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

Corporation’s own expense. His actions were approved. On the same day at a meeting of the Watch Committee the Town Clerk reported that the Chairmen and Vice-Chairs of this and the General Works Committee had met to discuss the possibility of providing alternative accommodation for the Motor Ambulance currently housed at the tramway sheds. It was decided to defer a decision on this matter for the time being. (During the period of the General Strike in the summer of 1926, police officers were detailed to ride on those cars which were operated by strike-breaking drivers and conductors, in order to avoid any possible violent confrontations.) 1927 (This was the year when the Corporation faced some of its most important work. It was struggling to retain control of its market share on the trams, when competition from operators of motor omnibuses was becoming more of a threat, which it was finding difficult to contain.) January The Tramways-Sub-Committee met and the Tramway Manager tendered for the supply of new steel tyres, and it was resolved to accept the one submitted by Messrs Brown Bailey’s Works Ltd, in Sheffield for the supply of the following - 50 driving wheel tyres @ £2 – 15s – 6d each, and 10 pony truck tyres @ £2 – 13s – 3d each. February At a meeting of the Tramways-Sub-Committee the Tramway Manager submitted information of the full service timetable for each individual section of the Tramway. His attention was drawn to the alleged overcrowding on the early morning workmen’s car from Church to Accrington, and he was instructed to investigate this matter. April The Electrical & Tramways Committee met, when the Town Clerk reported on an accident which had occurred involving motorman J. C. Holland some years previously. He was still in the employ of the Corporation at the Ellison Street depot. The Town Clerk stated he had been in talks with an official from the Transport & General Workers’ Union with a view to arranging terms for a final settlement of compensation, and it was resolved to settle Mr Holland’s claim on the terms now set out. The Town Clerk reported on a collision which had occurred on the Rawtenstall section of the tramway on November 24 th last, which had resulted in damage to one of Accrington’s tramcars, and the subsequent correspondence and negotiations which had taken place in order to obtain an adequate settlement of the claim for damages, made by him on behalf of Accrington Corporation. It was resolved to accept the terms of the settlement now presented, which he had provisionally agreed upon. June At a meeting of the Electrical & Tramways Committee, The Tramway Manager submitted an application from the National League for the Blind for ‘free’ travelling facilities to be given to the blind in an area including the boroughs of Accrington, Haslingden, Rawtenstall and Bacup. The Tramway Manager was instructed to reply, that all the requisite facilities are granted at the present time, subject to application being made to the appropriate local organisation. A communication was received from the Ministry of Transport intimating it intended to revise the ‘Regulations & Bye-Laws’ which dated from February 3 rd , 1908, and formulated by the then Board of Trade for securing the safe working of the tramways. Before proceeding with this revision, they wished to ascertain if Accrington Corporation wished to change the rules on maximum speeds. This they could do by a general increase as might be desirable or simply by fixing an adjustment of speeds ranging in multiples of 4 miles per hour. It was resolved the Town Clerk would reply that this Corporation desired a general increase in permissible speeds over and above the maximum prescribed by the existing regulations and bye-laws. July Meeting again the Tramways Sub-Committee considered tenders for the supply of uniforms for the employees of the tramways, and it was resolved to accept the one submitted by Messrs Briggs, Jones & Gibson of Manchester so a formal contract was entered into. The Electrical & Tramways Committee met when it was resolved the Sub-Committee should take measures to prevent any complications arising, out of the sale of an old stock of tramway tickets. The Tramways Sub-Committee met to receive a report from the Tramway Manager with regard to the value of some ‘old’ tramway tickets still in current use. He was instructed to utilise them by obliterating the existing printing by means of a rubber stamp to indicate the correct fare on the section affected. On July 14 th , W. J. Newton A.M I.C.E. resigned his position as Borough Surveyor. August The Electrical & Tramways Committee met when the Chairman made reference to the ‘sudden’ death of the Chief Clerk in the Parcels Department of the Tramway undertaking. The Chairman, Vice-

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