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ABERYSTWYTH TOWN COUNCIL.…

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ABERYSTWYTH TOWN COUNCIL. PROMENADE EXTENSION SCHEME. The fortnightly meeting of the Aberystwyth Town Council was held on Tuesday. Present: The Mayor (Mr. D. C. Roberts) presiding, Aldermen Peter Jones, W. H. Palmer, and T. Doughton, Councillors J. P. Thomas, Croydon Marks. C. M. Williams, T. E. Salmon, E. H. James, John Jenkins, and E. T. Wynne, with the Town Clerk (Mr. A. J. Hughes), the Surveyor (Mr. Rees Jones), and the Deputy Clerk (Mr. C. Massey). CORPORATION FINANCES. The Town Clerk read the following statement, which was signed by Councillor Peake (mayor's auditor), Mr. John Thomas (elective auditor), and Mr. E. J. Evans (elected auditor):—"We have examined the Corporation accounts for the year ending March 25th, 1899. The different depart- ments show satisfactory balances with the exception of the expenditure of the harbour department, which still shows a yearly deficit. The water department shows a phenomenal surplus over expenditure. The" sinking funds in all the departments have been attended to. The books are accurately and systematically kept, and vouchers produced for all expenditure. We found the accountant's office in an orderly and business-like state." Councillor Williams asked what the outstanding amount uncollected on the rentals was, and sug- gested that it might be included in the report. The Mayor: We had better ask our accontant to produce the figures at the next meeting. ARRIVAL OF TRAINS. The Town Clerk produced the return giving the arrival of trains on the Cambrian, which was re- ferred to the General Purposes Committee. Councillor Williams said that he presumed it would be sent to Mr. Denniss. The Town Clerk Yes. MISS LEWIS' CLAIM. The Town Clerk intimated that lie had received a letter from Miss Lewis, Llanon, stating that she would send particulars of claim in time for the next meeting. WELSH INDUSTRIES' EXHIBITION. The Town Clerk read a letter from Mr. Glvn Davies, secretary to the above, conveying the warmest thanks of the Executive Committee for gift of £5 so considerately made to them by the Council towards the exhibition funds. Mr. J. C. Harford, added Mr. Davies, on behalf of Mrs. Harford, desired to express appreciation of the gift. COMMITTEE REPORTS. The Public Works Committee recommended that the application of the Horticultural Society for the loan of the toll house for a change box on the 16th inst. be granted.—Carried. There was no report from the Finance Committee A meeting was convened for the 8th inst., but the chairman only attended, and as no quorum was formed, the bills were not passed and no instruc- tions were given to convene another meeting until the ordinary meeting of the 24th inst. The Har- bour Committee recommended with reference to the application of Messrs. M. H. Davies & Sons for a lease of a piece of land on Rofawr for the erec- tion of stores, that a lease for 21 years be granted at £1 4s per foot frontage per annum for a period of. 23 years.—Carried. HACKNEY CARRIAGES. The General Purposes Committee reported as follows :—Your Committee having received a report from the Inspector of Hackney Carriages that of late there has been an improvement in the conduct of drivers of hackney carriages, and l'iithat the proprietors appeared to wish to avoid cause of complaint, your Committee, while recognising the fact that serious complaints have been made both against drivers and proprietors of hackney carriages for breaches of the bye-laws and that if the causes of complaints are not removed drastic measures will have to be adopted, recommend that having regard to the lateness of the season it is not desirable to alter existing arrangements, but that the Inspector of Hackney Carriages be instructed to keep a strict watch and to report upon any com- plaints that may arise, and that at the end of the season the question of a re-arrangement of cab stands, the rescinding of the permission now given during certain hours to place carriages for hire on the Marine Terrace, as well as the provision of additional cab stands, be considered by your Com- mittee and reported to the Council. Your Committee instructed the Inspector to call upon all drivers of hackney carriages to avoid Terrace Road in going on and off the Marine Terrace stand unless such carriages are proceeding with passengers on their journey. The report was adopted. FIRE BRIGADE. The Fire Brigade Committee recommended:— That Mr. Rees Jones be asked to undertake the captaincy and formation of a new brigade; the purchase of 600 feet of hose at a cost not to exceed R,55 and that the members of the old Fire Brigade who rendered service at the Mill Street fire be paid. Councillor Salmon, in moving the adoption of the report said that it was not the intention of Mr Rees Jones to hold the post permanently, but to depute the duties to someone else as soon as he brought the brigade into a state of efficiency. Alderman Doughton seconded.