Accrington on Rails - The Tramways: A Complete History - Robert Kenyon

considered expanding the system at the same time as electrification, but now dug in its heels with the Steam Tramway Company’s attempts to come to some agreement on its future.) January The Town Hall & Markets Committee considered an application from the Tramway Company for the tenancy of a vacant stall inside on the south-easterly wall of the Market Hall, to use as their parcels office. This would involve making a doorway from the end of the shop on to the stairway leading up to the reading room, plus alterations to the shop fitting to render it suitable for their requirements. The cost of these structural alterations was estimated to be in the region of £32. It was resolved that this site be let to them at a rental of 5 shillings per week with an additional payment of 1 shilling and 6 pence per week to repay the Corporation for their expenditure in converting this stall. The Tramway Company would also be required to enter into an agreement to refund any outstanding balance in the event of them ending their tenancy before the Corporation’s outlay had been repaid. April The General Works Committee received correspondence from the Board of Trade stating they had received an application from the Tramway Company for a renewal of their licence to operate steam engines to work the tramway for a further four years. It suggested that if the Corporation had any observations to make on this request they ought to make them known. It was resolved not to offer any objections to the renewal of this licence, providing the Company was prepared to keep their engines and cars in “good working order”. May The Legal & Parliamentary Committee heard representations from Messrs Howard & Bullough Ltd and Messrs Whittaker & Duxbury Ltd, requesting the Tramway Company introduce cheap fares during the early mornings and late nights between the Market and the Victoria Hotel on Manchester Road, for the benefit of workmen. It was resolved the Town Clerk would put pressure on the Tramway Company to introduce the same. June The Legal & Parliamentary Committee received a letter from the Secretary of the Tramway Company, stating his Directors had decided to allow ‘workmen’ travelling short distances a single 1 penny fare for their outward and return journeys. As a result no single fares as such would be issued after July 1 st , when the scheme would come into operation. It would apply to only workmen but on the entire network of the Company’s lines. July The Legal & Parliamentary Committee received a letter from the Tramway Company requesting a meeting to discuss matters relating to the possible conversion of the tramway to electric traction. It was resolved that a deputation of four, including the Chairman and Vice-Chair would meet with the representatives of the Tramway Company to this end. A Special Board Meeting of the Accrington Corporation Steam Tramway Company was held on Saturday, September 26 th , 1903, when it was resolved – “To see if Accrington Corporation were desirous of taking over the Church and Clayton le-Moors Section before the end of the Lease, and if so what are they prepared to pay for the surrender value, including the engines, cars etc, to be taken over by them in order to comply with the terms and conditions of the Lease.” October The Tramway Sub-Committee received a letter ( dated September 26 th ), which stated the Tramway Company’s negotiations with the British Electrical Traction Company (BET) had been terminated “abruptly”. It further stated that if the Corporation were prepared to make an offer to terminate the current lease and purchase a proportionate quantity of the rolling stock, they would be “willing and ready” to give any offer favourable consideration. The Town Clerk was authorised to respond to this correspondence saying the Committee would be prepared to consider any terms the Tramway Company would feel disposed to make for the sale of the lease and rolling stock to the Corporation. This was in anticipation of the whole system being converted to electric traction, which would be operated on ‘mutually advantageous terms’ with any tramways remaining in the possession of the Accrington Steam Tramways Company. ( The following exchanges of correspondence then ensued. )

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