1894: The Board and the Canal Company – W J Ainsworth

From the Swindon Advertiser and North Wilts Chronicle, 17th February 1894

Two letters were received from Mr. W. J. Ainsworth, Secretary and Manager of the Wilts and Berks Canal Company.

In the first he referred to the Board's complaint at the last meeting about the state of the towing paths between the Golden Lion and Fleet-street Bridges, and asked under what authority the Local Board considered itself entitled to approach the Canal Company on the matter. As to the general repair of the towing paths, the Canal Company could not commence the work until the agreement between the Company and the Board was finally settled and signed, and could not therefore name a date for completion until the Canal Company had seen a complete draft of the terms. The Canal Company had been waiting months for the draft of the Agreement.

Respecting the complaint as to unloading canal boats at Andover-street, Mr. Ainsworth wrote that the Canal Company had no power to stop this unloading if the proper charges were paid. Apart from that he failed to see in what respect the unloading and loading of general merchandise could constitute a nuisance.

These questions were referred to the General Purposes Committee, but the opinion was generally expressed that the Board saw no reason to alter the determination they arrived at at the last meeting to force the Canal Company to repair the towing paths.