Public Convenience Or Nuisance?

Complaint of Under-Rated Trading Premises

A New Playing Field?

  Wednesday, present, Messrs. J. Hornsby, J.P. (chairman), F. Corby (vice-chairman), J. Roe, A. Allebone, W. C. Tarry, J. Allen, F. Knight, J.P., T. Swindall, C. W. Horrell, C.A., L. Perkins, M.B.E., J. Spencer, J.P., G. W. Coles, J.P., W. Bazeley, J.P., and C. Bates, with the Clerk (Mr. G. S. Mason), the Surveyor (Mr. W. B. Madin), the Sanitary Inspector (Mr. F. S. F. Piper), and the Medical Officer of Health (Dr. O. A. J. N. Muriset).

Plans, Etc., Committee

  A special meeting of the Plans, etc., Committee was held in Rectory-road near the Salvation Army Barracks on Friday June 17^th, 1927, when there were present: Mr. J. Hornsby (chairman), Messrs. A. Allebone, C. Claridge, G. W. Coles, C. W. Horrell, F. Knight, T. F. B. Newberry, T. Swindall and T. Wilmott.

  After viewing the site the Committee instructed the Surveyor to construct a macadam carriageway connecting Queen-street and Rectory-road, and to erect a notice sign at the Rectory-road entrance requesting motor and other vehicular traffic to proceed into Queen-street at a walking pace.

  The Clerk was also instructed to communicate with the Salvation Army authorities and enquire from them if they would allow the Council to take down the present close boarded fence and erect an open iron fence in place thereof.

  The ordinary monthly meeting of the Plans, etc., Committee was held at the Council Buildings, on Wednesday, the 29^th June, 1927, when there were present: Mr. J. Hornsby (chairman), Messrs. A. Allebone, C. Claridge, G. W. Coles, C. W. Horrell, F. Knight, T. F. B. Newberry, T. Swindall, and T. Wilmott.

Plans

  Plans were presented for:-

  House in Washbrook-road Allotment Field for Mr. G. R. Moore and passed.

  House in Purvis-road for Mr. L. Johnson and passed.

  House in Purvis-road for Mr. F. W. Swindall and passed.

  The plans for the above houses were passed on the understanding that the levels of the roads would be supplied to the Surveyor before the next Council meeting.

  House in Prospect Avenue for Mr. F. Austin and passed.

  House in Prospect Avenue for Mr. A. Swindall and passed.

  Applications for subsidies in respect of all the above houses were received, together with estimates of the cost thereof, which did not in any case exceed, including the cost of the land, £650, and it was resolved to recommend the Council to issue certificates in respect of same as coming within the Council’s scheme for the subsidy.

  Motor garage on garden to No. 283, Wellingborough-road, Rushden, for Mr. W. L. Beetenson and passed.

  Storage shed off Station Approach for Messrs. Ellis and Everard, and no exception taken.

  Motor garage on land on the Wilson Estate for Mr. W. H. Marriott, and no exception taken.

  Sports Pavilion for Messrs. Cave and Sons, Ltd., in their playing fields off Duck-street, and no exception taken.

Station Approach

  The Committee decided to recommend to the Council that the name of this road be retained.

  The Lighting Sub-Committee reported that they had inspected the lamps on this road and suggested that they should be taken over from the L.M.S. Railway and the centre one taken down and re-erected opposite the entrance to Rectory-road.

  The Sub-Committee were requested to further consider the matter of the position of the lamps, and after ascertaining from the Railway Company the terms upon which they would hand them over to the Council, report further to the Committee at their next meeting.

Rectory Road

  It was resolved to recommend that the continuation of this road through Beaconsfield Terrace be known as Rectory-road, and that a plate be erected at its entrance to Station-approach giving the name.

  The report was adopted.

  In regard to the subject of naming roads, Mr. Perkins asked that the new road off Irchester-road be named.  He said there were several houses there and the residents had no postal address.

  Mr. Hornsby promised that the Housing Committee would deal with the point at their next meeting.

Baths and Parks Committee

  A meeting of the Baths and Parks Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, the 22^nd June, 1927, when there were present:- Dr. D. G. Greenfield (chairman), Messrs. J. Hornsby, W. Bazeley, C. Claridge, C. W. Horrell and J. Roe.

Jubilee Park

  Applications were received from Mr. H. Bacon and Mr. W. Lyman for permission to place a Stall and sell ice creams in this Park on the occasion of the Co-operative Society’s Fete and Gala on Saturday July 2^nd.

  The applications were acceded to.

Caretaker’s House

  Resolved that the Caretaker’s house recently purchased in Washbrook-road be renovated at an estimated cost of £10.

  The report was adopted.

Health and Sanitary Committee

  A meeting of the Health and Sanitary Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, July 6^th, when there were present:- Mr. F. Corby (chairman), Messrs. J. Hornsby, J. Allen, C. Bates, T. F. B. Newberry, W. Bazeley, T. Swindall and W. C. Tarry.

