no mobile libraries in Surrey.
Call for bus stop at Furze Corner.

17/3/1954 PC 534
Mrs Wedgwood to take over library again.
Call to reduce Green Line bus fare to Westerham.

17/3/1954 PM 92
14 people present.
Broken milk bottles; Oxted bus service; Coronation - young Tom who had made the bonfire in recent accident; village sign as memorial to Coronation; building licences; Old Lane flooding; bushes on greens.

5/4/1954 PC 535
Call for ridge at top of Old Lane to stop flooding.
£50 precept.

3/5/1954 PC 536
Litter problems.

31/5/1954 PC 537
Geary Chairman.
Little of note.

5/7/1954 PC 538
7d Green Line fare to be introduced between Tatsfield and Westerham.
Pond overflowing.

6/9/1954 PC 539
Dental treatment possible at the school.
Village sign to be unveiled on Sept. 26th.

4/10/1954 PC 540
Discussions had been taking place for months about PC insurance.
Pond had been cleaned out.
Mr Wilkinson had applied for an allotment.
Godstone RDC proposed putting SE part of Tatsfield into Limpsfield. PC to obtain views of residents.
Simpson resigns.
33 residents of Goatsfield Road and the Swedish houses complaining about the state of Goatsfield where it joins Westmore Road.

1/11/1954 PC 541
Insurance cover arranged.
Mrs Dothie co-opted vice Simpson.

6/12/1954 PC 542
Fear that accepting boundary change with Limpsfield would make the remainder of Tatsfield vulnerable to take-over by Kent.
Suggestion that Goatsfield residents try to repair road themselves.
Pond cleaning had cost £35.

3/1/1955 PC 543
Little of note.

7/2/1955 PC 544
£50 precept.
Miss Henry wanted help in founding a youth club.

7/3/1955 PC 545
Swedish homes cesspool overflowing.

23/3/1955 PM 93
12 people present, including PC.
Village sign; Old Lane drain; main drainage; bushes on greens.

4/4/1955 PC 546
Renewed call for ridge at the top of Old Lane.

2/5/1955 PC 547
Concern about lack of awareness of PC meetings.
Tatsfield Residents Association had been formed.
DC had started a grip dump outside the Bakery.

23/5/1955 PC 548
Elected
Chairman Geary
Miss Knight
Mrs Dothie
Betts
Hodgson
Dr Sturton
Ridler
Tatsfield Residents Association complaining about cesspools at four Swedish houses.
Preservation of parish records - Rev Bywater to be approached.
Tennis Club members had made an approach about playing fields - using the Manor House at present.

22/6/1955 C 1
Resolved to oppose “transfer of part of Tatsfield to Limpsfield on traditional grounds; the consequent loss of revenue; and because of the fact that those living in the area it is proposed to transfer have expressed no strong views for such a change”.

4/7/1955 PC 549
Pond dangerous to children.
Two lime trees planted on Westmore Green to replace the one removed to make way for the village sign - paid for by Horticultural Society. Suggestion of a seat to be paid out of the balance of the fund.
Attempt to block path from Westmore Green to Greenway.
Call to level bump on Westmore Green where the air raid shelter had been.
Call for continuous path from the village to the school.
£50 precept.

5/9/1955 PC 550
DC says no intention of removing bushes from greens - PC dissents.
No parish records in the hands of the Rector.
Westmore Green to Greenway path was private.
Most of the people involved in the proposed boundary changes declared their community of interest to be in Westerham. Public Inquiry had been held in August.

21/9/1955 PM 94
To discuss the pond.
80 attended.
Mr Nichols, Chairman of the Residents Association, suggested improving the pond (ornamental) or fill it in. A child had been pulled out unconscious and with facial injuries on June 21st. Mr Wedgwood proposed filling the pond in - 21 for 40 against.
Mr Cox proposed beautification - 43 for 4 against.

3/10/1955 PC 551
Move to make Westmore Green to Greenway path a public FP.
Dr Sturton proposed 10 minute adjournments for the next 3 meetings after “matters arising” for public participation. Agreed 4 votes to 3.

7/11/1955 PC 552
Coronation seat to be placed on Ship Hill opposite the nurse’s house.
Uncertainty about Westmore Green to Greenway FP “causing unpleasantness in the village”.
Parish boundary to remain unaltered.
Surrey designated as “Rabbit Clearance Area”.
Tatsfield Residents Association suggests Ship Hill as playing field.
Continuing concern about road to Swedish houses from Westmore Road.

END OF VOLUME SEVEN

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