Betchworth & Buckland Society
For the protection and conservation of the quality of life in Betchworth & Buckland.
Betchworth & Buckland are in Surrey, England. The Society is managed by a voluntary committee to carry out four Objectives:
Objectives
1. To protect the natural and built environment in our villages.
2. To provide financial support and advice for projects that enhance village life
3. To encourage interest in the local history, culture and personalities of our villages
4.To promote social events to bring together residents of Betchworth and Buckland and raise funds
Activities to support our Objectives
1. To protect the environment in our villages We aim to protect the village pro-actively by acting as a representative body for residents’ views. In addition to bringing issues to your attention, we gain expert professional representation residing in our villages and from personal networks, to generate compelling case views and (where appropriate) legal representation on issues such as:
- Minimising the disturbance of sand and chalk pit-mining and landfill (e.g. Nionisle, Hanson, Franks)
- Protection of local facilities (post offices & postal services, village shops, inns, bus & rail services, policing, etc)
- Controlling air, noise & light pollution (e.g. Capel incinerator, Gatwick expansion, helicopter noise, unwanted streetlights)
- Traffic & motor bike speeding, parking and cycling
- Footpaths and bridleways
- Refuse collection and recycling
- Responding with formal representations to Planning applications (e.g. individual housing proposals, mineral rights extensions or potential major housing-estate or commercial developments).
Our Society offers a powerful additional channel to the local Parish Councils, in supporting member-villagers to give a direct input to Planning Enquiries and Hearings. As an independent, recognised community group, membership of our Society helps to command a direct influence.
2. To provide financial support and advice for projects that enhance village life
For projects that enhance our mission, the Society may elect to award a grant toward the cost of the project. This is at the discretion of the Committee, and subject to funds being available from our subscriptions. Activities include:
- Direct grants to improve the ‘quality of life’ in our villages. We have supported floodlighting the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Buckland, the building of The Acorn’s Children’s Nursery and sponsoring the Golden Jubilee Day activities
- Advice to villagers on grant availability for conservation of our ancient buildings, farm, ecology and rural development projects
3. To encourage interest in the local history, culture and personalities of our villages
- We have two public meetings per year with guest speakers that are of interest to our membership, usually concerning our local area or immediate surroundings.
- Organised meetings and lectures on local history, ecology, conservation, building restoration, local family genealogy, archaeology, etc, usually related to our villages and surrounding areas.
- Promotion of local events in collaboration with other bodies (e.g. Civic Trust Open Days, Dorking Local History Group).
4. To promote social events to bring together residents of Betchworth and Buckland and raise funds.
It is always good to socialise with people locally, especially those sharing a love of our villages, and appreciate the privilege of enjoying our local countryside. We will particularly welcome those who have recently moved to our villages to introduce them to our neighbours. Some social events have an open invitation to all members and villagers. This will also help the Society to raise funds to meet our other goals.
- Social events – such as open gardens, barbeques, local guided walks, lectures, etc, are announced as a published programme of events at the start of the year - with local publicity through posters, the Parish Magazines, and email reminders shortly before event
- A web site stating our mission, goals, events and member activities.
Further Resources
2009 Events Calendar
Environmental Watching Briefs
Contacts & Membership
History of the Society
Gallery - c. 20 photos
5 years of Events (10 pp Word)
Constitution of the Betchworth & Buckland Society (4pp Word)
Newsletters
We keep members up to date with our activities through a biannual newsletter
Please access the latest issues below (PDF files):
1 Summer 2008
2 February 2009