—Carried. Councillor Williams said he was glad to find that the committee now recommended payment to the old members of the brigade who rendered very good assistance at the fire. PROMENADE EXTENSION" SCHEME. Alderman Palmer had Ithe following resolution on the agenda :-That the Town Clerk be instructed to renew the application made in the year 1895 to the Local Government Board for their sanction to the-borrowing of the loan required for the purpose of carrying out the proposed extension of the promenade round the Castle, and that the Board be urged to hold the necessary inquiry, and to expedite matters as much as possible inasmuch as the exist- ing promenade is wholly inadequate for the town. In moving it, Alderman Palmer said they had all heard a good deal about it during the past six or seven years. He thought they were all agreed that the time had now come when the scheme must be proceeded with. Anyone who visited the promenade or the castle grounds last Sunday must have been convinced that it was time the promenade was extended. Very few words from him would suffice, as be had talked so much about this ever since the year he was Mayor, and it had been before the Council, who bad recommended it. The plans werr, drawn up aid the scheme sent to the Local Government Board, and the reason that they did proceed with the work in 1895 was that they were backward with their loans, but thanks to the Committee that had been very nearly remedied, and as they had just heard they were now in a splendid position financially. They were able to go on with the scheme and he thought the inquiry should be held at once, as there were other matters which could be inquired into at the same time. He hoped, even if they could not carry the whole scheme out at once, that they would begin it during the coming winter or early in the spring, so that the visitors might see that Aberystwyth was once more doing something to make herself known, and was the first watering place in Wales. Aberystwyth had been called the Brighton of Wales, but a gentlemen said to him recently that it must far exceed Brighton, because people who visited Brighton and afterwards came to Aberyst- wyth said that Brighton lacked what Aberystwyth had, the beautiful scenery at the back. They had the promenade at Brighton, but Aberystwyth was going to have its promenade, and it had the scenery which no other place could have. He could picture to himself the time when the promenade, extending round the Castle, would join the South Marine Terrace, delightful with the electric light and banks of evergreen growing up on the sides, and with shelters for the people: and he hoped to see it extended to the other end, with beautiful trees and shrubs, and there the band stand should be, and there the people should congregate of an evening, and in the early winter it would be crowded with visitors. They lacked these visitors now, but when they could rest there in their chairs under the shelter of trees, and under the shelter of the castle whenjthere was a strong southerly wind, Aberystwyth would be a a place for invalids which no place in England could equal. They might call the South Coast what they liked, but the West Coast was the best because the climate was more equal all the year round. The townspeople would be only too pleased when they saw what the Council was doing to attract the visitors from the Midlands and the North and South. He knew of people who came from all parts of the world to Aberystwyth. An American gentleman told him the other day that the reason why he came to Aberystwyth was that a lady who had been there said to him, "Whenever you go to England, mind you go to see Aberyst- wyth," and he said that Aberystwyth was more talked of in America than any other place in England. He also said there were a lot of people in America bearing the same names as those in Wales,—there were Hughes' and Joneses, and Williamses. Councillor Williams. There are no Palmers there (laughter). Alderman Palmer: Very likely not in some parts, but there are plenty of Palmers (laughter). Proceeding he said they were all agreed that some: thing might be done. The rates were such that no one could grumble, because all the inhabitants had been doing well this summer, aud they would only be too pleased to see the work commenced. Councillor Marks remarked that what had passed through Alderman Palmer's wind, must have passed through the mind of every one of them. It was only a matter of convenience as to who should bring the matter forward. No visitor would feel disposed to say that the Council had got as far as they ought to have got in the accommodation of visitors in the front. So far as he could see from statistics he kept. it was the best season they had had for some time, and people might feel inclined to relax their efforts. But people who advertised found that as soon as they dropped advertising their receipts fell. That had been the case with Medicine Companies, and it was the same in the case of watering places. Every place was pushing nowadays; there was competition everywhere; and Aberystwyth must continue to advertise itself. What "had they at Aberystwyth that other places had not ? They had everything that would satisfy the desires of every class. In Black- pool they