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

Company. A Sub-Committee was authorised to visit and inspect the Tramway depot on Ellison Street and report back. The Sub-Committee reported back to the General Works Committee following their visit to the Ellison Street depot. On the basis of their findings it was resolved the full Committee visit the depot in the afternoon of Thursday the 30 th of the month. A long letter was received from the Secretary of the Tramway Company in reply to the notice served upon them, with regard to the Tramway between Accrington and Church. The Town Clerk was authorised to reply to this correspondence, rejecting certain incorrect statements contained therein. February The Committee discussed the findings of their recent visit to the Tramway depot. It was resolved the Town Clerk write to the Tramway Company with a list of repairs which had still not been done, with the intimation that the Committee would pay a second visit at the end of a fortnight. A letter was read in reply to the one sent by the Town Clerk on February 13 th to the Tramway Company with regard to the condition of the depot. This correspondence stated that most of the work had been done, also the remainder of the repairs were in progress and would be completed in the course of “the next few days”. March The Town Clerk reported that a ‘small’ fire within the Ellison Street depot had partially destroyed one of the revolving shutters and a roof beam in the engine shed. He had forwarded a claim to the insurance company for the necessary repairs. December The Town Clerk was instructed to write to the Tramway Company to complain about the nuisance caused by ‘large’ quantities of water running out of their engines onto the roads. A letter was received from the Secretary of the Tramway Company stating that the nuisance caused by water leaking out of their engines had been resolved and no water was being emitted from them now. However, several members of this Committee reported that since the last meeting they had observed water leaking out from the engines on a ‘daily’ basis! It was resolved that the Town Clerk again write to the Tramway Company calling their attention to this fault, and in addition to the ‘dangerous state’ of the steps on several of the trailer cars. 1897 (Disputes between the Corporation and the Accrington Steam Tramway Company heightened, coming to a head with threats of legal action. Not only the state of the permanent way was causing concern but also deficiencies with the rolling stock and the depot. With the possibility of electrifying the system now beginning to look a likely outcome, the Company were digging in their heels and the relationship between them and the Corporation was becoming more acrimonious.) January The Town Clerk received a letter from the Deputy Clerk of the County Council which he presented to a meeting of the General Works Committee, which read as follows – Dear Sir, At the last meeting of the Main Roads & Bridges Committee, Mr Bryning, had stated Blackburn, Manchester and Whalley Roads which were in a ‘very bad’ condition. Although he had called the Tramway Company’s attention to these matters, no improvements had been made. He had been instructed to write to the General Works Committee (as the Tramway Company is under the Corporation’s control) to impress upon the ‘advisability’ of compelling the Tramway Company to complete these repairs and bring the paving into a proper condition. Failure to do so could result in the County Council Surveyor’s certificate of the Main Roads Account being withheld. Yours Faithfully, Campbell H. Sayers. It was resolved to pass on this correspondence to the Tramway Company without delay with the threat that if these repairs were not carried out, the Corporation would use the statutory powers and do the repairs themselves, charging the Tramway Company for the cost of time and materials . February It was resolved that providing the Tramway Company would agree to pay for the wood blocks to be laid, between and on each side of the tram tracks in front of the Town and Market Halls, the Corporation would undertake to do the necessary laying of them. It was resolved at a meeting of the

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