Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

convenient outcome for the public in its arrangements with the L & Y, not in a spirit of hostility but in one of mutual co-operation. The Chairman suggested there were two options open to them. One was to stand back and allow the Railway Company to do what they felt best, or to adopt a ‘lucus standi’ by launching a watching petition in the House of Commons, in order that someone could speak on behalf of the town. Mr Higham said that when he had visited Hunts Bank to speak with the Directors, he was told that no plans had yet been produced which included the remodelling of Accrington’s Station, and that the Company were only looking towards extending their lines on the Blackburn Road side which would provide an easing of the curve onto the viaduct. The Board’s concern was how this would affect the highway, especially that a second bridge would obscure a large amount of natural light. The Chairman said if they adopted a ‘watching brief’ it was likely that the Company would receive permission in the House of Commons, then it would be too late to do anything and we would have to present any objections within ten days of the First Hearing. Mr Higham was of the opinion, that if the L & Y secured possession of the land required they did not need the assent of the Commons in order to proceed. Mr Entwistle felt that any improvements to the Station should be concurrent with this proposed development, whilst Mr Holgate pointed out that the L & Y were already going ahead with the compulsory purchase powers to obtain the land and properties for this extension. He felt it was not the Directors they should be petitioning, but the officers and engineers of the L & Y. For without a watching brief in the House of Commons, they could do whatever they wished without having to take into consideration the interests of the public of the town or the reports of the Board of Trade’s Inspectors on the safety of the current situation. By lodging a watching brief they would be in a position to lobby the Committee of the House thereby being able to negotiate with the Company as equals. They were reminded that when the railway had first come to what was a small town, the railway station then had sufficed, but since then the town had expanded greatly and it was no longer adequate in very many ways. The Government’s own inspectors had said for an important junction it was totally inadequate. Benjamin Hargreaves reminded the Board that they had successfully blocked the merger of the L & Y with the L&NWR, and as a result the carriage of goods on the L & Y was 20% lower than on the other company, which to him was a Pyrrhic victory. He also could not believe that a widening of the archway would not darken the roadway to the extent it would be an obstacle to the remodelling of the layout of the station’s platforms. For with an increase from one to three platforms, more passengers could safely board and alight. Mr Hindle felt that it was better to work alongside the Company rather than just oppose them, but otherwise the ratepayers might accuse them of being remiss or worst still negligent in their responsibilities. They had already received a notice of intentions from the L & Y, on which they had been asked either to support, reject or to remain neutral. Mr Hargreaves pointed out, that this was only the customary notice issued before all Bills. The Chairman said that it was necessary for them to know how this arm would be constructed, for referring to the one across Nuttall Street in the Woodnook district it was far too low to allow the passage of ‘normal’ traffic. Mr Higham proposed that - “A watching brief be lodged, and the Chairman be empowered to call meetings of the Local Board, and to make provisions for any cost to be met out of the general rates”. Benjamin Hargreaves seconded this proposal, and it was unanimously passed. In their Annual Report of the L & Y to its shareholders published in February, they stated that the section between Padiham and Rose Grove had opened, and it was hoped that the North Lancs Loop would soon be opened throughout, but that this had been retarded by circumstances beyond their control. March On Monday, the 26 th , forty rate paying people assembled in the Peel Institute for a public meeting of the Sub-Committee of the Local Board, in order to discuss the L & Y’s Bill for an extension to the railway in Accrington. All the Board’s Members were present when Mr Whittaker, the Clerk to the Board, read out the notice convening this meeting. The Chairman opened by stating that they were all aware of the steps that the L & Y intended to take regarding this extension, and that this was “The formal method by which we could lawfully protect the interests of the town, so the resolution I propose reads thus” - “That this meeting of the ratepayers and members of the Local Board of Health, have convened in a manner provided in Acts 38 and 39, Chapter 55 Schedule 3, and hereby grants consent to the Local Board to oppose the Bill of the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Company now before Parliament, to

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