Notice of an

EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING

Wednesday 3^rd September 2014

commencing 7.30pm at Woodhatch Community Centre, Whitebeam Drive, Woodhatch, Reigate, Surrey, RH2 7LS

The Committee seeks the approval of the meeting to proceed to the next phase of development at the Reigate Beekeepers Association Apiary at Henfold Copse, Henfold Lane, Beare Green, namely to lay the foundations for the Training Facilities Building and to install drainage facilities.

The EGM’s proceedings will be followed promptly by the scheduled Winter Meeting.

So finally … the sun came out !

Work on the ‘Causeway’ and ‘Parking Area’ had been placed on hold last month. The ground needed to drain and dry out sufficiently to permit completion of this first element of the project. After 2 weeks of waiting, a re-start date was agreed and guess what – it rained!

Not to be deterred, the construction personnel ignored the weather and as you can see above and below, completed the job the day before our cold-weather-delayed first meeting, on [Read more…]

My last update was titled ‘No More Muddy Access’.

Well, for this month’s update, you can simply add:   ‘…but not quite yet’.

Construction of the ‘causeway’ across the paddock started on the 7th March and was progressing exactly according to plan until Thursday 14th March.

Then the rains came!

By the planned completion date on Friday 22nd March, only the substrate and one layer of top surface had been laid.

Bearing in mind the immediate forecast of yet more rain, it was decided to [Read more…]

No More Muddy Access … soon. The first step in the Pavilion Project is now in hand !

Having received permission to develop Henfold Copse (see December 2012 bulletin below), the ‘critical path’ of our plan identified the need to create a stable pathway across the paddock as the first priority.

Research of the various types and methods of construction, and their costs, led to invitations being made to local ‘groundwork’ companies being invited to specify and cost their solutions.

Your Committee has accepted an affordable quotation, which (weather permitting), will see a new ‘Causeway’ in place in time for the first Summer Meeting on Wednesday 3^rd April.

Andrew Buchanan.

During the course of the Pavilion Project, it is anticipated that significant cost savings can be acheived by tapping into the Memberships broad range of building & DIY skills, expertise and experience.

[Read more…]

Detailed planning, not only of the building, but also to create a stable pathway across the paddock commences.

The next set of objectives will be to identify the  ‘critical path’ through the many technical aspects of the development, and to gain Grant Funding. Financing may be expected to impose the greatest influence upon the overall length of the project.

Is is also hoped that members who have ‘especially relevant’ knowledge, experience, skill and interest will be willing and able to step up to help with many aspects of the work to be undertaken. To reduce the necessity of employing costly external professionals, we would like to establish a ‘Task Force’ of members who would like to actively contribute to the project. See the post, Trade Skills Required for current details/needs.

One way in which all visiting members to Henfold Copse can be of great help, will be in accepting that throughout the development there will be areas of the Apiary and the entrance track that will be a mess! It’s difficult to make an omelet without breaking an egg.

Regardless, every effort will be made to carry on with all our Apiary activities.

Andrew Buchanan

The Planning Application to ‘Erect a single storey wooden clubhouse and lay 4m wide surfacing along part of access way from the main entrance…’ was submitted during September 2012 and Granted in November by Mole Valley District Council.

The development approved was assessed against the National Planning Policy Framework Section 9, Mole Valley Core Strategy policy CS14, Mole Valley Local Plan policies ENV22 and REC11, and material considerations, including third-party representation. It was concluded that the development, subject to the conditions imposed, would accord with the development plan and there were no other material considerations to justify a refusal of permission.

The expertise and advice given by Erica Maurer undoubtedly contributed to the smooth progression and acceptance of our application. Work now starts in earnest to raise the necessary funding for this project.

Andrew Buchanan

During a VERY wet Wednesday evening, an EGM had been called by your Committee.

Membership approval was sought and given to proceed with applying for Planning Permission and to construct a Training Facility Building at the Henfold Copse Apiary.