Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

April The General Works Committee met for the Town Clerk to remind them that in March he had been in touch with the Ministry of Transport with regard to the provisions of the Bridges Act of 1929, concerning the Woodnook Railway arch, to ascertain if the Act would allow for the reconstruction of a new bridge to replace the narrow arch. He now presented a letter from the Minister stating they would be prepared to consider a grant of 75% of the cost of the reconstruction of this arch, falling upon the Council as the highway authority responsible for it. It also suggested that if the Council was to make such an application, that a draft agreement should be made to with the LMS, and this should be submitted to the department as soon as possible. It was resolved the Council should make an application for this grant and also make a draft arrangement with the Railway Company as had been suggested. It was further resolved that the estimated cost of the work when finalised, should be passed on to the Ministry of Health for permission to borrow the requisite amount. May The Town Council met, when it was resolved the Town Clerk should communicate with the LMS Railway Company, asking them to issue instructions for the Paxton Street entrance to the station to be kept open on Sundays for the convenience of those residents who reside in the western suburbs of the town. The General Works Committee also met and the Town Clerk reported that following consultations between the Chairman along with the Borough Engineer and the LMS, with a view to replacing the railway bridge over Nuttall Street in the Woodnook district of the town, he now had in his possession the terms and conditions to be embodied into the draft agreement with the Railway Company. It was resolved to inform the LMS that the Corporation was definitely proposing to go ahead with this scheme, and requesting they should submit a complete statement of the Terms & Conditions together with detailed plans and an estimate of the cost of these works. July At a meeting of the Town Council, a communication was read out from the LMS Station Master of Accrington Railway Station, stating that he had recommended that the Paxton Street entrance to the platforms would henceforth be kept open for the public on summer Sundays. October The Town Council met and referring to a motion with regard to the closing of the Paxton Street entrance to the Railway Station on Saturday nights through to Monday mornings, the Town Clerk reported he had been in touch with the LMS and received a reply from them that they had completed their investigations as to the justification and additional expense of keeping it open. Therefore a further reply would be forthcoming. November At a meeting of the Watch Committee, the Town Clerk reported that as a result of correspondence with the Divisional Engineer of the LMS and the Ministry of Transport, the total cost of the reconstruction of the Woodnook railway arch over Nuttall Street, was now put at £12,470 plus £750 for the road-works. This would amount to a total estimated cost of £13,220. 1931 March The railway lines in the vicinity of Scaitcliffe Bridge were blocked for a time on the 2 nd , when there was a collision between a passenger train and a light engine. Fortunately no one was hurt and the line was quickly cleared. May The General Purposes Committee met, when the Town Clerk submitted a communication from the Clerk to Lancashire County Council expressing the opinion that it was desirable for the Corporation to agree to the County Council carrying out the reconstruction of the Queens Road Railway Bridge over the LMS Railway’s lines. He requested Accrington Corporation’s agreement and a copy of a resolution to that effect, so that they might inform the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Health in making an application for a loan for the County Council’s share of the cost of this scheme. It was resolved to recommend that Accrington Council would be recommended to agree to the County carrying out this work. July Tragedy struck on the 21 st , when a shunter alighted from his wagon on Lonsdale Street Bridge and was struck and killed by a passing train. August At a meeting of the Libraries Committee, the Borough Librarian reported he had received a letter from the Goods Superintendent of the LMS Railway Company, who wished to hold three lectures on the subject of ‘The inner workings of motor vehicles’ during November, December and January for the training and education of the Company’s staff. It was resolved he could have use of the lecture room in the Carnegie Library at a charge of 10 shillings per lecture.

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