had only a stretch of sand with noisy amusements in Rhyl they might get a glimpse of the sea if they got there in time (laughter). In Llandudno they had scenery nearly equal to that at Aberystwyth, but they had there a promenade three times the length and twice the width, and they were still extending it. At Aberystwyth there was only one possible thing for them to do. They must make the front by carrying it round to the South Terrace and on to he other side. Many people came there every year, who went away and advertised it, the train service was improving, and all the visitors would say that the great drawback was the promenade. People who paid rates might say this was unnecessary, forgetting that the more they spent the more people they attracted. If they increased the rates towards the promenade they would bring in more people. The two previous weaks they had to drive people away to Bortli, but last night he was told they could not take more at the hotel at Borth, so they had to be sent else- where. The people who were sent away might tell their friends, It's no use your going to Aber- ystwyth, they can't accommodate you there." They must show people that they were moving. They wanted them from all parts, and of all tastes and conditions. They wanted high class people who suited Mr. Palmer, and some of all kinds. In Weston-Super-Mare they had the Madeira Cove, a sheltered place in the corner of a rock, where people congregated, and which made it a winter resort. They had under Constitution Hill a spot that would make a better Madeira Cove than existed anywhere in England. It was admirably sheltered, and when the wind blew that way they could have a similar shelter at the other end of the Terrace. The advantages they had at Aber- ystwyth were not sufficiently known they did not use them. Although the rates might be slightly increased it would be the wisest expenditure they had ever undertaken, and it would return to those who invested in it far more than they put out, whilst the increased convenience would be uni- versally appreciated. He seconded the resolution. The Town Clerk said with regard to the previous application to the Local Government Board for a loan, the resolution of the Council, together with the plans and detailed estimates of the cost of the proposed work, were forwarded on June 25th, 1895, and the Local Government Board, after considera- tion, stated they were not prepared to entertain the application until the arrangements for the repayment of the existing debts had been placed on a satisfactory footing. After that there was a public inquiry by a "Local Government Board Inspector, with the result that the Provisional Order with regard to sinking funds was repealed, and an extended time given. The whole of the arrears had been provided for at the present date and the balance on these "arrears would be wiped, off in the course of seven years, from then. He added that he had just written to the Local Government Board asking when an inquiry could be held, assuming Alderman Palmer's resolution was passed, but he had only had a formal acknow- ledgment of the letter. Conncillor Marks; What was the estimate then? Alderman Doughton: £ 10,000. Alderman Palmer: I hope we shall ask for enough. In a recent work we found we hadn't enough. You can ask for as much as you like. Alderman Jones: It must be based on an estimate. The Town Clerk: There are several other matters-such as the question of extending the Town Hall-to be inquired into at the same time. Councillor Marks: This application should not be merged with others, which can wait better than this. Alderman Palmer suggested that the plan should be publicly exhibited, as some people seemed to think the scheme bad dropped through. Replying to Councillor Williams, who asked what would be the increased cost of carrying out the work now as compared with the estimate of 1895, the Surveyor said the price of cement had increased 30 per cent., and as the price of labour and material had also increased, he roughly estimated the cost now P,12,700, as against £ 10,000. in 1895, Councillor Williams said that having regard to the lapse of four-and-a-half years since the matter was discussed and agreed upon by the Council, and to the great increase in the estimated cost, and especially having regard to the fact that there were five members on the Council now who were not on it in 1885, he thought this question, which was of the greatest importance to the welfare of Aberyst- wyth, ought to be well considered by the whole Council. It was only right that the new members should have an opportunity of perusing the plans and of going carefully into the whole scheme. He had been an ardent advocate of all improvements possible with a view of making Aberystwyth, the leading watering place, not only in Wales, but in England as well, and he was in favour of the scheme in 1895. At that time there was a glowing prospect of having immediately a greatly reduced rate, and one of the strong arguments of Mr. Peter Jones then in minimising the proposed expenditure was the great revenue that would accrue from the sand on the beach, which he said would be