Health and Sanitary Reports

  The report of the Medical Officer for the month of June was received.

  The Sanitary Inspector reported that a number of complaints had been received during the past month, all of which were receiving attention.

  During his inspection of slaughterhouses, butchers shops and fish shops, a quantity of food had been found unfit for human consumption, the whole of which had been voluntarily surrendered and destroyed.

  One complaint had been received under the Rats and Mice Destruction Act and the premises had been inspected.

  Applications were received for compensation for destroyed bedding, and it was resolved to recommend the Council to replace part of the bedding destroyed at a cost of £1  7s.  6d. in each case.

  The Inspector gave a detailed account of his inspections and work during the month.

Milk and Dairies Order, 1923

  With reference to the applications of Messrs. George Willmott, of Knuston Farm, Irchester, and Alfred Willmott, of 64, Wellingborough-road, Rushden, for registration under the above Order deferred from the last meeting, the Inspector submitted further reports upon bacteriological examinations made of samples of milk offered by them for sale, which were completely satisfactory, and the Inspector was instructed to enter their names on the register accordingly.

  The Clerk was requested to inform Messrs. Willmott of the result of the examinations and to say that the Committee hoped they would make every effort to keep up to the standard shown.

  Two other reports were submitted by the Inspector, one quite satisfactory and the other very unsatisfactory.  The Inspector was instructed to communicate with the Vendor concerned in the latter informing him of the result of the examination, and that the Committee expected a decided improvement before the next examination.

  VETERINARY REPORT :-  The quarterly report of the Veterinary Inspector was received, from which it appeared that on June 16^th and 24^th he visited 19 premises in this district and inspected 191 cows, making an individual examination of each udder.  The whole of the cows were clinically normal, and with very few exceptions in good condition.

Manning’s Row

  The Committee had under consideration the state of the houses in this row.  The Inspector stated that the owner was not prepared to expend sufficient money to put them in habitable condition and it was resolved to recommend the Council to instruct the Surveyor to serve a statutory notice on Dr. Owen requiring him to carry out sufficient works to make them reasonably fit for human habitation.

Cemetery

  The Cemetery Registrar’s report for the past half year was received, from which it appeared that there had been 85 interments during the past six months, 22 grave spaces had been sold, and 11 spaces reserved for a period of 14 years; 8 head-stones had been erected and 21 kerbs and 6 vases fixed, 16 additional inscriptions had been engraved on existing memorials.

  The fees received amounted to £122  8s. and there were no arrears.

  The Cemetery Sub-Committee reported that they had instructed the Caretaker to reconstruct the pathway leading from the Chapel to the portion of the Cemetery recently laid out, and recommended that the two rows of grave spaces on each side the continuation of this path be reserved for sale where double fees are payable.

  The Sub-Committee further recommended that a fence similar to that recently erected at Jubilee Park be placed alongside the hedge on the Newton-road frontage for a distance of about 200 yards at an estimated cost of about £20.

  The recommendations of the Sub-Committee were approved and it was resolved to recommend their adoption by the Council.

Sewage Farm

  The Sub-Committee reported that they had authorised the Farm Manager to dispose of two heifers at £20 each, which had been done.

  The Sub-Committee also reported that the horse at the Farm, although in good condition, was unfit for work.  They had had it inspected by a Veterinary Inspector, who recommended that it be disposed of forthwith.  It had since been sold for £6.

  The Committee agreed and instructed the Surveyor accordingly.

Public Convenience

  The Chairman and Surveyor were requested to see Mr. Sartoris and ask him to allow the Council to erect the iron structure recently taken down from the site near the Railway Bridge on a site belonging to him near the Wymington Road bridge.

  The report was received.

  Mr. Perkins asked why it had been stated in the Committee’s report that they “hoped they would make every effort to keep up to the standard shown “by Messrs. Willmott.”  Had the Committee any reason to believe, Mr. Perkins asked, that the standard would not be maintained?

  Mr. Corby explained that that reference had appeared because the matter was referred back to the Committee.  The Committee were interested in the whole milk supply of the town and they hoped that all the milk purveyors would take notice of the Committee’s report.

  Mr. Allebone:  Especially those which have proved unsatisfactory.  (Laughter.)

  Mr. Perkins asked whether as the horse at the sewage farm was considered unfit for work, it ought to have been sold.

  Mr. Corby said it had been sold on the assurance that it would be killed.

  On the subject of the old iron public convenience, Mr. Knight asked whether the Council knew exactly what they were doing.  What had been erected for a public convenience near the Railway Bridge had become a public nuisance, hence its removal.  He did not know whether it was wise to remove a nuisance from the north to the south of the Church, though people were satisfied with small things in that direction.  Before it was placed at the bottom of Wymington-road the Council ought to know what it would look like.  Mr. Sartoris had promised the ground, but for a totally different purpose.  It was a very exposed place and would be seen from all round.  He thought the Council were going further than they ought.

