Mexborough and Swinton Times September 14, 1928
Conisboro’ Urban District Council
Surveyor a Mine of Information
Many Questions.
The Conisboro’ Urban Council discussed several matters which they considered required rectifying at the monthly meeting on Wednesday, presided over by Mrs. Kaye.
Recognition of Bravery.
Mr. J. T. E. Collins said that at the last meeting the Council decided to ask for recognition by the Royal Humane Society of acts of bravery in rescues from drowning. Acts of bravery were committed ‘at a fire in Balby Street when three men went into a. blazing house and rescued an old couple. The men were Frank Cousins, a miner, of Balby Street, and two young men named Riley and Rose. He moved that the names of those men be forwarded also, and the Council agreed.
Swimming Gala.
A letter was read from the Conisboro’ and Denaby Schools’ Swimming Association, extending an invitation to the Council to attend the annual gala at the Denaby Baths on Saturday and the distribution of the prizes on the following Saturday.
Cheap.
The West Riding District Councils’ Association notified its annual meeting and conference on Oct. 16th at Leeds. The Clerk (Mr. Spencer Baker) said it had been usual for the Chairman, the Surveyor and himself to attend. It cost a little petrol and tea. The Council agreed to send.
A Suppressed Questionnaire.
A letter from Mr. J. Ledger Hawksworth (Clerk to the Bolton Urban Council and other public bodies) was read in regard to housing grants in mining areas. The Councils Association had recommended the circulating of a questionnaire, which was enclosed. The Clerk was about to read the questionnaire when Mr. J. Shelton said the document was not public.
Conisborough Neglected.
Mr. J. I. Webster drew attention to the following minute of the Sanitary and Highways Committee: -That the Barnsley and District Traction Company and Mr J Guest be written with regard to the ‘bus service during the Doncaster September Race Week and asked for further information. The Clerk stated that it had been complained of that Conisboro’ and Denaby residents had been neglected by the buses during Race Week and the companies were to be asked to give an explanation.
The Surveyor (Mr H Thirlwall) said that the letter sent was to the effect that the Council insist that special arrangements be made in future.
Mr. J. I. Webster said they had had that trouble before.
Tar-Sprayers Wages
Mr, C. E. Webster asked it men who tar-spraying received any extra payment, and were they entitled to any under trade union rates.
The Surveyor said they were not. Under the regime of the old Rural Council they received an extra penny an hour, but were not now entitled to that. They were provided with overalls to protect their clothes.
Conversions Scheme
Mr. J.H. Gillott said that many of the sanitary arrangements of houses in the township were privy middens, and referred especially to one instance of nuisance. Until they were converted they would never be healthy. Could the Council allow 50 per cent. of the cost to the landlords for the conversions?
The Surveyor said the Council could not do so. In the instance mentioned by Mr. Gillott, sewerage extension would be necessary. Places like Sheffield and Doncaster could get local Acts to enforce conversions but Conisborough could not.
Mr Gillott asked if the surveyor could give any indication as to the best method of obtaining the conversions.
The Surveyor said there were many difficulties. One was the condition of the sewage disposal works, and you would also need an increase of 18,000 gallons per day in the water supply to Old Conisbrough. He could not offer hope of progress during the coming 12 months.
Mr Colin said that the matter had been raised on a previous occasion by the Sanitary Committee. They were anxious that the system should be abolished, and he welcomed the attitude of Mr Gillott.
Erratic Buses
Mr JI Webster said that the Park Road buses were not running to the timetable. He knew instances where they had left before scheduled time, probably because they wanted to beat another bus service. Much inconvenience to the public and because and the Council should take some action.
The Clerk said the buses were running against the law, and any action necessary could be taken after the usual half yearly resolution for the renewal of licences.
Speed Limit
Mr CE Webster asked if a speed limit could be imposed in the urban area. The driver of a bus travelling at about 40 mph, which almost knocked him down, had told him that the he had a right to drive at that speed.
The Surveyor said the legal speed limit was 20 mph. That was unreasonable under certain conditions, and under other conditions 12 mph would be dangerous. It was better left to the discretion of the police.
Mr CE Webster asked if a notice board with a speed limit on it would have the desired effect.
The Surveyor: Have you ever known it do any good?
