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

conversion, which stood at £595, but had now been increased to £1,650. In the light of this, it was unanimously resolved that an appeal would be lodged at the next Quarter Sessions, and the Town Clerk was authorised to make preparations for, and give notice of this appeal. It was further resolved that the ‘expert’ Tramway Manager, Mr P. M. Farraday, would be immediately engaged in support of the Corporation’s appeal. It was then resolved that the representatives of Haslingden and Rawtenstall corporations would be invited to meet with those from Accrington, to consider the best means of successfully prosecuting appeals against the ‘excessive’ assessments of each authority’s tramways. And that a strong deputation including the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Town Clerk and Borough Treasurer should represent Accrington Corporation in any future conferences on this matter. At a meeting of the General Works Committee the Borough Treasurer submitted details of the reapportionment of ground rent upon the Tramway’s depot at - 1,852 square yards @ 2·94 pence per square yard = £22 – 13s – 9d. ( The inaccurate figure quoted then was £22 – 14s – 2d.) A letter was received from Messrs Grimshaw & Cunliffe (architects), stating the Vicar of St. James had approved the Corporation’s plans for the widening of Blackburn Road in conjunction with the Tramway, but the Commissioners required an undertaking that the Corporation would meet any costs they were put to. It was resolved that the Town Clerk would reply giving an undertaking that any costs would indeed be met by the Corporation. A conference of representatives from Accrington, Haslingden and Rawtenstall met in Accrington Town Hall in order to consider the rateable assessments of each of their undertakings. Present at this meeting were Alderman Higham, Councillors Bury, Lupton and Whittaker, the Town Clerk and Borough Treasurer from Accrington. The Mayor Alderman Hamilton, Councillor Waddington, the Town Clerk and Borough Treasurer from Haslingden and Alderman Cryer, the Town Clerk, Borough Treasurer and Electrical Engineer from Rawtenstall. The following resolutions were passed - 1. This conference of representatives is of the opinion that the rateable assessment of the tramways owned or worked by our three Corporations is excessive, and if not modified appeals could be lodged by each authority at Quarter Sessions. 2. That this conference endorses the actions of Accrington Corporation in lodging such an appeal, pledging its full support in this action. 3. That the conference recommends each of the authorities to ‘join’ at the expense incurred in prosecuting any appeals on the basis of a common fund, based on a contribution in proportion to the rateable values of each authority. 4. That with a view to securing an amicable assessment without recourse to heavy expenditure, it was resolved to request the Assessment Committee to refer their findings to a skilled referee, and that only one valuer from each side should appear before this referee, whose appointment would be mutually agreed by these two valuers. Or in the case of no agreement being reached on an appointment made by the President of the F.A.I. or other distinguished institute. 5. It was further resolved that each side would pay the fees of their own valuer and the fees of the referee. 6. That any assessment when fixed should remain at that level for at least five years, and any proposed revisions during that time should be settled by arbitration in a similar manner. 7. That the Town Clerk of Accrington should forward these resolutions to the Assessment Committee “without delay”. November The Electrical, Legal & Parliamentary Committee met to receive a report from the Borough Treasurer on a meeting he had with representatives from Rawtenstall Corporation with regard to the ‘excessive’ current being used by Accrington’s cars whilst running through to Bacup. Then he reported on another meeting with representatives from Haslingden Corporation to discuss the proportion of the cost of this excessive consumption to be paid by them. It was ‘tentatively’ resolved that the balance of this account would be evenly divided between their Corporation and Accrington Corporation. It was further resolved that a meeting should be arranged between all three corporations in order to agree a ‘fixed’ payment with regard to current consumed by Accrington and Rawtenstall cars respectively, and the

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