Council Meeting – 8th December 1899

The Sixty-Second Meeting of the Great Longstone Parish Council was held in the School Room, Great Longstone
on Friday December 8th 1899.

Present:
Rev. G. Andrew
Messrs Coe, Dixon, Orr, Spanton, Ward and Shimwell (Clerk).

The Minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

Gilder Quarry

The Clerk stated that he had called to see Mr Wright to arrange a meeting at the Quarry in order that some amicable arrangement might be come to. Mr Wright had sent the following letter in which he declined to meet the Council.

Copy

Longstone Hall, Nr Bakewell
Dec 4th 1899

Dear Sir,

With regard to your message conveying the suggestion that I should meet the Parish Council at the Quarry, I confess that I do not at present see the necessity, for unless there is some definite object in view which cannot be discussed in writing. If the Council are ready to place a restriction on the further working of the Quarry on the East side and make some reasonable proposal to prevent future misunderstanding as to the land on the South side it might be worth while to hold such an outdoor meeting.

In any case at this season of the year I could only undertake to attend personally or by deputy. It would facilitate matters if you will let me know what is the object of the meeting so that I may have an opportunity of considering it.

Yours faithfully
G. J. Wright

Mr I. Shimwell
Clerk to Longstone Parish Council

Mr Dixon then proposed the following Resolution which was seconded by Mr Coe and carried unanimously:

That the Clerk inform Mr Wright that inasmuch as he seems to decline to meet the Council in their efforts to come to some amicable arrangement with regard to the Gilder Quarry and the fences, it only remains now for them to act in accordance with the terms of the Award. As the west fence is shown on the Parish Award to belong to the Quarry they will proceed to repair the same and also remove the south fence to its original site.

If Mr Wright is willing to offer any suggestions they are willing to hear him but if nothing is heard from Mr Wright before the 6th January 1900 they will then proceed to make the fences secure against any trespass. It will then be necessary for Mr Wright to place a gate in the east fence to secure it on that side.

The Council in seeking an interview with Mr Wright were anxious to come to some arrangement whereby any encroachment in the present face of the quarry might be avoided. The Council are sorry that Mr Wright takes the view of the matter that he does. But they have already had several meetings and are unable to come to any settlement; they feel bound to bring the matter to a finish.

A notice having been received from the County Council stating that an enquiry would be held in the Board Room, Union Workhouse, Bakewell, with reference to the Rural Sanitary District and the position of Guardians representing the same, Mr J. Shimwell was authorised to attend the said meeting on behalf of this Council and to act in the interest of the Parish as he thinks best.

Signed
W. R. Pitt Dixon