Council Meeting – 25th June 1896
Thursday, June 25th, 1896
Twentieth meeting of the Parish Council held in the School Room, Great Longstone, on Thursday, June 25th, 1896.
Present: Mr James Orr, Chairman; Messrs H.A. Spanton, A.W.S. Eyre, J. Johnson, S. Johnson, and T. Shimwell, Clerk.
The minutes of the meeting held on the 28th May were read and confirmed.
Homestead Lane Head Charity
Mr Spanton laid before the meeting a letter which he had received from the Charity Commissioners, in which they state that Mr Thornhill had informed them that he was under the impression that the above charity could be used for the Roads in the Parish, and was not willing to repay the amount withdrawn from the Bank, viz. £29. 14. 2.
The Commissioners drew attention to a letter in respect of this and had declined to accept Mr Thornhill’s offer to pay £20.
Mr Eyre proposed, Mr Orr seconded, and it was carried unanimously that Mr Spanton state in reply that Mr Thornhill could not be ignorant of the uses to which the money could be put, and to suggest that Mr Thornhill ought to pay the sum of £29. 14. 2, being the original amount of the Charity.
Water Supply, etc.
The following letter was laid before the Council, which had been received from the District Council:
Bakewell Rural District Council
24 June 1896
Dear Sir,
Great Longstone Water Supply
I am desired by the Rural District Council to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 15th inst. regarding a postponement of the water scheme until the Drainage Scheme has been completed.
In reply, I am to enquire whether the Great Longstone Parish Council contemplate submitting to the District Council, at an early date, a proposal for the construction of sewerage and sewage disposal works for the Township?
The District Council have instructed an Engineer to prepare a scheme for an efficient supply of water to the Township, and until that scheme is laid before them and properly explained, the Council do not appear to be in a position to discuss the matter.
The Engineer has nearly completed his plans, and therefore the District Council do not see their way to countermand their instructions.
Yours truly,
Alf Hawes
Postal Telegraphs
Mr Spanton gave a verbal report of an interview held by him and the Clerk with the Postal Authorities in regard to a Telegraph Office at Longstone. As the Authorities had promised to supply some further information, it was decided not to take any action until this was received.
County Rate
The Clerk laid before the Council the proposed Basis of a New County Rate, based on the latest property tax assessments. The Clerk stated that the proposed basis was excessive and above its value, and included that portion of Holme which had been transferred to Bakewell.
On the motion of Mr Orr, seconded by Mr Spanton, it was unanimously resolved that the Clerk attend a meeting of the Committee to be held at the County Offices, St Mary’s Gate, Derby, on the 6th day of July, and object to the said basis.
It was decided to hold the next meeting of the Council on Thursday, the 30th July.
Henry Arthur Spanton
Chairman
July 30th, 1896
Historical Context – Clean Water and Public Health
Throughout the 1890s, questions of water supply and sanitation were at the forefront of local politics. The Bakewell Rural District Council’s correspondence with Great Longstone reflects growing national awareness of the connection between clean water and public health, following decades of epidemics in urban and rural areas alike. Engineers and surveyors were busy across Derbyshire testing wells, planning reservoirs, and introducing the modern concept of a piped water network.