Conanby Roads
Mr JH Gillott referred to the bad state of the roads in a new village of Coningsby. They had never had a brush on them, he said, and were littered with old bricks.
The Surveyor said he had interviewed the responsible authority, the Housing Association, on the matter. The Council could not do anything as yet; until certain matters had been disposed of. If they cleansed the streets they will become public highways, and everything in connection with them would have to be done by the local authority.
Mr Gillott asked what the Council could do.
The Surveyor: I am not a walking encyclopaedia; but one has to be such to answer some of the questions that are put.
Mr J.T.E. Collins said that representation should be made to the responsible people.
The Surveyor said he had interviewed the responsible official, who promised to look into the matter.
Denaby Streets
Mr GH Chadfield said it was time something was done to the Denaby streets. Thrybergh Terrace was like a stream in rainy weather, and in some places the water was knee deep.
The Surveyor: The streets are 100% better than they were five or six years ago.
“A Great Shame.”
Mr J.H. Gillott drew attention to what he saw was the unnecessary closing of the Denaby railway crossing gates. The previous week there have been clothes for 35 minutes at a time, and on another occasion for 25 minutes. They had been great congestion of traffic and a great deal of lost time. A busload of miners going from Mexborough to Cadeby colliery had been held up and had to go back home.
The Surveyor said that when a Ministry of Transport inspector had been at Conisbrough recently he had said that the railway company had power to close the gates to the road whenever they wished. Rail traffic always has preference. When the railway companies obtained powers for the crossing of the road, road traffic was not by any means what it was at present, and had not been anticipated. It would require a widespread effort by local authorities to alter the present position.
The Chairman said that a scheme for the abolition of the gates have been discussed for 40 years, and plans are being prepared for that. The crossing was a danger to life, and she had seen people killed and injured. It was a great shame that such obstructions existed in the century.
It was decided to form a subcommittee consisting of Messes Shelton, Collins and Worsley, for the purpose of preparing evidence as to the unnecessary closing of the road, with a view to sending a petition to the Ministry of Transport.
A Dangerous Corner
Mr J.H. Gillott moved that steps be taken to remove ground at the corner of the Vicarage opposite the Castle Yard. The land, he said, was not being used for anything, and its acquisition would remove a very dangerous corner.
The Surveyor said he would look into the ‘natter. He had already approach the vicar: who did not favour the scheme, but would probably agree.
Mr. J. I. Webster suggested that some land be taken off the corner at the bottom-of the Dale, one of the most dangerous spots in the district.
Not Dangerous If Known.
The Surveyor said that matter had been discussed by the Council five years before and in regard to the corner at the Castle and they had reached the conclusion that the only satisfactory course would be the removal of the whole of the Vicarage and the making of a new road to cut off the corner. It might appear paradoxical, he said in reference to the Dale corner, but the more “dangerous” a corner was so long as it was known, it was not dangerous. People got into the habit of decreasing their speed at that particular place, because the corner had to be taken at a crawl to be negotiated. If it was made less dangerous motorists would not take the same care. Although the Council could have the necessary land for nothing, the cost of removing and rebuilding the greenhouses and walls would be large.
Mr. J. Drabble said it was dangerous for buses to stop at the Jubilee tree, near the corner.
The Surveyor said that at the request of the Ministry of Transport the Tramway Company had erected a mirror at that point, and drivers could see the traffic coming round the corner for a distance of about 70 yards.
Electricity Payments
Mr C.E. Webster said that tenants of the Council houses did not know what they were paying an additional 1s 3d per week on their electricity bill for. They were under the impression that it was for fittings, and he wanted to know when the payments would cease.
The Surveyor said the 1s 3d was the difference between a penny per unit the tenants were paying and the full price of 5 ½ d per unit. It was all a different system of payment to the usual one, and had nothing to do with the cost of fittings. That had been explained to the tenants by letter when they took over the houses.
New Fire Engine Out Of Reach.
Mr. C. E. Webster asked if the financial position of the Council would warrant the purchase of a new fire engine.
The Surveyor said that a suitable engine could be obtained for about £1000, but the cost of a station and incidental expenditure would make it prohibitive. The last he heard of the old lire engine was a suggestion that it be sent to an exhibition.