Rushden Echo, 10 January 1902, transcribed by Greville Watson
Rushden Station Accommodation
Notwithstanding Rushden's advancement, the Railway Company still treats the town as though it were a small village of a few hundred inhabitants. The Rushden Urban Council have sent strong representations to the directors of the company, and a deputation visited Rushden twelve months ago and saw for themselves how inadequately they were accommodating the Rushden travelling public. They then assured the local authority that Rushden's claim to proper recognition should be considered, and the town naturally looked forward to improvements being carried out at the station. However, they have been sadly disappointed, and there seems to be little prospect of anything being done at present. The matter was again brought before the Urban Council meeting on Wednesday, and expression was given to the feeling that Rushden had not been treated with fairness. The company can gain little by steadfastly ignoring the representations of the Council.
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Rushden Argus, 23rd October 1903, transcribed by Greville Watson
Railway Facilities
There can be no two opinions, amongst Rushden people at least, as to the importance of the questions discussed at Wednesday’s meeting of the Urban Council. The question of accommodation, or the want of it, at the Rushden railway station has so long been before the public, and has been so often and so fully discussed, that most people will be surprised to learn that there is still a difficulty.
It may be that the Midland Railway Company have some adequate explanation to offer of the delay which has occurred in the fulfilment of the promise, direct or implied, that something should be done to alter and improve the accommodation to meet the representations of the Urban Council.
In the absence of that explanation, however, the members of the Council can scarcely be blamed for thinking that they have been treated with something akin to contempt. All will feel that the confidence of Mr. Knight in his ability to secure an influentially signed memorial is not misplaced, and that the Council are to be commended for again taking the matter up in earnest.
The question raised by Mr. Bazeley is also one of pressing importance, and perhaps of even more direct personal interest to a large number of people in the town. Unfortunately, there can be no question that slackness of trade is causing some amount of anxiety. To what extent actual want is being experienced is perhaps more open to discussion, but all will agree that any practicable scheme for affording help should be eagerly welcomed.
At the same time, it would scarcely be right to jump to the conclusion that, because the matter has been brought before the governing body of the town as one of urgency, trade in Rushden is in a more parlous condition than in other towns. A slackness there is, as has already been intimated, but it has yet to be proved that it is anything more than one of those periodic slack times experienced in all trades, and made worse on this occasion by the effects of the recent war in South Africa.
It will readily be seen that the question is not so simple as might at first sight appear. The Council at once realised that they were faced with a question as to how far any action of the kind asked for would be ultra vires, and what danger there might be of expenditure incurred being surcharged upon the members. Then, too, they have to be careful lest, whilst seeking to relieve one section of the community, they should injure another. Hence no blame can attach to them for their decision to further consider the matter.
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Rushden Argus, 4th December 1903, transcribed by Greville Watson
RUSHDEN STATION
Officials Pay a Visit of Inspection
The recent renewed application to the directors of the Midland Railway Company with respect to the inadequate provision made for the traffic and for the convenience of passengers at their station at Rushden has evidently had some effect.
On Saturday morning a special train conveyed a number of officials to Rushden, these including Mr. John Mathieson (general manager of the company), Mr. Arnold (district superintendent), and Mr. Tatlow (another official from the head office at Derby). A thorough inspection of the station was made, and as the directors have already admitted the need for alterations, it may be presumed that this was with a view to seeing in what way the required changes may be brought about. The signatories to the recent memorial will naturally be anxious to know what will be the first step towards meeting their request.
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