Salehurst & Robertsbridge Parish Council Volumel. lssue3 Autumn2005 Autumn is now upon us and with the They have also recently carried We are very grateful to the out small band of volunteerswho recent rain residents minds will practice runs to see that all equipment deliver the newsletter. But, we naturally turn to the events of 2000 and etc. is in place. still needsome help, particu- the flooding of the village. Since then, larly in Rother View/ Early in the new year we hope to of course, there have been extensive 'drop-in' Coronation Cottages/Andrews arrange a morning when Closeareas. These areas are flood defences installed and whilst residentscan discussthe defencesand currently deliveredby a volun- thankfully these have not been tested teer who doesn't live there and planswith membersof the EA. if we don't get an offer from practically we know that the someonefrom the area we may Environment Agency is well prepared Whilst we hope that no one will suffer not be able to continue deliverv in its planning. Much clearance work from flooding, please remember that there. Can you help? has been done on the rivers and the parish Council still holds some If so, pleasecontact the drainage ditches and this should help funds to help in an emergency. parish office. any water get away faster. What's happening at the Mill? - Burwash will now continue for the fore- Datesfor your diary Rother DC Planning Project Manager seeable future with an amended timeta- 2006 is putting together a scheme to try to ble. raise grant money to purchase a large The new timetableserving Robertsbridge proportion of the site to create a Cul- is: Tuesday Council Meeting 9th ture and Enterprise centre. 10.45 Robertsbridge January Hackwoods Hall If successful,this would mean that not 10.50 Railway station only would jobs be created but.there 10.55 George Hotel Planning Meeting 2nd would be space for arts creation pro- Youth Centre February via Mountfield arriving Battle 1L.15 jects and performances;small business Return from Battle 13.10 from Abbey Council Meeting I3th units and workshops enabling new Green, via Mountfield, arriving Roberts- Robertsbridge March business start ups and educational fa- Hall bridge 13.30pm. cilities enabling young people to get Fridays-the same as Tuesdays except Planning Meeting 6th practical work experience. returning from Battle at 13.00 Youth Centre April Time is short for putting in the grant The bus also runs out to Burwash via application and we, and Rother, want Hurst Green on Fridays. The fare is Parish Assembly I)th to know your thoughtson this project. f2.50p return Robertsbridge April or f.1.25p with a County Hall There will be consultationwith inter- Card (that's cheaper than the parking! ested parties over the months aheadbut Ed.). County Cards are availablefree of we are holding an initial consultation charge if you are a Rother resident or AIL meetings start at 7.30 pm for village residentson Friday 9th De- over 60 and can be obtained from Rother and a period of up to 15 cember during the Late Night Shop- Help & Advice Centre, Market Square, minutes is allowed at the start ping evening. The venue will be an- Battle. You will need to take proof of of the meeting for public commentor questions. nouncedlater but why not drop in and identity and a passportsized photo. Agendas .for meetings are see what is proposedand give us your The future of the Community Bus service posted on the parish notice views and enjoy somerefreshments. relies on it being usedand also for volun- boards and web site at least 3 teer drivers. The service can use your days before the meeting- B.A.C.T. Bus Service Continues planning applications are help even if you can give only half a day After severaluncertain 'phone available for inspection at the weeks when the a week! Please the BACT office parish ffice during normal funding was cut and the future of the 01424772001for details of this and ser- opening times or on the Rother service was in doubt, the Community vices and also if you need to be picked District Council web site. Bus servicebetween Battle and up other than at the detailedstops. I ...........i PAGE2 VOLUMEI, ISSUE3 What is the Parish Council doing about.......? In eachissue of the newsletterwe will try to focus on one aspectof the parishcouncil responsibilities. unhappy about the prospect of foreign marble, refused to sell it, and the land was eventually acquired under 'The East Sussex(Salehurst Burial Ground) Compul- sory PurchaseOrder 1951' and conveyedto Salehurst ParishCouncil on 7'nOctober 1953 for fl5. Several years of prepdrationsfollowed, including formation of plans, setting of fees and rules and regu- Salehurst Cemetery - not to be confused with the lations, home office approvals,planning applications churchyard!!The parish cemeteryis situatedin Beech and of course, ground preparation and boundary House