WILTS & BERKS CANAL TRUST

The Wilts & Berks Canal: A meeting of the owners of the property adjoining this canal is advertised to be held at the Angel Hotel, Chippenham on Friday morning next, at twelve o'clock to consider the effect, upon riparian owners, of the Bill which has been deposited in the Private Bill office of the House of Commons, advertising the sale of this canal.

Swindon Advertiser January 18th 1875

A meeting was held at Chippenham on Friday, to consider the position of the owners and occupiers of land adjoining the canal, as affected by the proposed closing of the canal. Mr A Heathcote presided and the meeting was attended by Mr A.I Goddard, MP Mr Townsend and about twenty gentlemen.

The general view seemed to be that the rights of purchase of the land by riparian owners at the original price must be preserved and if the new Bill did not preserve them, it must be opposed. Mr Townsend said the canal entailed great cost on Swindon in sanitary matters. The sewer under the canal cost £150 and the recent bridge [Fleet St] £400

The Canal Company lost £300 per annum and £10,000 was required to put the canal in repair. The rights of riparian owners could be preserved by the insertion of clause 162 of the old Bill in the new instead of clause 12.

A resolution was passed that the committee be instructed to confer with the canal company to amend the Bill and to maintain existing rights of the riparian owners. Mr Goldney has been in treaty to purchase the canal, but the negotiations failed.

Swindon Advertiser- January 25th 1875