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

prepared to find the necessary capital and to undertake the risks and responsibilities of making these extensions. Having said this, much with regard to the Rossendale Valley, I would like to point out the position we occupy by reason of our interests in that Company. As you are aware, the Rossendale Valley Company own the lines, and under their Act of Parliament they are entitled if, and whenever the Corporation or local authorities purchase the undertaking, they the Company, are entitled to a Lease of 21 years from the date on which the local authority purchases. So you may take it that for at least 21 years the Rossendale Valley Tramway will be in the hands of the Company, and can only be extended and developed by them. With regard to the tramways in the immediate district, you have been good enough to grant this Company a Lease which has approximately 8 years still to run, and the tramways in Haslingden have been purchasable by that Local Authority under statute. But if they do purchase they are bound to grant a Lease to the Company one coterminous with the Lease you have granted, so for all practical purposes you can take it that these Tramways are in the hands of the Company for at least another 8 years. The position is moreover this, that in all probability you will have electric traction adopted as soon as the Rossendale Valley Tramway, because the fact that this Company has a longer life will enable them to incur the expense and responsibility of adopting this form of traction, and they will therefore carry out that policy as soon as the necessary arrangements can be made. On the other hand you have an adjoining population in Blackburn who as you already know have adopted electric traction, and it is a matter of very serious moment to the people of this district as to what is to be done with the tramways of Accrington and Haslingden. It would be a source of very great inconvenience to the community if there were electric trams at both ends and a continuance of steam cars in Accrington and Haslingden, and therefore I think the question is becoming quite imminent of a very great urgency and importance. Whereas some arrangements ought not to be made immediately with a view to adapting your Tramway to electric traction, there would of course be the question of possible extensions. Accrington lies in a very important position in the area. Of all the tramways I have spoken with Accrington is undoubtedly the most important Corporation, and if you follow the policy I have outlined and enable us to work with you, I see every prospect of the Town benefiting enormously by such a policy. Accrington, being the largest and most important centre for the population of the district, it is of the utmost desirability that you should have the most modern system of traction, to be entirely in communication with all its outlying areas. Accrington ought to be what I would term as the ‘pivot’ and centre of gravitation of the districts, and all the outlying communities should be brought in entire touch with the town. If you are willing to co-operate with us, we are prepared to carry out a policy that includes extensions in the directions of Rishton and Great Harwood, and we would also be keen to reach out to other districts further affixed, but respecting which I am not prepared to make any statement at the present time. If, however, we find on investigation about Whalley and Clitheroe that there would be a ‘reasonable’ prospect of success, we would be prepared to expand in that direction. And there are other directions on which extensions could be made namely Burnley and Blackburn. These however are matters for debate, but this Corporation ought to be the ‘hub’ of a wheel and keep to making it so, providing you see your way to adopting the policy of amalgamating all the authorities and towns adjoining instead of dismembering and separating them, as would be the case if they all adopted electric traction around you and left you with steam traction for the next 8 years. This would in effect break off all communications and be of great inconvenience to the travelling public. There are a large number of questions arising out of this policy, and I think it will be better if I confine myself to a general overview of the various points to be discussed. Amongst the most important is the responsibility of the expense and who will stand this? Secondly, who is to supply the power? With regard to both, we have an open mind and will discuss these as to which you prefer the best.

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