Lane, approximately 600 yards NW of Sale- fences and gates etc. It was agreed that the Burial 'Lawn hurst Church. It covers just under an acre, with ap- Ground should be of the Cemetery Type', proximately600 grave spaces. meaningno grave mounds,no grave curbs or edgings 'Stone The land, formerly known as Rock Croft' and headstoneslimited in sizeand type. was originally freely given to the Vicar of Salehurstin Part of the Cemetery(Division B) was consecrated 1933,in exerciseof powerscontained in the Consecra- by the Bishop of Lewes on Wednesday1Oth September tion of ChurchyardsAct 1867. However, it was sub- 1958, and the first interment took place on 28'nJuly ject to a restriction on the use of foreign marble for 1960, in grave number l, Division B; Neville Sher- curbs and headstones,and it was eventually decided wood died in a road accidentin Station Road, age 18 that the Bishop would be unableto consecratethe land years. There have now been 405 interments(burials with this restrictionin place. When the donor refused and crematedremains), with approximately300 grave to lift it, the land was conveyedback to him and the spacesremaining. If intermentscontinue at the same conveyanceendorsed as cancelledon 28thMay 1949. averagerate as the last 45 years,and barring outbreaks This left the Church with a serious problem. The of plague(or Bird Flu!!) this preciousresource should churchyardwas almost full, with only sufficient grave last for another45 years or so! A further section (in spacesfor a few more years.Having alreadyextended Divisio_nA) was consecratedby the Bishop on Satur- the churchyard in 1927 and again in 1931 they were day l4th December2002. unable to identify any other suitable piece of land in All parishionersof Salehurstand Robertsbridgehave the vicinity to extend it further. When the churchyard a right of burial in the Cemetery,on payment of the was full, the responsibilityfor providing grave spaces appropriatefee. Non parishionersmay, at the discre- 'Battle would fall to the then District Council.. The tion of the Cemetery Committee, be buried subject to Church was reluctant for that to happen,believing it the paymentof double the standardfee. This is in or- preferable for the provision to remain within local der to preservethe limited spacefor our own residents, control, so they approachedthe ParishCouncil to ask but allow for discretionfor those with very close ties them to adoptthe Burial Acts of 1852to 1906. to the village, one examplebeing residentswho have SalehurstParish Council was constitutedas the Bur- spenttheir last few yearsin a nursinghome. ial Authority, under the Local GovernmentAct 1894 If you have never visited the cemetery,why not take Section 7(1)(c), by resolution of a Parish Meeting a walk up there? It is a very tranquil and lovely spot, held on 5'n May 1950. It then fell to them to find a particularly on a sunny day and has very spectacular suitable piece of land within the parish for a burial views acrossthe village. 'tidy ground. After much research and several possible We hope to arrangea up' day early in the New sites being dismissed(there are strict rules relating to Year, so if you are interestedin taking part pleasecon- proximity of housing,distance from roads,direction of tact the Clerk. land drainage,liability to flooding etc) the only piece Full copies of the rules and regulationsand fees 'Stone are of land identified as suitablewas... Rock Croft' on display at the cemetery,on our website, or avail- in Beech House Lane! The owner, presumablystill able from the Clerk at the Parish Office. I j Bngtandexpects... the parish joined many others Touch' given by David Clark, followed by refresh- i aroundthe country in commemoratingthe 200th anni- ments(prepared by the W.I. Members)which raised versary of the Battle of Trafalgar and the death of Ad- f 186for the seaman'scharity, SeafarersUK. Thanks miral Nelson.On Friday 2lst October,the anniversary to all who helpedto make this event so successfulOn date,the churchbells were rung at midday and in the Sunday23rd, a specialservice of commemorationwas 'The eveningthere was an illustratedtalk Nelson held at St. Mary's church,Salehurst. VOLUMEI. ISSUE3 PAGE3 Age Concern - Age Concern Monday Club meets quality of life through recreational movement training every Monday (exceptBank Holidays) in the Village with rhythmic musical accompaniment. Extend is Hall from 10:30-2:30(cost f4.00). A well stocked- useful not only for thosewishing to maintainmobility stall sells various items including books, bric-a-brac, but also as a part of a rehabilitation process after ill- cards, plants and wool. The baked goods stall has ness and is readily adaptedto meet all needs. A new been a very popular recent addition. Biscuits, cakes, instructorwill take over this favoured activity on 9th chutney, jam, marmalade, and pies are for sale one January.