Council Meeting – 25th July 1895
Minutes of the Ninth Meeting of the Parish Council
Held in the School Room, Thursday July 25th, 1895
Present: Arthur Bates (Chairman), C. H. Buzzard, James W. and Sam Johnson, Charles Johnson, and T. Shimwell (Clerk).
Mr. Gratton absent on his holidays.
The minutes of the meeting held on the 27th June were read and confirmed.
Parochial Charities (74) and the Hornsby Low Road Trust Fund (76)
It was reported that a letter had been received from the Charity Commissioners giving certain information about the charities and asking to be supplied with the names of the persons who had control of the Hornsby Low Road Trust Fund.
On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr. Orr, it was resolved unanimously that the name of Mr. John Thornhill be communicated to the Charity Commissioners.
It was further reported that Mr. Thornhill had handed to Mr. Gratton a document purporting to be an account of his expenditure of the fund upon the making of the footpath in Mill Lane.
The Clerk reported that he had seen the accounts of this Trust Fund in the Savings Bank Ledger at Bakewell and read out some notes of figures and dates which he had taken.
It was decided to leave the matter over, and see what steps the Charity Commissioners would take.
Safety of Parish Documents (80)
The Chairman and the Clerk undertook to bring to the next meeting some prices and lists of safes for the information of the Council.
Sanitary Matters (75)
The matters recorded in the memorandum entered in the Minute Book (pages 30–37) having been talked over, the Chairman submitted the draft of a statement which he had prepared in accordance with the Resolution of the meeting held on the 24th July.
This statement was discussed, and with a few alterations agreed to. It was arranged that it should be signed by the members of the Council and forwarded to the Rev. J. W. Brown as speedily as possible.
A copy of the document is entered at the foot of these minutes (pp. 40–41, 42–43).
Village Feast (84)
The Clerk reminded the Parish Council that the Village Feast comes to be held in September, and asked whether the Parish Council intended to take any steps in reference thereto.
After some conversation it was agreed that Mr. Buzzard, Mr. Chas. Johnson, and the Clerk should submit to the next Council meeting their ideas of what regulations can properly be made respecting the use of the Village Green during that time.
The next meeting of the Council was fixed for the fourth Thursday in August, the 22nd.
(Signed)
Arthur Bates
Chairman
August 22nd, 1895
Copy of the Reply of the Parish Council on Dr. Fenton’s Report
(See Minute 83)
29 July 1895
To the Reverend J. W. Brown,
Chairman of the Committee appointed to confer with the Longstone Parish Council on the Report of the Medical Officer (Dr. Fenton) dated 14th June 1895.
Reverend Sir,
In pursuance of the Resolution passed at the meeting held in the Longstone School Room on Wednesday July 24th, the undersigned, being Parish Councillors of Longstone, hand you herewith their observations on Dr. Fenton’s Report.
In the first place we point out that our memorial of 18th April, which has been the occasion of Dr. Fenton’s Report, refers solely to the closet accommodation of three specified blocks of property; it included no complaint on the subject of drainage and water supply.
We will deal with the subjects introduced into the Report in the following order:
A. Closet Accommodation
B. Quality of our actual water supply
C. Water supply in general
D. Drainage
A. Closet Accommodation
On this subject we note that Dr. Fenton agrees with us in condemning the present arrangements in the three specified blocks of property, and we agree with the recommendations made in reference thereto, adding:
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In reference to the Town Head lot – that the cesspool referred to in the Report should be abolished.
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In reference to what may conveniently be referred to as the “White Lion” lot – that the most convenient site for the new closets will probably be found in the right-hand corner of the garden adjoining the block on the westerly side, both properties belonging to one owner.
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In reference to the Mill Lane lot – that if the closets are removed as far as they can be put from the pump, the water from the pump will probably be restored to purity.
The insufficient closet accommodation and inadequate means of dealing with slop water, which in the Report is said in the majority of the houses in the village to exist, has not been brought by the occupiers to our knowledge, and the Report does not specify the houses having these faulty arrangements.
Wherever clearly seen to exist, we think the faults ought to be remedied.
B. Concerning the Pumps (unwholesome water)
It is with surprise and much regret that we learn from the Report that the water of two pumps in the village is impure.
Whilst accepting as correct the analysis given, as also the inference therefrom that the water is not of the desirable standard of purity, we point out that the water in question is in daily use for drinking and culinary purposes, and we have never heard of any sickness or inconvenience resulting from its use.
To deprive the villagers of the use of this water would be felt as an intolerable hardship.
Instead of this we propose that steps be taken in order to restore the waters to a right standard of purity.
This can probably be done in the following manner:
Town Head Pump
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Abolish the cesspool referred to in the Report and carry off liquid sewage from the new closets to be provided by sanitary pipes to the main drain.
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The surface water of Gilder’s Road might be diverted so as to enter the drain at the side opposite to the pump.
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If it be possible to further protect the well from the possible entrance into it of surface waters, let this be done.
Mill Lane Pump
When new closets are put up at the far end of the garden away from the pump, and proper drainage supplied, it may reasonably be expected that this water will be brought up to the required standard.
C. Water Supply in General
The suggestion to provide a totally new water supply is, in our opinion, premature.
We are quite alive to the benefits afforded by an abundant and well-distributed supply of pure water, but think we can, for the present, remain fairly satisfied with existing arrangements.
The Longstone pumps not by any means confined to those which are public, now yield copious supplies. When, in dry seasons, other parishes round about are short of water, we usually have enough for our own needs and theirs, both for domestic and farm use.
There is no scarcity therefore of good water in Longstone.
We are satisfied that any scheme likely to be proposed for water supply on a large scale would burden the rates beyond the limits of common sense.
When the probable value is fixed or ascertained, what it is at present the burden, if it has to be taken up, may perhaps be borne, but not yet.
We trust that the District Council will lay aside any proposals which may have been formed or suggested for the creation of a new water supply for this township until the inhabitants give evidence of its necessity, and of their wish to have it, by asking for it through their immediate representatives, the Parish Council.
D. The Drainage Scheme
The suggestions of the Report would meet with our fullest approbation if no system of drainage existed already.
But such drainage exists, and so far as it goes is excellent. From the Town Head to the Meirs there is a spacious drain covered in for the greater part of its length, and more than equal to all present requirements. It has not to deal with sewage from water closets except in the case of two houses only.
Instead of laying an entirely new drain, let the present one serve, and improve it by the addition of gully holes and grids wherever needed.
Where no drainage exists, let it be supplied as suggested in the Report; the main drain is large enough to deal with all the suggested additions.
To conclude, we hope that the members of the Committee of the Rural District Council may be able to endorse our views and recommend them to their Council for adoption.
(Signed)
Arthur Bates,
Chairman of the Longstone P.C.
