Minutes of WHRF committee meeting held at The WH Club 8.00pm 8th Sept 2022

Present Julia Scarth-Chair, Sarah Chambers-Treasurer, Doug Robinson, Joanna Davey, Jo Plimmer. Joined by Charlie Chambers after Treasurers Report.

Apologies for absence Sarah Mardle, Dave Plimmer
Welcome to Jo Plimmer (and in absence Dave Plimmer) who are interested in joining the committee.

Matter of note: news announced just prior to the meeting, that Queen Elizabeth II has died. The committee acknowledged our sadness on this historic day.

Minutes of last meeting held 1st August 2022
Error noted and amended: Paul Cannon (Parish Councillor) not Sarah Chamber, speaking to Caves about signage.
Amended minutes were agreed and signed and will be posted on the Wookey Hole website.

Traffic in village: Sarah C to pick this up mid-September.

Treasurers report
Sarah C reported that £428.17 has been received from the Wookey Hole 2000 account (Santander) which has now been closed. Julia Scarth and Katy Smith who  were on the WH2000 cttee managed to get the remaining funds transferred over.
Background for Jo P: Wookey Hole 2000 ran for 3 or 4 years and was the previous equivalent to WHRF but formed specifically to celebrate the Millenium.
Current balance in the WHRF account: £1,877.56
£520 is being held for the Parish Council grant (Neighbourhood Plan) and £540.73 for Let’s Weather the Storm (LWTS)
Closing balance after the above is £816.83
Sarah C will check if an amount has come in from moneys accrued through the protest around the Pyrolysis Plant. If not Sarah C will follow up with Roger and let Julia know.
LWTS money - this was donated by Elizabeth Rennie towards food delivery. Julia to follow up with Ivor and Elizabeth as to whether this should be held or returned.

Tree map and tree event plans (National Tree Planting Week)
Noted this has even more significance now with the passing of the Queen. 5 trees have survived, 2 have died. Dates confirmed for these public events as:
2.00 - 3.30pm 26th November - Village walk
Agreed plans as an hour and a half walk, led by Julia and Doug, followed by seasonal refreshments at the Club. Julia will check this with Club (Manny). Sarah C suggested ribbon tying - supported by committee. Sarah C will look into and purchase ribbons (biodegradable options).

Events to be promoted through poster and website (Joanna has drafted poster). Agreed to register interest via email in order to know numbers for teas and scones.

Jo asked about website - Sarah Mardle maintains currently.
Discussion around whether this might become an annual event, and how to mark the two ‘lost’ trees, and also what to do about the tree plaques. Julia and Jo to investigate with Forge in early October when Julia is back from holiday.

11.00am - 3.00pm 3rd December - Come help plant trees
Agreed plans to undertake planting with a lunch break and refreshments on offer. Charlie offered to make soup, Jo offered to make bread (or purchase if the baking doesn’t happen).

AGM Preparations
Date: 7.30pm 13th October in Community Hall
Joanna to create A5 flyer publicising AGM and how to join Forum. Committee to distribute flyers around village letterboxes to encourage attendance, as all noted new residents moving into the village who may not receive notice by email or see posters.
Agreed to offer additional incentive to attend by providing locally sourced refreshments.
Julia to ask Mike (Pullin) about provision of 2 kilos of cave aged cheddar.
Charlie to ask Sante wines (donation or sale or return).
Sarah Mardle to ask Wookey Ales about donation (donation or sale or return).

Committee positions: Chair and Secretary. Jo expressed cautious interest in volunteering as Chair, but would like to find out more about what this entails from Julia in October.

Community Hall Closure
Hall is closing at the end of October. Current groups are exploring other options; cinema club is homeless currently. To discuss further at next meeting.

AOB
Julia and Doug will be away 14th - 29th September.

Next meeting  7.30pm 13th October in Community Hall (AGM)

Trees

Saturday 26^th November 2022 at 2pm

A walk around village looking at the trees that were planted in 2000 and thinking about where to plant some more.  After the walk tea and home made cakes at the Club along with an opportunity to see some pictures and photos of Wookey Hole in times gone by.

Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you plan to attend.

The tree planting event that had been scheduled for 3^rd December has been postponed until next year.  Once we’ve got a new date we’ll let you know.

Flower Arranging

Are there any ladies who would be interested in helping with flower arranging for St Mary Magdalene  Church, Wookey Hole. It would  entail being on the rota once or twice a year depending on how much time you could spare. We are a small friendly team and we do meet to decorate the church for Christmas , Easter , Patronal Festival and harvest. You don’t need to have any experience but we would be very happy to welcome and help anyone who would like to join us. Please contact Lyn 0749 671912 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Thanks Lyn

The Community Hall has closed What Next?

Very sadly, the Community Hall which has served the village well for the past decade has now closed.  Sincere thanks to Jenny and Alec Lewis and the Hall Committee who have put in much time and effort in managing this valuable village resource for all these years and also to the Caves who allowed and have supported its transformation from the Bowling Hut to the Community Hall.  An assessment of the amount it would cost financially to fix the building led to the conclusion that it was not financially viable.  Would you be interested in getting together with others in the Village to explore ideas of a new village space?  If so email Jo Plimmer This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Present, Julia Scarth-Chair, Sarah Chambers-Treasurer, Sarah Mardle, Doug Robinson, Joanna Davey, Chloe Parish
Apologies for absence. Charlie Chambers

Minutes of last meeting held 10th March 2022 were agreed and signed and will be posted on the Wookey Hole website.

