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

The annual consumption of electricity is currently 1,275,000 units per annum. The amount of loan repaid and is in hand for this purpose is £114,009 which leaves a liability of £49,298, whilst the Depreciation & Renewals Fund is currently at £50,971. To date the ambulance which serves Accrington, Church, Clayton-le-Moors, Huncoat and Altham, had answered 4,766 calls and travelled a total of 37,584 miles. April At a meeting of the town’s Jubilee Celebrations Committee held on the 5 th , it was resolved to ask the Tramways Committee to allow schoolchildren to travel free on the trams on June 27 th , the day of the ‘Field Day’. The Tramway Sub-Committee met and with reference to a minute passed at the January meeting, the Tramway Manager had been in talks with his counterparts in Haslingden and Rawtenstall, on a possible revision of services on the Rossendale Valley section. The correspondence was still ongoing, and he would report on any progress in due course. It was resolved the Borough Surveyor be asked to prepare a sketch of the shelter which it was proposed would be built in the Oakleigh District of the Clayton section. It was resolved that all children should be permitted to travel without charge on tram cars on June 27 th , next, between the hours of 12 noon and 9pm to allow them to take part in the Schoolchildren’s Jubilee Field Day, which formed a part of the town’s celebrations. During the Jubilee Week schoolchildren assembled on the Market Grounds for the celebrations, whilst the Grammar School chose the occasion to open its new sports pavilion. A single-deck car was specially decorated to commemorate the occasion with illuminations and wording 1878 – 1928 and Civic Week banners. May The Borough Surveyor submitted to the Electricity & Tramways Committee a drawing of the tramway shelter which it was proposed to build on Whalley Road, close to the junction with Ribblesdale Avenue. It was resolved that this was acceptable and he was authorised to proceed with this work. It was also resolved to ask the Cemetery & Watch Committee for permission to erect a tramway shelter on land forming the extension to the Cemetery on the northerly side of Burnley Road, adjacent to the tram terminus. Referring to his report at the last meeting, the Tramway Manager was now able to report that Rawtenstall Corporation had now agreed to the proposed revision of the joint tramway service linking Accrington with Rawtenstall via Haslingden. In future on Saturdays after 17:00 the cars would now run at 10-minute intervals instead of at every 7½ minutes as at present. The Tramway Manager reported that the existing agreement with the Executive of the Workpeople’s Hospital Fund was due to expire on the 31 st of the month. They had requested a renewal of this contract for a further twelve months, but would renew the contract on the same terms whilst also asking for a reduction in charges. It was resolved that since operating the ambulance represented a ‘considerable loss’ to the Corporation, they could not recommend any reduction in charges, but would agree to renewing the contract for a further twelve months on these same terms. A similar reply was transmitted to the local St. John Ambulance Association, following a similar request from that association. It was then resolved the Tramway Manager could transfer the horse drawn ambulance to the Sanitary Department for their use. Finally, the Town Clerk reported that the lease on the Corporation’s premises at 36 Blackburn Road in Church would expire at the end of the month. This property was leased to Dr Pare and it was resolved to renew his tenancy for a further five years. The Watch Committee met and discussed the proposed building of a tramway shelter on land forming part of the Cemetery extension. Following discussions it was resolved to refer this back to the Tramway Sub-Committee for further consideration, with the suggestion that a more suitable site should be found. The Town Clerk submitted a communication from Blackburn Corporation who suggested convening a conference of local authorities to consider the question of forming a ‘transport committee’ solely for dealing with the licensing of motor omnibuses. It was resolved that the Mayor and Alderman Barlow along with the Town Clerk should represent the Council at this meeting. June The Tramways Sub-Committee met again and it was resolved to recommend that Lancashire County Council should be approached to obtain their permission to erect a shelter on the footpath adjoining the Cemetery land, on the northerly side of Burnley Road, in close proximity to the Hillock Vale tramway terminus. The Electrical & Tramways Committee met to receive the Borough Treasurer’s statement of accounts for the financial year ending on March 31 st , 1928. ITEM £ Balance at April 1 st 1927 = £51,68 1

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