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

( Note from this point the ‘Tramways Account’ was now referred to as the Transport Account, and was now a separate entity to that of the Electricity Account .) December As decreed at the meeting of the Town Council in November, the Transport Sub-Committee met with representatives from Haslingden and Rawtenstall Corporations. This was to discuss the proposed reductions in the tramway services between their three townships, and also the issue of ‘cheap’ return tickets. All the parties present voiced their opinions and at the culmination of the meeting the Haslingden and Rawtenstall delegations were in accord over the reductions to the tramway services, but stated they were not in favour of the introduction of cheap return fares on the omnibuses at this particular time. The Accrington contingent retired to discuss this outcome, as they were not vested with powers to come to an agreement on this basis. They resolved to make a recommendation to their Transport Committee, whose decision, subject to confirmation by the Full Council would be conveyed to the other Corporations in due course. The Sub-Committee recommended that Accrington Corporation would agree to a reduction in the tramway services on the Rossendale Valley route from 6 to 4 trams per hour every weekday excluding Saturdays, commencing at 12:20. The Saturday service would remain unchanged, whilst the hourly service of omnibuses would increase to every 30 minutes, both these changes to commence from the same date, which was fixed at January 9 th , 1930. With reference to a minute also passed at the October 30 th meeting, recommending to the Council the abandonment of the Oswaldtwistle Section of the tramway on certain terms and conditions, a communication was received from Oswaldtwistle Urban District Council, stating they were prepared to agree to the stated terms and conditions. It was further resolved, the Transport Manager could take out of service for breaking up, one of the original open-top double deck tramcars which had formerly operated on the Accrington to Blackburn services. The Transport Manager reported upon an accident which had occurred to one of the tramcars on Whalley Road in December, 1929. ( Such were the conditions on the morning of the 17 th , that the rails had become iced-up on a steep section of Whalley Road. Approaching the railway bridge the driver, John James Entwistle, had partially applied the brakes but on reaching the end of Owen Street the wheels locked and the car began to slide uncontrollably. The roadway levels off just beyond the Castle Public House and he hoped that he would be able to regain control when this point was reached. Unfortunately a lorry heavily laden with timber was in the way, and the driver of this vehicle attempted to get out of the way of the car by accelerating but could not do so sufficiently to avoid an impact due to other traffic in his way. The car hit the rear of the lorry shattering the front of the tram and seriously injuring Mr Entwistle and injuring four other passengers, all of whom suffered cuts and severe bruising but nothing worse. The lorry driver from Clayton-le-Moors, Mr Thomas Castle, who following the initial impact brought the ensemble to a stand, was commended for his actions. The enquiry stated that Mr Entwistle bore no responsibility for this accident, and returned to work as a tram driver following a stay in hospital. ) 1930 (This was another year when the Council were wrestling with a shrinking tramway network, and an expanding omnibus one with which to take its place. More and more negotiations were taking place with neighbouring authorities on the closing of sections of the tramway service, and the reinstatement of the road surfaces once the lines had been removed.) January The Town Council met, to consider the minutes of the Transport Committee relating to the proposed reduction of the tram service on the Accrington to Rossendale Valley route. Members of the Transport Committee met in the Town Hall Chamber when the Transport Manager submitted ‘certain’ proposals with regard to the regulation of traffic on the Accrington to Baxenden Section of the tramway, which if approved, would allow the Full Council to adopt the recommendations of this Committee, which had been submitted to them at their last meeting. It was resolved to approve his recommendations and the Transport Manager was authorised to give effect to this revised tramway service as from Monday, the 13 th next. They then considered an application from the British Automatic Company Ltd for permission to install ‘automatic weighing machines’ in tramway shelters on each section of the tramway, for the purpose of weighing any parcels traffic. It was resolved the Transport Manager could authorise their installation on the terms submitted by the Company. The Town Clerk then presented a letter from the General Secretary of the Municipal Tramways & Transport Association, stating that a conference of his

324