The decision arose from a recommendation of the finance committee, following an application from the Royal Theatre.

Early in the debate it was decided not to read a letter which had been received from the ministers of the town.

Speakers and their points in brief were:

Ald. C. G. Faulkner: Electors should be able to express opinion at a poll for which the procedure provides.

Mr. J. E. Wills: There are far less desirable ways of spending Sunday evening than going to the pictures.

Mrs. W. M. Lean: To support the application might cost £200 – a lot of money to spend for the benefit of the cinema from which the request had come.

‘No Demand’

Mr. E. E. Newell: There has been no public demand for Sunday opening. With three cinemas offering about forty performances a week the town has enough film entertainment.

Mr. R. H. S. Greenwood: People may spend Sunday evening drinking if they have nowhere else to go. Television can be in worse taste than films.

Mr. B. Gramshaw: The ratepayers are intellectual enough to amuse themselves on one day out of seven. Sunday films would be no better than those shown in the week.

Mr. C. Ginns: I would be very sorry if the resolution went through.

Mr. F. E. Brown: There is not a great deal of difference between seeing pictures in a cinema and looking at TV at home.

A “Sunday observance” debate of last year was recalled when the council resolved without comment “that the present arrangements for leaving children’s playground equipment available for use on Sundays be continued indefinitely.”

Through an amendment moved by Mr. Alan Allebone it was decided to schedule the “Oakpits” land in Bedford Road for industrial development. The council’s right to sell this land has been debated on previous occasions.

Children’s Sandpit

A sandpit will be among children’s playground amenities in Upper Queen Street in spite of a maiden speech by Mrs. D. E. Shrive who feared it would not be hygienic.

No action was taken on an invitation to meet the United Counties Bus Co. and discuss their proposal for an express coach service from Corby to London. On the contrary the company will be told that local services should operate satisfactorily before further commitments are undertaken.

A contract for the construction of roads and sewers on the Hayden Road estate was arranged with Mr. W. Squires, of Wellingborough, at £10,239. Work on carriageways and grass areas at the Upper Queen Street estate was ordered from Thomas Roberts (Westminster), Ltd., Wellingborough, at £4,554.

Site works between Little Street and Park Road are estimated to cost £1,250.

A housing committee minute suggested offering an access road to the Town C.C. on condition that the club would bear the cost of paving it.