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

Dear Sir, At a meeting of my Directors on Tuesday last, Mr Alderman Kenyon referred to a determination of your General Works Committee with regard to the alterations to the tramlines in Peel Street. He stated that your Corporation’s proposals, if agreeable to my Company, to take up the present Barker Rails between the top of Peel Street to a point opposite Infant Street, and to reconstruct with a new concrete bed and pave with new foundations, with this Company to provide and lay down the Girder Rails in lieu of the current Barker Rails. We have as yet not received any written or official notification of this decision, and possibly we may not be strictly in order by writing to you at this stage. But taking all the circumstances into consideration, the near approach of winter, needs the necessity of an early commencement to this work. My Directors venture to anticipate the receipt of a further communication, and beg to make the following suggestions which if adopted, might be considered at once saving valuable time. The members of my Board think that seeing the present loop for the junction of Whalley Road and Peel Street to Infant Street will have to be taken up and relaid, it would involve very little more trouble and expense, if the loop to be laid was continued to the termination of the loop now existing on Peel Street and, commencing at a point opposite the end of Infant Street. That would provide a continuous loop/double line all the way from a point opposite the Peels Arms in Whalley Road, to within a few feet of the junction of Peel Street with Blackburn Road. The advantages that would accrue from this alteration, we are certain would be obvious to your Corporation. Peel Street is now quite broad enough to permit this proposed alteration, and the joining of the two loops would give an advantage both to your Corporation, the public and our Company. Vehicular traffic would be in much less danger of coming into contact with our trams. Passenger traffic would be greatly facilitated, and your Corporation would have the advantage of ordering our cars to stand on any part of Peel Street without any risk at present of a collision or any interference with traffic. The advantages to you as owners of these lines must also be apparent. Mr Alderman Kenyon likewise mentioned the decision with respect to the proposed passing loop at the Church terminus, and stated that your Corporation was willing to provide the materials and to undertake all of the work in connection with the loop according to a plan drawn up by your Surveyor, providing we supplied and laid down the Girder Rails. Immediately we are able to obtain the one remaining signature of an adjacent owner and occupiers, we would be willing to accept this proposition. My Directors are extremely obliged to your Corporation for the kind spirit in which you have met with this Company upon these questions. We trust that the ultimate decision when arrived at will be found to justify the

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