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

Health Committee to bring the attention of the Tramway Company the emission of sparks coming out from their engines. A letter was received from the Tramway Company in which they offered to pay the sum of £50 towards the cost of repaving the section of track in front of the Town and Market Halls with new wood blocks. The Committee discussed the ‘great annoyance’ caused to the public, especially on Market Days, by having the Tramway crossing situated right in front of the Market Hall. The Committee felt it would be much safer to have this crossing removed and have a single line laid in its place. It was resolved the Town Clerk write to the Tramway Company to inform them of the Committee’s recommendation. March A letter was received by the Health Committee in response to the complaint about the amount of sparks being thrown out by their engines. In it the Tramway Company undertook to investigate this complaint, and if it was found to be the case would take all steps to remedy it. A letter was received from the Tramway Company in reply to the Committees recommendations, that the line in front of the Market Hall should be singled. It stated that the Tramway Company could not do away with this crossing, unless a triangular crossing place was established turning down into Union Street off Blackburn Road. Also received was a letter from the tenants of the shops opposite the crossing in front of the Market Hall, asking the Corporation if it was possible to have it removed. It was resolved that a proposal be put to the Tramway Company, that cars coming into the town centre from Baxenden, should run forward from Manchester Road along Abbey Street and down Peel Street to a crossing to be put in at its junction with Blackburn Road, instead of coming down ‘little’ Blackburn Road to pass in front of the Market Hall. The cars could pass over this crossing to stand ready to commence the return journey to Baxenden and beyond, thus enabling the passing loop in front of the Town Hall to be made a single line. The Borough Surveyor again reported the repairs requested by them of the Tramway Company were not being done in a satisfactory manner, either in workmanship or execution. Several of the Committee corroborated that this was indeed the case. The Town Clerk was authorised to inform the Tramway Company they had fourteen days in order to rectify this situation or the Corporation under the terms of the lease, would carry out these repairs and charge them to the Tramway Company. The Town Clerk then prepared the following letter - Sirs, Whereas, by a covenant contained in the Lease dated April 5 th 1886, to your Company the Tramway of this Corporation, you the lessees covenant that you will during the continuance of this lease renew, maintain and keep in good condition and repair the said Tramways and all the works connected therewith in the manner specified in these covenant. However you have failed to renew, maintain and repair the said covenant. Now therefore take notice that the Corporation will after 14 days from delivery of this notice, do all the works necessary for such renewal, maintenance and repair of the said Tramway and works and the expense incurred thereby will, after being certified by the Surveyor of this Corporation be required to be paid by, and in default recovered from your Company. Dated this day April 23 rd , 1897. For, and on behalf of this Corporation. A. H. Aitken, Town Clerk. This notice was personally delivered and served on the Accrington Steam Tramway Company on this date by Cllr J. Kenyon. April The Borough Surveyor submitted a plan for the proposed alterations to enable the Tramway Company to work their Haslingden cars round via the top of Peel Street, and by a new curve at the foot of Peel Street into ‘little’ Blackburn Road again, without the necessity of having to reverse the engines. The General Works Committee gave consideration to these plans. It was resolved the Town Clerk would pass these plans on to the Tramway Company, with the offer that the Corporation would do all the necessary work entirely at its own expense, providing the Tramway Company would remove the passing place in front of the Market Hall.

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