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

inform in a reply, that the Corporation preferred to abide by the terms and conditions of the existing lease, with regard to the maintenance and repair of the Tramway. September The Town Hall & Markets Committee decided notice would be served on the Tramway Company requiring them to remove their wooden waiting room and coke shed by the time the current lease had expired in January, 1890. This was in conjunction with the scheme to widen the carriageway in front of the Market Hall on Blackburn Road. On September 28 th , 1889 a woman gave birth in a trailer car whilst travelling to Clayton-le-Moors. December A letter was received from Messrs Kearns, Allan & Co. of Baxenden, complaining of the ‘disregard’ shown by the Tramway drivers of steam engines to the hand signals given by ‘Carters’ in charge of horses delivering to their Alliance Mill. It was resolved that the Town Clerk would pass on this complaint to the managers of the Tramway Company. A letter was received from the Tramway Company requesting permission to replace the proposed triangular passing place at the junction of Union Street and Blackburn Road, and substitute one in Bridge Street instead. The Committee deferred its decision on this matter. In 1889 the Accrington Steam Tramway Company passed into the control of the British Electric Traction Company (BET), on condition that the existing lease was honoured. 1890 (Already much of the track was requiring major attention, with the substitution of a different type of rail to that which had been initially laid, and which after less than four years was proving unsatisfactory. Who would be responsible for the relaying and who would pay for the work were also proving to be contentious subjects?) January The Committee considered for a second time the Tramway Company’s request to ignore the plans for a triangular passing place at the junction of Union Street with Blackburn Road, by substituting it for one on Bridge Street. The Committee decided to defer a decision on this request until after the proposed improvements to Blackburn Road were completed. March The General Works Committee did a tour of the Tramway from Church to Clayton-le-Moors, to inspect the tracks with a view to passing on a report to the General Purposes Committee. April The Chairman of the Tramway Company, (Mr Joseph Beckett), with the Secretary and his directors, met with the General Works Committee, where he restated his reasons why the Corporation should be responsible for relaying the tracks between Church and Clayton-le-Moors, and made this offer - “If the Corporation would relay the above sections with steel Girder Rails on good concrete, his Company would pay a yearly sum as would be invested by way of a ‘sinking fund’ in seventeen years (the remainder of the lease), to repay the Corporation the capital sum they had spent. In addition his Company would also pay an additional £3 - 10 shillings per cent, per annum, on such a capital outlay. In addition, that if the Corporation would accept responsibility for the yearly repair and maintenance of the Tramway, his Company would pay an additional rent of £80 per mile.” The Chairman of the General Works Committee said he would pass on in writing these terms to the Corporation. On this the Tramway Company’s deputation departed the meeting. The Committee then decided to postpone any further consideration of the Tramway Company’s proposals. The Committee took into consideration a letter (dated April 3 rd ), from Mr W. Jeffs, Secretary of the Tramway Company, which read - “Referring to our interview with your Council on Tuesday last, we beg to confirm our offer to pay you £75 per £1,000 per annum on the amount expended, (with the total cost not to exceed £8,000), in relaying with 6 inch Girder Rail the entire length of the route between Church and Clayton-le-Moors for the remaining 17 years of the lease from the full time of this works completion. Also a yearly amount of £80 per mile or a total sum of £400 per annum in addition, for keeping in repair and maintaining the whole of the lines leased from your Corporation, with these rents to be paid on a quarterly basis. We make these offers subject to the approval of a general meeting of our shareholders, on the understanding that you will submit for our approval a copy of the specifications for these works prior to letting the contracts for works and materials, and that all these works be done under the supervision of your Surveyor.” The Committee resolved unanimously that with regard to the second portion of this offer, (the future maintenance and repair of the lines in consideration of a yearly payment of £80 per mile), the

39