Road Widening Scheme - 1930

County Council to Purchase Land - Improvement at Awkward Bend

Generous Offer by Mr. Morris Wheeler

  A much needed improvement of a blind bend in a prominent part of Rushden was considered last week by the County Council, when the roads and bridges committee stated that the County Surveyor had been in negotiation with the agents to Mr. A. Morris Wheeler, who had recently purchased Rushden Hall Estate, with a view to the acquisition of a strip of land along that part of the estate fronting the Wellingborough-road, Rushden, for the purpose of effecting a desirable widening and improvement at an awkward bend in the road.

  As a result of the negotiations, the owner’s agents offered to sell the strip required comprising approximately 1,690 square yards, for a sum at the rate of 5s. per square yard, including compensation for the prescription of a 30 feet building line on the remaining property.  The District Valuer advised that the price was, in his opinion, reasonable, and the committee considered that the offer should be accepted, especially in view of the fact that the land on that frontage was about to be sold in building plots, in which event considerable difficulty would doubtless be experienced at a later date in securing the land for widening along the whole length desired.

  The committee recommended that, subject to the Minister of Transport notifying a grant of 60 per cent. towards the cost involved, the County Council purchase the land from Mr. A. Morris Wheeler, for a sum of £422 10s., for purposes of effecting an improvement of the road at the point.

Free Offer of Land

  In addition, the owner of the property referred to has offered to give up free of cost 263 square yards of land abutting on the same road at the entrance to Rushden Hall, in consideration of the County Council piping and covering in the brook extending on to the estate.  The committee referred this offer to their improvements sub-committee for consideration at the next annual survey of improvement, and report.