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

neighbouring Urban District Councils were all having their say on the services which would replace the trams, and even distant Bacup was causing Accrington to have to consider their application on a jointly operated trunk route. The abandonment of the section of tramway between Church and Accrington meant that there would be no more through-running by trams from Blackburn.) January The Transport Sub-Committee met, when the Transport Manager submitted tenders and samples for the supply of uniform clothing for the employees of his department for the next twelve months. The Chair, Vice-Chair with Alderman Rawson and Councillor Dawson were authorised to make a decision on which was most suitable. They also considered the question of disposing of the redundant tramcars seats, and it was left to the Chairman, Vice-Chair and Councillor Roberts to investigate this and report back. It was then resolved that schoolchildren up to the age of fourteen years could travel on the tramcars and omnibuses for half fare, after the accounts for the current financial year had been submitted. The Transport Sub-Committee met and the ‘special’ Sub-Committee considered several tenders and samples for the supply of uniforms and the following were recommended for acceptance from Messrs Briggs, Jones & Gibson Ltd, of Brook Mills, Lostock Street, Oldham Road, Manchester. (1) In Grade C cloth - 8 Inspectors’ tunics, Grade C cloth, trousers and overcoats. (2) In Grade C cloth - 131 Drivers’, Motormen’s and Conductors’ tunics, trousers and overcoats. (3) In Grade B cloth - 15 Parcel Youths’ tunics, trousers and in Grade C cloth overcoats. From Mr Albert Perry, of 60 Park Road, St. Annes-on-the-Sea - 8 Inspectors’ caps, 115 Drivers’, Motormen’s, Conductors’ & Parcel Youths’ caps. Also the Transport Committee 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 Transport Committee met, when a letter was received from a firm of advertising contractors, asking if the Council would be prepared to grant permission for the placing of notices on the tramway standards, suitable to payment of a suitable sum in rent. It was resolved to refuse this request. The Transport Manager reported having again met with a representative of the British Automatic Company Ltd, who wished to install four automatic weighing machines in selected tramway shelters. It was resolved permission would be granted subject to a payment of an annual rental of £3 for each machine installed, and their removal within six months of the Corporation giving notice of a termination of the agreement after an initial period of one year. When the Transport Committee met again it was resolved that an application should be made to the Minister of Transport under Section 80 (Clause 1) of the Accrington Corporation Act 1928, for an order allowing Accrington Corporation to abandon the length of tramway through Market Street in Church and along Union Road in Oswaldtwistle. This subject to the arrangements already made with Lancashire County Council for the reinstatement of the roadway surface and the substitution of an omnibus service as from the date of the abandonment. Back in the Chamber 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. The Town Clerk then presented a letter from the General Secretary of the Municipal Tramways & Transport Association, stating that a conference of his Association would be held in London on the 23 rd , for the specific purpose of considering the deletion of Part V of the (Municipal Omnibus Powers) Bill. It also invited representatives from Accrington to be present at this conference, and it was resolved that the Chairman, Vice-Chair and the Transport Manager would attend. February The Transport Sub-Committee met to discuss an allegation that there were ‘irregularities’ in the way that the redundant tramcar seats had been disposed of. The Sub-Committee found that these allegations were “groundless”. The Chairman and Vice-Chair considered a scheme in which instructions would be issued to drivers and conductors to stop only ‘as required’ on certain sections of the routes. It was ultimately resolved that this proposal would not be put into operation, and that services would

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