  Mr. Bazeley said that the Committee had artistic taste enough to believe that the structure would not spoil the place, but would rather beautify it  (laughter) – with shrubs planted all round.  It would not be an eye-sore.

  Mr. Knight: You think it wants hiding then?

  Mr. Bazeley: Certainly.  We should not put it up in the street.  It will be all right as the Committee have planned it.

  Mr. Knight: I don’t think Mr. Sartoris will agree.

  Mr. Corby: We shall not do anything to have it as it was before and should report first to the Council.

  Mr. Roe said it had been reported that the convenience near the station closed at 10 p.m. on Sundays.  Several ’busmen considered that that was too early in the summer months.

  The Chairman promised that the Committee would consider the point.

Finance and Estates Committee

  A meeting of the Finance and Estates Committee was held at the Council Buildings, on July 7^th, 1927, at 10 a.m., when there were present:- Messrs. J. Hornsby, F. Corby, G. W. Coles, F. Knight, J. Roe, and W. C. Tarry.  In the absence of Mr. Horrell, Mr. Knight was voted to the chair.

Fire Brigade

  The Clerk reported the receipt from the Ministry of Health of their sanction to a loan of £920 for the purpose of purchasing a motor pump with accessories, and that he had arranged for an advance of that amount at 5 per cent.  The Committee approved.

Rectory Road Improvement

  The Clerk also reported the receipt from the Ministry of Health of their sanction to a loan of £1,665 for this improvement, and he was instructed to negotiate same at interest not exceeding 5 per cent.

  The report was adopted.

Rating Committee

  The Rating Committee’s report was presented by Mr. Knight, as follows.

  Letters from Messrs. A. E. Cherry and Joseph Adams, objecting to the valuation of their houses proposed at the last meeting, were received, but in each case the objection was over-ruled.

  The rating of pavilions on Sports Grounds owned by Messrs. John Cave and Sons, Ltd., and Mr. John White was deferred until the next meeting.

  It was resolved to exempt the Spiritualist meeting places in Moor-road and Albion-place on their being officially certified as buildings devoted exclusively to religious worship.

  The report was adopted.

  Mr. Roe asked the Chairman of the Rating Committee if the Committee would consider re-assessing property used for trading purposes.  He said there was a coming sale in Griffith-street at what was called farm buildings.  The Rushden Chamber of Trade took strong exception to farm-rated premises being used for trading purposes.  It was unfair competition with shop-keepers in High-street.  Premises used for trading purposes should be rated as such.

  Mr. Knight said that that was the first case of the kind that had come before the Committee and he promised that it should be considered.

Playing Field

  Mr. Perkins asked which was the Committee to deal with the land beyond the Oval-road, not built upon, as the land was now the property of the town.  He would like the appropriate Committee to consider the question of handing it over to the local education authority as a playing field for the Newton-road school children.

  The Clerk said that the land would be the absolute property of the town, and whether the Council would be justified in handing it over in the way suggested, would need very careful consideration.  He thought the Council should decide which Committee should deal with the question.

  Mr. Spencer said he was in favour of a general recreation ground for that part of the town but would not have any objection to the Newton-road school children using it as a playing field.

  It was decided by a vote that the matter be referred to the Housing Committee.

The Overseers

  Mr. Swindall, having given notice at the last meeting, moved that the best thanks of the Council be conveyed to the Overseers for their valued services.  He said that now the Overseers had no existence as such, it was but right that the Council, who had appointed them, should express the town’s appreciation of work which had not received publicity.

  Mr. Spencer seconded and it was carried.

The Show

  A letter was received from Mr. W. E. Dolby, secretary of the County Agricultural Society, as follows:  “My committee direct me to express to your Council their sincere thanks for the invitation to hold the show at Rushden, and for all the help so generously and courteously given during the time of preparation for the day of the show.  We wish to congratulate you and the town of Rushden generally on the result of your efforts, and to say that the next visit of the Society to Rushden will not be far off.”

  The Chairman: It is very encouraging for all concerned to know that it proved such a great success.  There is no doubt we were favoured in many respects – with the weather and the honour of a visit from Prince Henry, which brought hundreds, and probably thousands, to the town, adding to the interest.  We are known a little further afield now than previously.

  The Clerk said that the attendance at the one day’s show at Rushden was more than at the three days’ Royal Show.

  Mr. Spencer: They ought to have held it in Rushden. (Laughter.)

  The Chairman:  It is something to be proud of.

Salvation Army

  A letter from the Salvation Army Headquarters was read, stating that they did not raise any objection to the Rushden Council removing the wooden fence near the Rushden Salvation Army Hall and replacing it with an open iron fence.

  On the motion of Mr. Horrell, seconded by Mr. Coles, the Clerk was instructed to express to the Salvation Army authorities the thanks and appreciation of the Council for the concession.

  Mr. Swindall asked whether any of the corner would be cut off.

  The Clerk:  We are not to take anything off.

  It was agreed that the Surveyor carry out the work at once, using five-feet iron fencing similar to that at the Washbrook-road triangle garden.