Whyteleafe Village Council currently has two vacancies for village councillors.  The Council is the level of local government closest to the community and has a responsibility to work for the benefit of all. It seeks candidates to represent Whyteleafe's diversity and help it deliver a better place to live and work.

Could you be a Whyteleafe Village Councillor?

3 May 2012 is the date when Whyteleafe electors can choose 7 people to represent them as Village Councillors for the next 4 years. Nominations must be submitted in March.

By becoming a councillor you can:

• Deal with local issues
• Represent the views of residents
• Have an impact on local decision-making
• Have a say on how money is spent in the community 

The council has recently supported the relocation and preservation of coal post no. 171 situated outside 376 Godstone Road. Better weather is now awaited to enable the repainting of the post in its correct colours to show the Corporation of London badge and  identification marks. The 2 photos show the new location, out of harm's way, but within a very short distance of its earlier position, and the large amount of post which is normally below the surface.

This post was originally erected under the London Coal and Wine Duties Continuance Act 1861, but the history goes back to mediaeval times when the City of London had the right of "metage" (measuring) of coal and other goods. These rights were confirmed by Charters of King James I in the early 1600s and most notably taxes raised contributed towards the rebuilding of London after the Great Fire in 1666. The City was permitted to erect " a Boundary stone or some other permanent Mark where any turnpike road, public highway, railway or canal entered the District." The purpose was to show at what point the goods would become liable for tax as they travelled towards London, although no tax inspectors were stationed at the post! 

The posts form a ring around London and of the approximately 250 posts, as at May 2010, 211 still survive in some form, but not necessarily on the line of the 1861 London boundary and some are in museums. Most are listed buildings of special architectural or historic interest. Whyteleafe is fortunate in having 4 (plus a surviving plinth) and several more within a short distance of the village boundary. Look out for them around the village; they are all visible from the road.

Further information can be obtained from the following websites:

www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

www.coaldutyposts.org.uk

Whyteleafe Village Council acknowledges the content of this article is adapted from the work of Mr Martin Nail published on his website coaldutyposts.org.uk under the terms of "Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial Share-Alike 2.0 UK -England & Wales License" and may not be used for commercial purposes.

Sincere thanks are due to Mr & Mrs Stuart, the Bourne Society, City of London Corporation, Historical Buildings Officer for Surrey County Council, Tandridge District Council Planning Department and the contractors for the successful implementation of this project to preserve a little of Whyteleafe's history.