between £ 400 and £ 500, and which, according to the estimate then presented, would practically pay the interest and annual repayments of the loan. They knew that source of revenue had disappeared for some time, and greatly to their advantage, when they considered the state of the beach at the present time. Since then many of them had opportunities of consulting a large number of the ratepayers. It was no use mincing matters, all were not agreed upon the scheme. In fact there was considerable dissension with regard to the carrying out of this very big scheme, and before they did anything they ought to refer the whole matter to a com- mittee of the whole Council, so that the new members might go fully inio it. If they agreed to commence the scheme, he thought a ratepayers' meeting should be called to see whether the town approved of it. His opinion was that it would approve; at any rate they would approve of a great part of the scheme, they might not agree to the whole of it. There was no mention of ex- tending the scheme to a point at Craiglas, which they carried in 1895, and it would be well to consider this at the same time. He thought it would be greatly to their advantage before launching into any further big schemes if they were to complete what they had already in hand. They had a great many things in hand that had been hanging on for many years. Take the workmen's dwelling scheme, it was almost impossible to get that finished, there was always some obstacle or other. Then there was the paving of the streets, and of the courts and alleys. There was no matter that needed more immediate atten- tion than the improvements of the courts and alleys of the town where the poor people had to live. These matters [ought to be completed before they entered on more works. The Surveyor could not attend to everything, he had now far more than he could do the proof of that was the delay there was in carrying out the scheme they had in hand. Why add another scheme ? He believed in effect- ing this improvement when the convenient time arrived, but let them attend to the other matter first, tnen they could go into this scheme and carry it out without any delay. He moved that the matter be referred to a committee of the whole Council. Alderman Doughton supported Alderman Palmer's resolution. He said there had been some talk on street corners of the town here, there and every- where that this scheme was going to cost E50,000 or £ 60,000. The Surveyor's estimate in 1895 was Z10,000, and the Surveyor was never far wrong in his figures, but the price of cement bad gone up from 36s 6d to 53s. a ton, and labour was then very much cheaper; consequently the scheme would cost he took it close upon £ 13,000. Talking about the Brighton of Wales, he would not have it as the Brighton of Wales Brighton was nowhere (laughter). They only got muddy water from the Thames there; the same might be said of Weston, Blackpool and Llandudno; but at Aberystwyth they got the ozone coming right in from the Atlantic, and there was no other place in the Kingdom like it. All the seats on the Terrace we1- full every evening, and they could walk for hours without having a seat, so that they had not got proper accommodation for visitors. They must spend money if they wanted improvements. He did not believe in throwing the matter back. A bird in the hand was worth two in the bush; let them strike at it now. As for extending it to Craiglas, that was not their property, and why should they improve other people's property ? The Castle was crumbling away, and they would have to go to some expense or they would lose it altogether. • If they had to dig down and have a concrete foundation Z13,000 would not cover it, but they had a rocky foundation right from the Promenade to the Castle, and there was only a little patch this side of South Terrace on which they would have to use concrete. They had their own quarry and appliances, and everthing was ready. Could they not get the College people to have a space between the Pier and Castle Grounds, formed in as an aquarium ? They had a nursery in the agricultural department down at Plascrug if they were experimenting there, why not here? Councillor Salmon seconded Mr. Williams' amendment. The Council, he said, bad passed resolutions to carry out improvements in other parts of the town besides the Terrace, and these should be attended to first, especially workmen's dwellings. He was sure the cost would far exceed £ 12,000, and it would not increase the accommoda- tion for visitors, but only the parading. No one had said by how much the rate would be increased. Alderman Doughton We shall have 30 years to pay it back. That means Z500 or Z600 per annum or a four-penny or five-penny rate. Councillor Thomas, supporting the amendment said the Town Council had several schemes involving a large expenditure in hand—about £ 30,000, including this scheme-and they would be nearer the mark if they said this scheme was going to cost E40,000 (laughter and hear, hear). People outside the Council were quite able to form an opinion as to what the cost would be. He hoped they would not enter on this gigantic