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

powers and privileges requested. The Borough Accountant reported that the Tramway Company in paying the quarterly rent had deducted from the payment the Property Tax for the period of the full four years, instead of one twelve-month deduction. This had resulted in the Corporation not being able to recover from the Commissionaires of the Inland Revenue, the tax for the three years before 1890/1891, whilst the Tramway Company was still able to do so! It was resolved that proceedings would be initiated against the Tramway Company, if they refused to recompense the Corporation for the amount of tax in question. March The Committee served notice on the Tramway Company to remove their waiting room and coke store, so as to facilitate the widening of Blackburn Road. A letter was received from the Accrington Steam Tramway Company requesting the Corporation’s permission to move their waiting room from its present position to a site adjacent to the old Observer & Times office wall on Peel Street. From there they would use it as a coke store only. The Town Hall & Markets Committee resolved that they should agree to this proposal, so long as it was used exclusively for that purpose. The Town Hall & Markets Committee considered an application from the Tramway Company accompanied by a recommendation from the General Works Committee that they are allowed to move their waiting room and coke store to a site at the rear of the Market Hall and to use it as a coke store only. This committee acceded to this request, provided the move was completed within four weeks. Also the rent would be kept at its present rate. The Town Council endorsed the two previous Committee decisions to permit removal of the Tramway Company’s waiting room and coke store, to its new position with the stipulated change of use. April The Town Clerk submitted to the Committee a copy of a Provisional Order to be made to the Board of Trade, authorising the construction of a new section of tramway from a point opposite the Navigation Inn on Blackburn Road in Church. This would run along a new street to be made by the Blackburn Tramway Company which would lead into Market Street near to the Greyhound Inn and thence along Union Road into Oswaldtwistle up as far as Brookside Lane. He pointed out that the promoters of this Bill had abandoned the proposal to construct this tramway from a junction of the Accrington to Blackburn lines, at the corner of Market Street and Blackburn Road. A letter from the Town Clerk of Blackburn ( dated April 15 th ), was read out to the Committee, requesting whether Accrington Corporation were prepared to allow Blackburn Tramways running powers over their tracks as far as the Town Hall, and what mileage toll they would levy for this privilege. It was resolved the directors of the Tramway Company be called to a meeting to discuss this proposal. May A letter went forward from the Town Clerk to the Church Local Board, inviting a meeting between them and a deputation from the Council, to discuss the construction of a passing loop at the Church terminus of the Tramway Company’s lines. The Borough Surveyor suggested that whilst the paving was lifted in front of the Market Hall in conjunction with the widening of Blackburn Road, the Tramway Company might consider putting down ‘Girder rails’ in order to avoid the necessity of having to disturb the camber on a subsequent occasion. Furthermore he suggested that this section should be reduced to a single line. Also with the loss of this passing place the Tramway Company should be permitted to put in a triangle at the junction of Peel Street with Blackburn Road. This would remove the necessity of engines having to reverse in front of the Market Hall, greatly relieving the traffic congestion there. He had then arranged a meeting between the Committee and the Directors of the Tramway Company to discuss his proposals. This deputation was then summoned into the meeting and, following consultations, the Surveyor was of the opinion that the Directors of the Tramway Company would be agreeable to these proposals, if the Corporation did all the work of taking up and relaying the paving whilst the Tramway Company provided and fixed all the rails. A letter was received from the Tramway Company ( dated May 20 th ), intimating they would relay the existing passing loop opposite the Market Hall with Girder rail to replace the Barker rails, but would not entertain relaying as a single line by adopting the suggested proposals for a triangular passing place at the Blackburn Road/Peel Street junction. It was resolved by the Committee that since the Tramway Company were under covenant to keep the existing lines in a proper state of repair, they would not agree to the Tramway Company’s counter-proposals. June The Town Clerk reported that the Tramway Company had taken up two of the crossings (points) in Burnley Road, on part of the Tramway not now used and had installed them on the Church section without the Corporation’s prior consent. This he had communicated to them in writing, as it constituted a breach of the Tramway’s lease. He had subsequently received a letter of apology for their conduct, with

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