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33
their districts declared "main roads", the Vestry in July, 1889, applied
to the Council to declare all those roads in Islington "main roads"
which were scheduled by the Highways Committee in the report
referred to, intending to claim to retain the powers and duties of maintaining
such roads in its own hands. No reply had been received from
the Council up to the end of the year with which this report deals.
BLACKSTOCK ROAD IMPROVEMENT.
After a lengthy correspondence and considerable delay the Vestry
received an offer from Mr. Baker, the freeholder of the property
known as Askell Mews, to demolish the houses therein and to
give up a portion of the site for the widening of the roadway
for the sum of £3,000. This offer was accepted by the Vestry
on condition that the London County Council agreed to contribute
one-half the total cost of the improvement, the Vestry
undertaking to make up the roadway as widened and to form a paved
footpath to the new frontage line at an estimated cost of £465 on
vacant possession of the land being obtained.
The County Council, however, on being communicated with,
expressed an opinion that the sum asked for the improvement was
excessive, but stated that it would be prepared to contribute half
the nett cost on condition that such contribution should not exceed
the sum of £1,000. The Vestry, having already had long and repeated
negotiations with the owner of the property with a view to induce
him to take a less sum for his interest, and in view of the
fact that more than two-thirds of the cost of the improvement
would devolve upon the Vestry if the offer of the Council were
accepted, decided to ask the Council to carry out the improvement
itself on the best terms it was able to obtain, and to offer to
contribute half the cost. This offer was made, but the Council
replied that it was unable to accede to the Vestry's request and
that the maximum contribution could not be increased beyond the
amount already offered, viz.: £1,000.
The question was still under consideration at Lady Day, 1890.
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