WILTS & BERKS CANAL TRUST

April 15

Dealing with this matter another long letter was received from Mr. Ainsworth, Secretary to the Wilts and Berks Canal Company, but as it was written without prejudice we do not feel justified in publishing the contents. It referred to the negotiations which have been carried on for some time past between the Board and the Canal Company as to the repairs of the towing paths alongside the canal in the Boards district.

A brief discussion followed the reading of the letter, and on the motion of Messrs Jones and Batt, it was referred to the Canal Committee of the Board.

April 29

The clerk stated that he had had a consultation with the solicitors to the canal company respecting the towing paths and he thought the board might take over the footpaths as highways subject, of couse, to the paramount right of the Canal Company to use the footpaths.

The Chairman said the general purpose committee would meet in the ordinary course on Thursday, and the matter was referred to that committee for discussion.

Mr. Thomas said he should like to include the Golden Lion Bridge for consideration by the committee, and the Chairman said he thought it would come on in the ordinary course.

Mr. Smith said in reference to the proposed footbridge over the canal near Read Street, that Mr. Williams had offered to sell the Board a piece of land, 16ft wide by 120ft long, for £20, and in addition to give a piece of the same dimensions.

Mr. Prothero proposed that the offer be accepted-this was seconded by Mr. Mills and agreed to.

May 13

With reference to this question, which has been under discussion by the Board for some time past, a further letter was received from Mr. Ainsworth, manager and Secretary to the Wilts and Berks Canal Company, accepting on certain conditions the supplemental provisions agreed to by the board.

These provisions with regard to public right of way over the towing paths were as follows: (1) the width of the public footway or towpaths not to exceed six feet from the water edge: (2) in case of the Local Board should desire to widen the footway at any point they shall be at liberty to do so, and for that purpose to take and use the fence adjoining, but thereupon the Board to relieve the Canal Company from all liability in regard to the future maintenance of that part of the fences, this not to prejudice the Canal Company's absolute right to any land created by the narrowing of the canal: (3) the Local Board to have the liberty at all times for the making or repairing of the footways to use the canal within their district free of toll for carrying all materials to be used.

It was resolved to refer some details in regard to this matter to the same committee just appointed to deal with the previous matter.

December 16

Mr. Batt asked if anything was being done with regard to a settlement of the question with the Wilts and Berks Canal Company as to the repair of the canal towing paths in the Boards district.The Chairman said there had been numerous interviews with the Canal Company on the subject, and every possible leniency given to the Canal Company to carry out their proposed arrangement but nothing had been done, and he thought the time was now passed when this matter should go from post to pillar and pillar to post without anything being done.

The fault was that the Canal Company would not fix any definite time for finishing the camp-shedding, and unless the Company were prepared to do that the arrangement between the Board and the Canal Company, so far as they had gone, must fall through.

In reply to the Chairman, the Surveyor said it would take six months to do the camp-shedding.

After a few other remarks, Mr. Morris proposed that notice be given to the Canal Company that unless they commenced the work of camp-shedding in connection with the towing paths in the Boards distric by the 1st February next, and also undertake to complete the work within three months from the date, all previous negotiations between them and the Board be at an end.

Mr. Adams seconded the proposition, remarking that he thought it was quite time this matter was brought to some definite conclusion.

The proposition was carried unanimously.

Swindon Evening Advertiser