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

by the Watch Committee, this course of action would be adopted. It was then resolved to insert in the Northern Daily Telegraph newspaper and one electrical trades journal, a piece inviting applications for the posts of shift engineers, three of which were now considered necessary. Permission was then given for the demolition of the old walls in the interior of the Ellison Street tramcar depot. A letter was then read out from Clayton-le-Moors District Council, which contained the following requests - 1) That whilst paving the tramway between the new terminus at the Conservative Club and the Load of Mischief Hotel in Clayton, this work should be done using ‘grit’ setts. 2) That within the district the reconstruction of the Tramway should be laid as double line throughout. 3) That Accrington Corporation endeavours to put on some alternative means of conveyance for passengers travelling between Accrington and Clayton, whilst the reconstruction of the Tramway is underway. It was resolved in reply to inform Clayton District Council that this Committee could not see its way to comply with the first two of these requests. With regard to the third it was stated that in the opinion of the Committee ‘private enterprise’ would provide an alternative means of transportation during the short period of dislocation to the tramway’s services. The Electrical Legal & Parliamentary Committee the Town Clerk submitted a small number of claims for damages and accidents which had occurred during the re-construction of the Tramway. He was authorised to settle any which he thought were genuine. A letter was then read out from the Secretary of the Accrington Steam Tramway Company, requesting a deputation from the Committee to meet with his Directors in an attempt to resolve matters arising from the Arbitrator’s award. It was resolved the Mayor plus two Aldermen would constitute this deputation and arrange a meeting. A communication was read out from the Board of Trade certifying the Church and Oswaldtwistle Section as fit for public traffic, also improving the use of electrical power on the overhead ‘trolley’ system. A letter was read out from Oswaldtwistle District Council expressing their approval of the suggested stopping places with just two exceptions, one at the Golden Cross Inn should replace the Mill Street stop, and the one at Roe Greave Road should be ‘fixed’ as an additional stop. It was resolved to adopt these suggestions unless they proved to be inconvenient in practice. It was further resolved that a tender of £124 submitted by R. P. Garland & Co. for the supply of arc-lamps to illuminate the Ellison Street depot would be accepted, as it was the lowest one received. It was resolved that the account relating to the Tramway undertaking should be paid and it amounted to £20,362 – 6s – 0d. At a meeting of the Finance Committee, the Borough Treasurer requested what he should do with a sum of £2,538 – 10s – 0d, which had been accumulated from the rates as surplus to the Repairs & Renewals fund for tramway purposes. It was resolved to divide this money equally between the Tramway and Electricity depreciation funds. It was further resolved that the sum of £141 – 14s – 1d from the Taxes Suspension Account should also be transferred to the Tramway Repairs & Renewals Fund. September The Town Council met to hear the Town Clerk outline the proposals agreed with Haslingden Corporation for through-running over their lines. It was resolved these proposals would be approved and adopted. He then presented a proposal made by the Electrical Legal & Parliamentary Committee of a settlement with the Accrington Steam Tramway Company in connection with the recent arbitrator’s award. The Chairman of the Electrical Legal & Parliamentary Committee submitted plans drawn up by the Borough Surveyor for the extensions to the Tramway depot, and suggested there should also be a ‘general workshop’ contained within. A deputation was authorised to look into this proposal. It was also decided that jacks for lifting the cars should be provided and kept at the depot. It was then resolved that the Tramway Manager should obtain samples and quotes for the supply of a quantity of mackintoshes and winter gloves for the use of Motormen (Drivers) and Conductors. It was further resolved that the Tramway Manager and Town Clerk should proceed with any offences that contravened the provisions contained within the Accrington Improvement Act 1905, and any Bye-Laws that related to, or affected the Tramway. The Town Clerk then submitted a draft of the proposed agreement with Haslingden Corporation for the through-running arrangements over their lines. It was resolved to accept this draft and pass it on to Haslingden Corporation for their approval. The Mayor then reported on the meeting arranged with Directors of the Steam Tramway Company to discuss the awards contained in the Arbitrator’s report. The

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