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

6. A further inspection was made in December last, and as all the modifications mentioned had been carried out in compliance with the previous suggestions, no faults were found therewith. With regard to the lines M-Gen Hutchinson made recommendations which have since been ratified by a Certificate from the Board of Trade that a licence has now been granted for the full 7 years from April last, to use steam on the Clayton-le-Moors section, and Provisional Licenses for 12 months and 2 years respectively on the Church and Baxenden Sections from December 1983. 7. Your Directors apologise that your lines, notwithstanding the large sums of money that have been expended annually upon them, do not warrant the Board of Trade in granting other than limited certification on sections which were not laid down by this Company. 8. The time granted for the relaying of the Church Section renders it imperative that this work commences at once, and as only 2 years is allowed for the alterations to the Baxenden Section, your Directors are taking advantage of the low state of the Iron Markets, have agreed to purchase 150 tons of steel girder rail. This has been done at a saving compared with other purchases of between £4 - 10s - 0d per ton at its highest point to £15 per ton. As soon as the winter is ended work on the Church Section will begin. 9. Seeing that the Board of Trade’s condemnation applies only to the ‘Barker Rails’, as leased from Accrington Corporation, and your Directors are considering that the Corporation are under some moral responsibility thereof, it has been thought advisable to approach the Corporation with a view to obtaining some financial assistance from them. These negotiations are now pending, and if completed before this AGM, the terms will be laid before you. If not, then a full report will be sent to you in due course. 10.In the latter part of the year Accrington Corporation widened and improved Peel Street. This necessitated the lifting of your lines, and putting down a double length of rails from a point outside the Caxton Printing Works to its junction with Whalley Road. A considerable improvement in traffic has been effected. 11.The current terminus of the Church Section has, since you last met, been at a point opposite Dr. Dearden’s Surgery at Antley House, instead of as previously outside the Commercial Hotel in Church. This has been brought about by your Directors’ inability to arrange terms with the Blackburn Tramway Company for use of their passing loop in Church as a ‘joint’ user. Negotiations are now pending between your Directors and Accrington Corporation, with a view to laying down a new loop at the terminus of your lines. All the arrangements have been made for so doing, providing the sanction of one of the property owners adjoining this proposed loop can be obtained. Your Directors hope that the necessary consent can be obtained, and a proper terminating loop can be established at this terminus. 12.Your Directors record with deep regret the passing of their late Chairman (Councillor Mr Haythornthwaite, and wish to take this opportunity to record their appreciation of his contribution as a colleague, and the many excellent qualities he possessed. 13.The Directors have also accepted the resignation of Mr Newton. In his stead Alderman Kenyon, who is an influential member of Accrington Council, has been elected, and the

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