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

November The Electricity & Tramways Committee met and the Tramway Manager reported he had received from the Accrington & Church Industrial Co-operative Society Ltd, further applications for illuminated signs to be fixed to tramway standards as follows - 1. Near to Croft House on Blackburn Road. 2. Near to the drapery department on Abbey Street. 3. Close to the top of Oak Street. 4. Opposite to Broadley’s shop on Blackburn Road. 5. From J. S. Rennards – near to the foot of Birch Street on Blackburn Road. It was resolved to allow the fixing of these signs. The Town Clerk reported he had received a letter from the Ministry of Transport pointing out that the Accrington Corporation Tramways (Temporary increase of charges) Order 1921 would cease to have effect from February 15 th , 1923. It said that if the Corporation were not in a position to revert to the statutory maximum fares, it would be necessary for them to make further application for another order to charge increased fares in accordance with the Statutory Undertakings (Temporary increase of charges) Act 1920, as continued in force by the Expiring Laws Act 1922. It was resolved that an application should be made without delay under the provisions of this Act to the Ministry of Transport for an order to charge an increase above the permanent statutory maximum of tramway fares, not exceeding 50% in the case of ordinary fares and 20% in the case of workpeople’s tickets, so as to enable the tramway to operate without incurring losses. What was more of an embarrassment than anything else was an incident which occurred during an extremely dense fog, when the driver of a Rawtenstall car completely missed the terminus of the service from the Rossendale Valley, just before the railway arch on Blackburn Road. He had travelled all the way to the Commercial Hotel in Church before realising his error. He had also overrun the crossing where trams could turn, so was left with no alternative to proceed further on over Blackburn’s tracks before he could reverse his car back in the direction of Accrington. Fortunately for him and his tram, the next crossing point was just before the lines went under the low railway bridge at Blythe’s otherwise he would have had to explain why the top deck of his car was missing. December The Electricity & Tramways Committee met and the Tramway Manager submitted a quotation for the supply of a Band Sawing Machine, and was given permission to obtain the same. He was also authorised to make arrangements for a service of trams to operate on Christmas Day, similar to that of the previous year. The Committee then considered a report from the Borough Treasurer and the Tramway Manager on the likely effect on the undertaking if they had to revert to the fares which were in operation before the Great War, but could not recommend that they were in a position to take that step at this time. It was finally resolved that the Borough Surveyor should make an inspection and report on the condition of the track at the soonest time, in order to ascertain when relaying would be necessary. 1923 (Several issues involving the operation of rival motor omnibus services and the powers with which to regulate them were now beginning to dominate the agenda. It seems that it had become apparent to the Council that if these supposed usurpers could not be beaten, then the best way to deal with their presence was to join them, and so moves dedicated to the operation of omnibuses by the Corporation now began to take shape. During 1923 Accrington Corporation made its first application for the powers to run motor buses. There were several independent operators running bus services in the town, principally the Rishton & Antley Motor Services Company, from a garage on Blackburn Road on the boundary between Accrington and Church. To operate omnibuses required an Act of Parliament but this first application was refused.) January The Electricity & Tramways Committee met and again discussed a possible revision of tramway fares. The Chairman stated he had gone extensively into this subject with all the ‘officials’, and after long discussions it was resolved to defer a decision to another meeting, after members of this Committee had been supplied with further statistics. At another meeting of the Committee, they received a deputation from the Transport & General Workers’ Union, who submitted certain alleged grievances in connection with the workings of the Saturday afternoon service to Clayton-le-Moors. After listening to their complaints the Chairman promised that ‘full consideration’ would be given to this matter. February At a meeting of the Electricity & Tramways Committee they heard the response of the Ministry of Transport to the Council’s recent application for an Order under the Statutory Undertakings

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