Treasurers report – Sarah C reported that the Bring & Share raised £127 minus £7 for the hall hire. The annual insurance fee of £96 has also been paid leaving a current balance of £1442.39. (£520 is being held for the Parish Council grant and £540.73 for LWTS) Closing balance for WHRF is £381.66
Julia will connect with Ivor re the £540.73 LWST money to see if this is to stay with the Forum, or not

Report Back on Bring & Share & Picnic
Both events went well & were enjoyed by all who attended

Future events
A local resident called Richard (who attended the bring & share) said he'd like to do a quiz evening, date to be confirmed.
A village picture, similar to the one taken in 2000, is being suggested for 2025
For The National Tree Planting Week 26/11/22 - 03/12/22 a walk to view the trees that were planted for the Millenium is planned for 26/11/22. Plus the following week on 03/12/22 new trees will be planted in & around the village. Posters will be created & an email sent out to villagers.
There have been 2 responses from villagers with suggestions for positions for the new trees & other options were suggested, e.g. Small tree by bus shelter, Glencot Triangle, next to allotment, Church grounds, replace any Millenium trees that didn't survive. Everyone agreed that fruit & nut trees would be a lovely idea.
Sarah M to send a map to Doug for him to confer with Julia & plot where the existing Millenium trees were planted & who the tree's were dedicated to.

Road working group
A meeting was held between Marcel Hayden & Toby from Somerset County Council, Marcel highlighted some of the points that the road working group has been dealing with. Toby requested another meeting to discuss the research that Sarah C & group had accumulated & to discuss next stage.
Sarah C to speak to Paul Cannon to see if he can ask WH Caves if they can provide "No Access to the Caves" signs to be put up in Easton & the top of Tynings Lane, directing the traffic away from the single track roads & onto the main roads.

Local Planning Applications
Mendip Council have refused an amended planning application for 50 houses on the Armchair field on Wookey Hole Road.
Mendip have also refused the amended planning application for Homestead park (in March 2022)

AGM Minutes To be agreed at next AGM meeting proposed for 13/10/22 7.30pm Community Hall.
Sarah M to see if she can find the poster from last years meeting & email it to Joanna to be updated for this year. The poster will then be put on the WH Village web site & emailed out to residents.

AOB – Chloe has requested to step down from the committee & everyone thanked her for her valued input over the past year.
Lyn Astle has spoken to the Parish Council about the benches that were donated to WH for the 1977 Silver Jubilee, one in School Hill near North Bank & the other in Milton Lane & the Parish Council have agreed to maintain them.

Next meeting
Planning meeting for AGM Thursday 29th September at 7.30

Minutes of WHRF committee meeting held at The Club 7.30pm 10th March 2022

Present, Julia Scarth-Chair, Sarah Chambers-Treasurer, Charlie Chambers, Doug Robinson, Joanna Davey

Apologies for absence. Chloe Parrish, Sarah Mardle

Minutes of last meeting were agreed and signed and will be posted on the Wookey Hole website.
Julia reads letter of resignation from Roger Hancock, SC suggested a thank you card for Roger that Julia will write and send.
Julia discusses minutes from the last AGM, they will be sent out as a matter of principal to the Village, even though only three people attended

Treasurers report – Sarah C reported that the current balance is £1418.39 (£520 is being held for Parish council grant and £540.73 for LWST) Closing balance £357.66
Julia will connect with Ivor re the £540.73 LWST money to see if this is to stay with the Forum, or not

Road working group
Sarah informs of meeting with Mile Pullen and Paul Cannon, Paul has written a brief report for SCC, when there is a response from this a full report will be written for SCC but will be circulated to the Village first

Local Planning Applications
Planning for The Billiard Room application were discussed, there has been an increase in the size of the application which the Parish Council have recommended for refusal.  Julia has asked Doug to send the details of the application to Mike Pullen.  SC to email Mike Pullen for more information.  It was discussed whether the Forum should alert the Village to this planning as the planning notice was displayed very briefly – Julia will draft email
Julia proposed, for the next AGM, to remove Elm Close and Haybridge from the constitution

Village Obituaries
Julia proposes that all Villagers should be included in a list of obituaries, and proposed that we should ask family and loved ones first

Future Events
Bring and Share 7th May
Picnic for Jubilee – it was discussed to have a picnic and tree planting plan for the Autumn, possible date 5th June, possible location is cricket grounds at Glencot
No Summer fete this year as Sandy cannot commit to organising this event
Can we generate more interest in the Forum by holding these events.  Joanna to create a flyer for the dates of the events.

AOB – Sarah Mardle’s position of Secretary and Julia’s position of Chair – both have expressed they would like to step down from these roles and the positions are therefore available if anyone would like to take them

Next meeting  
Planning meeting for Bring and Share Thursday 21st April at 7.30
Next Cttee meeting 9th June