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

The Town Hall & Markets Committee met, when the Borough Surveyor submitted his plans for a tramway shelter to be erected by the Electrical, Legal & Parliamentary Committee, on the easterly side (Peel Street) of the Market Grounds. It was resolved that this committee would not allow such a structure to be put up on the Market Grounds. The Town Council heard the minutes of the Electrical, Legal & Parliamentary Committee with regard to a tramway shelter. The Chairman, with the consent of the Council withdrew the minute relating to the erection of a tramway shelter on the Market Ground, “for further consideration”. November At a meeting of the Electrical, Legal & Parliamentary Committee, in pursuance of a minute passed by them on December 15 th , 1909, it was resolved that the Sub-Committee were authorised to purchase a motor tower wagon at a price not exceeding £700. It was then resolved to invite the Town Hall & Markets Committee to the next meeting of the Full Council, to again consider the question of erecting a tramway shelter on the Peel Street side of the Market Grounds. The Tramway Manager reported that one of the sets of automatic signals on the Oswaldtwistle Section was not working satisfactorily. It was resolved they would be replaced with a new set obtained from Messrs Brecknell of Bristol at an estimated cost of £15. He was also given permission to obtain a clock for the Parcels Office of the Tramway undertaking. The Town Clerk then submitted a number of communications he had received from various bodies, protesting against the advertising of ‘intoxicating liquor’ on Accrington’s tramcars. It was resolved the Tramway Manager should contact the contractors holding the lease for the advertising rights, with a view to them withdrawing these adverts. He was also instructed to take similar steps with the firm who were responsible for printing the supply of tramway tickets, as similar advertisements had also appeared on their reverse sides. At a meeting of the Electrical, Legal & Parliamentary Committee, it was resolved that the cost of the motor tower wagon would be deducted from the Tramways Revenue Account. Following this the Sub Committee met to discuss the number of tenders they had received from well-known firms for the supply of the motor tower wagon. It was resolved to accept the one from Leyland Motors Ltd, for a 30 horse power vehicle at a cost of £610 or thereabouts, subject to certain modifications to the original specification to be made by the Chairman and Vice-Chairman. At a joint meeting of the Electrical, Legal & Parliamentary Committee and the Town Hall & Markets Committee they were again asked to consider the erection of a tramway shelter on the Peel Street side of the Market Ground. December The Town Hall & Markets Committee met again and adjourned the question of a tramway shelter for the Market Ground even though they had been requested to accept this scheme. The Electrical Sub-Committee met to consider the question of obtaining a number of additional tramcars. It was resolved to invite tenders for the supply of 3 more single deck cars and 2 more double deck cars all of the radial truck type. The Borough Surveyor was requested to prepare a list showing how many rail joints had been repaired with fish plates or by welding. A petition was read out from the motormen asking for vestibules to be fitted on the tramcars to give them protection during bad weather. On the recommendation of the Tramway Manager it was resolved that vestibules should be fitted to the new cars to be ordered, and that following a period of twelve months in service, he would report on the advisability or otherwise of having similar fronts fitted to the existing fleet. The Borough Treasurer reported to a meeting of the Electrical, Legal & Parliamentary Committee, that under Section 26b of the Accrington Corporation Act 1905, the borrowing power for the electrical equipment and the tramcars for the tramway was £40,500, whilst the amount actually used was £38,254 – 7s – 10d leaving a surplus of £2,245 – 12s – 2d. It was resolved that the Council should apply to the Board of Trade for permission to borrow a further £1,600 the amount over and above the unexhausted borrowing limit, for the purpose of purchasing these five new cars. It was then resolved a Sub-Committee would visit Doncaster to inspect some tramcars recently delivered to that undertaking, which were fitted with a newer type of radial truck and report back on their findings. Correspondence was received from Messrs J. W. Courtenay & Co, the agent responsible for advertising on Accrington’s cars, in response to the suggestion that ‘certain’ advertisements should be removed from the tramcars. It was decided that the Tramway Manager should write to the agents making an offer to them of a rebate of £10 per annum as compensation for the removal of these offensive adverts for the remaining period of their contract, whilst replacing them with ones more suitable. On a vote this motion was thrown out! The Chairman, Borough Treasurer and Tramway Manager were authorised to

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