Mexborough & Swinton Times, November 13, 1891
Notes from Conisborough.
Local Government
The public mind is still much concerned in reference to the question of local self government and the almost universal opinion is that a Local Board will be formed sooner than certain pessimists imagine.
Everybody, recognises that Mr. Caleb Kilner has “stuck to his guns” well, notwithstanding the conduct of the enemy—the Highway Board—and indignation is expressed that he should not have received more respectful consideration from the waywardens.
The Lower Strafforth and Tickhill Highway Board ought to be dissolved, for it is undoubtedly obsolete in its form of government, and places of the size and importance of Conisborough have no right to be any longer tied by such maternal strings. As soon as Conisborough leads the way in the direction of Home Rule, I expect some of the other large townships will not be long in doing ditto.
The following is from the pen of a Doncaster writer, who puts the matter very plainly :
The parishioners of Conisborough are entitled to a little more consideration than they receive from the Highway Board. The historic village is growing by leaps and bounds, and yet it cannot be said that its roads and footpaths keep pace with its material progress.
The inhabitants, impatient of the restraint which is imposed upon them, have repeatedly appealed to the Board for some assistance, but that body turn a deaf ear to all their solicitation. Being unable to obtain new footpaths, or get the existing ones repaired, the Waywarden recently asked that the parish might be made a separate district, like Thorne and Askern are, but even this reasonable request was declined, and at Tuesday’s meeting the Board were requested to say whether they would borrow the money necessary to cover the cost of the work, and charge it to the parish, but this course, which would have got over the difficulty, the Clerk pointed out would be illegal.
Whichever way the parishioners turn they are met with rebuffs, and unless the Highway Board are prepared to make a reasonable concession, either by attending to the roads or footpaths, or making Conisborough a separate district, so that the expenses will fall entirely upon them, and them alone, the ratepayers will have no option but to form a local board for the management of their own affairs.