Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

I suggest you might like to find an alternative yard at the Willow Iron Works, to which we could give you a siding in lieu of that which you possess at the opposite side of the railway. In the event of you not being prepared to agree to these suggestions, we shall be obliged to drop the Bill for the duration of this Parliament. We would regret having to do this, as the widening of the span over Blackburn Road would enable us to provide a much better passenger railway station, with regard to the accommodation we would like to give to the public. If this does not clarify our position I shall be glad for our Engineer to meet with you in Accrington. Yours, John F. Aspinall It was resolved the Town Clerk reply at once to this letter, stating the Corporation could not for the moment entertain these amended proposals, and that unless the clauses contained in the present Bill, which affected Accrington were not withdrawn, the Corporation would ‘steadfastly’ oppose it unless their requirements as previously stated were agreed to by the Railway Company. September The Health Committee of the Town Council heard more complaints from residents in the area of Lonsdale Street, about smoke drifting from the locomotives on the L & Y’s engine sheds on Charter Street. The Health Inspector had made two observations that week and on both occasions the problem was continuous. It became ‘impossible’ for the tenants of houses on Lonsdale Street to open their windows when an easterly wind was blowing. The Town Clerk was authorised to write to the Railway Company requesting them to remedy this problem ‘immediately’. The Legal & Parliamentary Committee received a report of the Mayor and Town Clerk’s meeting with the General Manager of the L & Y with regard to the Company’s proposals for extending their Goods Station accommodation in Accrington. These proposals included the Town’s Yard being taken for an enlargement to the goods facilities in the direction of Lonsdale Street. To achieve this end the Railway Company would acquire and donate to the Corporation a site of a similar size adjoining the Willows Mill, with all the facilities equal to those in the existing Town Yard. The lead in lines would be joined to those at the Coal Sidings now sited at Antley. The L & Y promised to submit new plans to their Directors for the enlargement and improvements to the passenger station, which they were anxious to complete without further delay. October Although the L & Y had given an undertaking that they would make arrangements to stop smoke from drifting from their engine sheds, it was reported that no improvements had been made to the problem. It was resolved the Town Clerk would write again to the Railway Company to point this out. The Legal & Parliamentary Committee heard a deputation had submitted the Council’s terms to the L & Y, with respect to them enlarging the Goods Sidings by taking the Council’s Yard. These terms were that the Company should provide a fully equipped yard on the opposite side of the railway adjacent to the Willow Iron Works, with a connecting siding. Also the present underpass is replaced by an overhead bridge, whilst the span of the Willows Lane Bridge is lengthened to 42 feet. The deputation reported that these conditions would be accepted by the Railway Company as the basis for a resolution, and these amendments would be included in their Bill for the next session of Parliament. November At a meeting of the Library Committee, it was resolved that a space would be allotted in the reading room of the new library, for the railway guides and timetables to be kept. December It was resolved the Legal & Parliamentary Committee took into consideration the terms of the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Bill 1902, with specific regard to the protection of the Corporation’s interests. It was resolved printed copies of the terms be circulated to each member of the Council, together with plans for all those properties affected by the proposed extensions. With regard to the L & Y’s Bill (of 1902), Legal & Parliamentary Committee resolved to approve and adopt the Company’s proposals to take over the Corporation’s yard.

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