Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

June At a meeting of the Town Council, the Town Clerk read a communication from the LMS with reference to the recent representations made to them by the Council, regarding the lack of accommodation at Accrington Railway Station. It stated the question of improving the facilities had been given careful consideration, but in view of the recent ‘labour troubles’ which had had repercussions on the finances of the Railway Company, the present was “not a suitable time for incurring the expenditure which would arise from this”. It was resolved that the Council had received this decision with ‘great disappointment’. What is more they did not accept that this was a satisfactory reason, rather just an excuse for postponing this work yet again! It would warn them that the Council would again press them in the strongest way to consider again this scheme and to put into place the necessary improvements. August The Town Council met when the Town Clerk read out a letter from the LMS acknowledging receipt of the June letter, and promising that the matters raised ‘should’ receive their full attention. The Head Librarian reported that he had now received the twenty LMS posters for the exhibition which would take place between 10:00 and 20:00 in the Lecture Hall of the Carnegie Library during September and October. September The General Works Committee heard a report from the Town Clerk, that he had been in touch with the Solicitors acting for Mr Fort, (Capron & Co., of London), with a view to the Council acquiring more land on the westerly side of the railway arch on Whalley Road. They intimated that Mr Fort was willing to sell the whole of his rights under the railway arch subject to any rights the LMS Railway Company might have. It was resolved the Town Clerk should enter into negotiations accordingly. The Town Clerk reported he had since been in communication with the LMS and with Mr Fort’s Solicitors, with a view to acquiring this land. He expected to be able to report on his progress in a short period of time. December At a meeting of the Law & Parliamentary Committee, the Town Clerk drew their attention to the provisions of the LMS Railway Bill 1927, in so far as it related to any private street works. 1927 July On the 14 th , Mr W. J. Newton, A.M. I.C.E., the long-time Borough Surveyor of Accrington, resigned. He had for a long number of years worked on numerous projects concerning transport in the town. It was acknowledged that he had contributed immeasurably to the progress of the town. August When the General Works Committee met, a letter was received from the County Surveyor in reply to one from the Borough Surveyor of Accrington, intimating the Main Roads & Bridges Committee hoped in the near future to be in a position to enlarge their programme for dealing with the many unsatisfactory railway bridges within the County, and these included the LMS bridge over the railway on Penny House Lane. September The Town Council met when their attention was drawn to the serious lack of booking and ‘other’ accommodation at Accrington Railway Station, which was causing much inconvenience and annoyance to the travelling public. The Town Clerk was authorised to communicate with the LMS requesting that steps be taken to improve the existing facilities. October The General Works Committee considered the question of widening the railway arch over Nuttall Street in the Woodnook district, which had been raised by Councillor Ellis at the last meeting of the Town Council. The Town Clerk was instructed to communicate with the LMS in the first instance to ascertain whether and on what terms they would be prepared to collaborate with the Corporation in effecting the desired widening and improvements. December The Town Council met when the Town Clerk read out the following letter from the LMS Railway Company - Office of the Vice-President, Euston Station, LONDON. November 24 th , 1927. Sirs,

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