Rushden Research Group: Council Meeting

The Rushden Echo and Argus, 12th May, 1950, transcribed by Gill Hollis

Rushden Urban District Council

Rushden Hall

The Hall – Restoration of the Hall grounds is proceeding satisfactorily, but it is considered inadvisable to plant the trees at the present time, and this work has been deferred until the autumn. Seeding has not yet been carried out, and weather conditions will decide whether it is undertaken before the autumn.

Rushden Traffic Problem

Another attempt to solve Rushden’s High Street traffic problem was made on Wednesday when the Urban Council favoured the introduction of no-waiting regulations.

Following consultation with Chamber of Trade representatives, the Highways Committee recommend the introduction of a “prohibition of waiting” rule in Rushden High Street for a trial period of three months subject to the restrictions being effective only between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays.

The scheme would apply to the whole length of road from a point south of Victoria Road to a point opposite the War Memorial and would be subject to the usual exemptions enabling persons to board or alight from vehicles and for goods to be loaded and unloaded.

A second recommendation which, like the first, will go to the County Council, was that an Order should be made constituting Coffee Tavern Lane a one-way street to be used only by traffic proceeding from High Street to Rectory Road, with a complete prohibition of waiting on one side of the road.

The committee added that the surveyor had been requested to improve the sign-posting indicating the position of car parks near High Street.

The report was carried after Coun. W. J. Sawford had related his own experiences of being “moved on” by the police.

Petitions Against Increases

Three petitions from Council house tenants against the recent rent increases have been received by the Housing Committee of Rushden Urban Council and were mentioned at the Council’s meeting on Wednesday.

One was from 98 tenants in Highfield Road, Coronation Avenue, Chester Road, Boundary Avenue, The Crescent and Spinney Road, who considered that the increases were inequitable having regard to the relative amenities of the houses. The second was from 24 tenants in Trafford Road who though complaining of the increase, state that they would be satisfied if electricity was installed at the expense of the Council.

The third is an individual protest from the tenant of 146 Highfield Road.

The committee reported with regret that they did not feel able to recommend any variation. “I am very sorry,” Mrs. Muxlow told the Council “but under the circumstances it is not possible to alter the rents.” The report was adopted without further comment.

The Rushden Echo and Argus, 26th May, 1950

Rushden Urban District Council

Housing as Rushden’s Primary Need
Council Calls, Give Us the Goods

Elected chairman of Rushden Urban Council on Monday evening, Coun. F. E. Brown spoke of housing as Rushden’s primary need and urged local contractors to “give us the goods” so that some of the more serious cases might be housed by the winter.

Mr. Brown said the Council had built 261 houses since 1945, the number including 36 under construction on March 31st.

Although the immediate prospect was bleak, the outlook for the autumn was more encouraging, and he was glad to see that quotas were going back to previous levels.

Sixty-five private houses had also been built, but the Council still had several hundred applicants who would have to bear patiently with them for what must seem an interminable time.

“In looking round housing estates, one sees in travelling,” said Mr. Brown, “I think ours compare very favourably, and we have just cause for pride in them.”

The new chairman referred to the sewering of Fern Road and Palm Road, and said the question of sewerage for the Court Estate would no doubt be considered later on.

Health

On food distribution, he hoped that the efforts of the County Clean Food Guild would have full co-operation from the Chamber of Trade.

He complimented ice-cream retailers on their co-operation with the Health Department and hoped they would look upon the modern regulations, not as irksome restrictions, but as wise precautions to protect health.

Regretting the delay in completing work in Rectory Road, where the Salvation Army hall has been cleared, he explained that the Council was waiting for a licence from the Government.

Of the No-Waiting Order which is to be tried in High Street, he said : “While I do not think this an answer to the problem, I, for one, shall be delighted if it brings the desired improvement.” He hoped the Council would insist on an in-town bus service this year.

Mr. Brown asked the townspeople to co-operate in a general tidying-up of the town as part of the Festival of Britain plan, and mentioned a proposal to improve the ground at the foot of St. Mary’s Avenue.

Welfare

The Council, he continued, had decided that the welfare of old people – the subject of a County Council campaign – was covered by local voluntary organisations, but he hoped that any old people needing assistance in letter-writing, shopping, or other matters would communicate with him or with any other councillor.

Other points in the speech were that Remembrance Sunday services should be held around the War Memorial at 11 a.m. and that the Parks Committee should hold regular monthly meetings.

Mr. Brown’s election to the chair was moved by the out-going chairman, Coun. W. E. Capon, who said the Council, like the electors, had complete confidence in his ability.

Coun. J. H J. Paragreen seconded.

At the outset of his speech, Mr. Brown expressed sympathy with those in the district who had suffered through Sunday’s storm, and in particular with those who had been bereaved.

Vice-chairman

Coun. C. G. Faulkner was appointed vice-chairman on the proposition of Coun. A. H. Bailey, seconded by Coun. Mrs. Muxlow.

Mr. Bailey said that although Mr. Faulkner has not served a long apprenticeship with the Council, they had all been impressed by his knowledge of local government.

When committees were elected Coun. J. Allen complained that the Liberal group was very poorly represented on the Finance Committee, Mrs. Muxlow being its only member.

Index of Council Meetings