There is controversy and dismay over the winding up of a group started more than 50 years ago to protect a Berkshire village.
Last week, Hurst Village Society’s extraordinary general meeting agreed to dissolve the society. At one time, the society said it had 250 members.
It was involved in many activities, raising funds for local schools, helping at Hurst Show and running an annual dinner dance.
The society’s committee had sent emails saying despite many appeals over the years, there had not been not enough volunteers for the committee.
Several stalwarts had resigned or were moving away.
Without replacements to ensure the society could function properly, the committee had decided the society should be dissolved.
However Wokingham Today understands that before the meeting, eight villagers told the committee they were prepared to serve.
They are said to be upset that the vote to disband still went ahead.
Others had protested at the meeting, with one long-term member saying: “It’s an absolute scandal.
“To learn that new committee members had put themselves forward, and this wasn’t communicated to those voting by proxy or any members, is a clear betrayal of trust.
“We deserve transparency and honesty.”
One attendee said: “It was a crying shame they had the vote, especially in the light of new
committee members putting themselves forward.”
They claimed nearly a quarter of the 20 people at the meeting, including one who has been a member for 20 years, had not been told about the meeting.
The society had admitted they did not have contact details for 20 members, they said.
The attendee claimed the society had not done enough to inform members about the meeting.
The meeting also voted to hand over the society’s funds amounting to £12,000 to St Nicholas Church, Hurst Primary School, Hurst Village Halls and Hurst Consolidated Charity, which runs almshouses in Hurst and Twyford, according to the attendee.
The meeting was also told the old committee would consider an orderly handover to a new one.
One attendee added: “That should include the website, the newsletter contacts, the skills register and membership details.”
They also suggested the funds should be handed over for the society’s future work for the village.
Hurst Village Society former committee members were contacted by Wokingham Today for comment.
The decision to wind up the society is similar to a similar decision earlier this year by the Finchampstead Society.
