Held 15 July 2025 at the Barn on the Green, 7pm
1. Welcome and Apologies
Richard Stapleton, Chair, welcomed the assembled members to the 64th AGM. There were no Apologies for Absence.
2. 2024 AGM Minutes
The previous AGM Minutes, having been circulated to members, were approved and signed by the Chair.
3. Chair’s Address (summary)
Richard began by stating the Society’s aim, as defined in 1991:
- To safeguard the beauty of Ditchling and its surroundings.
- To maintain the character of the village by opposing harmful development.
- To encourage interest in its historical and cultural associations.
- To co-operate with like-minded neighbouring societies, parishes and individuals.
He emphasised that preservation does not mean stagnation, but care. The Society exists not to resist growth but to keep a watchful eye and rally public opinion if and when a serious threat looms.
In the 1990s the Society had successful campaigns to save Ditchling Common from pylons and ploughing, to protect land from large-scale housing development and to save the heart of the village from irretrievable damage. More recently, Tom Dufty and others were heavily involved in ensuring the village became part of the South Downs National Park.
The village has distinctive architecture, a creative inheritance and a flourishing social and economic life. The Society aims to conserve that which makes the village special while encouraging new facilities and services that will enable our community to thrive in the 21st century.
In the 1980s, following a crash outside Chestertons (now the Green Welly), there was a push to reduce speed limit from 40mph to 30mph. Now it is felt that we need more traffic calming and a 20mph limit. Traffic has been a repeated concern but lack of funds and the indifference of Highway Authority have proved a block.
Villages like ours will find themselves ignored unless they are vociferous in expressing their views.
The Society’s activities this year, as found in newsletters, include:
- Submissions to Planning Authorities which were felt detrimental to the village. Submissions have included comments on the Ditchling Rugby club appeal regarding land off Clayton Road, the use of the field in Keymer Road for camping, an application to develop redundant buildings adjoining The Shirleys for commercial purposes and a proposal to use land off Beacon Road for a campsite.
The greatest challenge has been the land off Clayton Road, including the illegal felling of an oak tree subject to a preservation order. The SDNPA failed to bring a prosecution due to a technical error, despite being certain that an offence had been committed. It is noteworthy that the Sycamore Gap offenders were given a custodial sentence for cutting down a tree that did not have a preservation order! - The Society has promoted the purchase of the field adjacent to the Keymer Rd car park.
- The Society has worked with the Horticultural Society for village cleanup weekends. There is some concern about the challenge of generating enthusiasm for this. In view of this we need to re-examine what we are trying to achieve.
The theme running through what the Society tries to do is that increasingly we are on our own and some things are the responsibilities of other organisations, for example the District Council and SDNPA, but there is a lack of funds, a lack of resources including staff and an unwillingness to give issues a priority. The answer is that we have to recognise that we may need to finance things ourselves and, sadly, make a nuisance of ourselves. It is the squeaky wheel that gets the oil first.
Richard concluded by thanking Mary Flynn, who will take over as chair, and the other members of the Committee. He also thanked the Auditor Dick Marshall and Treasurer Julia Goodbourn and also Shirley Crowther and Gordon Bain for the production and distribution of newsletters.
Finally, Richard made a request for help from members, either on the Committee or on specific subjects, and included a request for anyone with up to date planning knowledge who could be a willing resource for the Committee.
4. Treasurer’s report
Julia thanked Dick Marshall for reviewing the accounts.
- The deficit for the year was £923.27, leaving a balance of £1917.25
- Income: membership subscriptions increased by 38% to £427.00. £130 was raised by the sale of notecards printed with photographs of Ditchling submitted to the Ditchling in Focus competition and sold at last summer’s village fete and AGM.
- There was a significant decline in website costs to £71.86.
- Members would recall that the late Gerry Hinckley very generously donated to the Ditchling Society a share in the proceeds of his book of poems. Your Committee decided that these funds should be ring-fenced for a suitable project and last year we spoke at the AGM about the decision to select 5 outstanding photographs from those submitted to our Ditchling in Focus photographic competition to be printed, framed and hung in the village hall. It is hoped that those who have seen the pictures will agree that they enhance the hall and are a beautiful representation of our village and its environs. The cost this year of completing the project was £1000. Our thanks go to Victoria Ingham for her support and help in bringing this project to fruition.
The Accounts were proposed by Steve Dempsey, seconded by Shirley and approved unamimously by the meeting.
5. Election of officers and members
Changes:
Mary Flynn is taking on the role of Chair.
Sylvia Bain is the Membership Secretary.
Richard Chalmers and Louise Chalmers are continuing to serve on the Committee.
Mary Rudling is joining the Committee.
A single vote to approve the Committee was proposed by Edwina Rowling, seconded by Shea Rawlings and approved.
6. AOB
Shirley Crowther asked if there had been an appointment to the Conservation Dept of SDNPA and was advised that the role is still empty.
There was a suggestion of pursuing a private prosecution re the felling of the Oak Tree.
Richard Stapleton gave a short update regarding the traffic. At a meeting that afternoon four projects were thought to be able to go ahead:
- Speed devices on Clayton Road and Beacon Road
- 20mph limit for the centre of Ditchling; the council has funding for this
- Foot pedestrian crossing for the crossroads
- Gateway proposal as you come into the village
Sandi Munier raised concerns about the new changes to street lighting. Richard stated that unfortunately these were due to financial considerations of the DPC.
The AGM was then closed.
The evening’s speaker was introduced: Dr Bob Epsom from The Woodland Trust, who gave a presentation on The Lost Woods Project.