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93
An Act of Parliament was obtained by the London United
Tramways Company in 1899, authorising the Company to
work their Tramways by electrical or mechanical power.
Under Section 11, sub-section 5, this work was to be executed
under and to be subject to the provisions of Sections 26-33
the Tramway Act of 1870. Section 28 of the last-named Act
requires that "the promoters shall, at their own expense, at
all times maintain and keep in good condition and repair, with
such jnaterials and in such manner as the road authority
shall direct, and to their satisfaction, so much of any road
whereon any tramway belonging to them is laid as lies
between the rails of the tramway and (where two tramways
are laid by the same promoters in any road at a distance of
not more than four feet from each other) the portion of the
road between the tramways, and in every case so much of
the road as extends eighteen inches "beyond the rails of and
on each side of any such tramway."
Section 33 provides that "If any difference arises
between the promoters and the road authority with
respect to the propriety of or the mode of execution of
any work relating to any tramway The matter
in difference shall be settled by an engineer or other fit
person nominated as referee by the Board of Trade on the
application of either party, and the expenses of the reference
shall be borne and paid as the referee directs."
The attention of the Tramways Company has frequently
been called to the defective condition of the various tramway
tracks, and although some work has been carried out, the
track remains in the condition as set out.
I would therefore recommend that before any legal steps
are taken, a notice be served upon the Tramway Company
to put their tracks in good condition and repair to the satisfaction
of the Council.
This report was approved by the Council, and a
notice served upon the Company requiring them to put
into good condition and repair such parts of the several
roads as are mentioned in the statement accompanying
the Borough Surveyor's report.
Since the notice was served the Company has
carried out a number of repairs to the tracks, and are
continuing to do so.