scheme without careful consideration. The Surveyor, replying to Councillor Marks, said the lower end of the Promenade wall was done by contract. Councillor Marks: Has Mr. Rees Jones ever made such an egregious blunder as indicated by Mr. Thomas— £ 40,000 for P,13,000 (laughter) ? Councillor Thomas The actual cost of building the wall behind the Hostel was double the Sur- veyor's estimate. The Surveyor explained that he estimated for a dwarf wall, but it was decided to build one twice as high. The Mayor In common fairness to Mr. Jones I think in all the big works he has undertaken on our behalf be has always done well (hear, hear). Councillor Williams pointed out that the ex- penditure on schemes at present in hand, apart from workmen's dwellings, amounted to E21,000, equally to an eleven penny or a shilling rate. It was well that the ratepayers should know what they were doing. Alderman Jones agreed that it was well the rate- payers should be made acquainted with their financial position when they incurred this responsibility, and it would be well for them to be reminded of the state of things that existed in 1880. In the year 1879-80 they applied for borrowing powers to carry out the Plynlymon scheme. The rateable value then was E23,000. Before the close of the present year the rateable value would probably be IZ33,000, so that their financial position, as far as their borrowing powers were concerned, was E20,000 in excess of that period. Councillor Williams What did you say it was ? Alderman Jones £ 23,000. I haven't the cut- tings (laughter). Councillor Williams Apart from the cuttings I don't see how you make it- Alderman Jones If you only wait for my ex- planation. We can borrow double our rateable value, Councillor Williams: Mr. Williams knows that. Alderman Jones, proceeding, said that the borrowing powers of the town were therefore £ 20.000 more now than in 1880. Since that time they had repaid some £ 14,000, so that practically their rateable value was z234,000 better than it was at that time. In addition to that they had repaid other loans, so that practically their borrowing powers were P-40,000 better. The estate of the Corporation then brought in about Z600, at present it brought in £ 2,000, and this capitalized would represent a very formidable sum indeed. That water scheme had proved the greatest boon Aber- ystwyth ever had it established a reputation for the town, and they had to-day one of the finest supplies in the country. Councillor Williams: What were the rates in 1879 ? Alderman Jones I am not a kind of encyclo- paedia on this subject. Broadly speaking the rates during the first six or seven years after carrying out that scheme were as heavy as, if not heavier, than they have ever been since. With regard to the advantage of carrying out this extension project they were so palpable and self-evident that there could not be a doubt on the subject. The Castle grounds were about the most valuable property that the Corporation had, but it had been gradually crumbling away-it was now only two-thirds of what it was 40 years ago— and it behoved them to put it in such a state of perservation as to withstand the inroads of the sea. Something must be done for that object and that only. In addition to that they knew the insufficiency of accommodation on the promenade at the present time. It was their duty to make things as pleasurable as possible for visitors; they would attain that object to a great extent by in- creasing the accommodation on the sea board. It was now 800 or 900 yards long; by carrying out this scheme they would add another 1,200 yards, thus increasing the accommodation for visitors and giving them a fine view. It would be a wise expenditure on this ground alone, but in addition it would be well to have a means of communication between the two parts of the town. If they took the objects separately they would be justified in the outlay, but when they took them collectively they would see the outlay was a wise one. The great drawback of Aberystwyth was that they had not sheltered positions for certain winds, but there were spots. They must increase the accommodation at Aberystwyth if they wanted to cope with the increased numbers that came there. It had been said that they were neglecting other parts of the town, but in improving the Terrace they were benefiting the town generally. Aberystwyth was also a Collegiate town, the number of people who came here who had their children educated here was surprising, and there was a possibility of establishing there an Aquarium for which Govern- ment grants had been made to Scotland, and he believed there was one in Dover and one or two on the Irish Coast; and if the accommodation were afforded here he had no doubt that important department could be worked in connection with the Aberystwyth College, as one or two of the College authorities had told him. With regard to the question of rates they must throw the sprat if they wanted to catch the mackerel. Their financial position was never so sound as now. The Water Department was now more than self- supporting and was repaying the outlay; and he believed they might have some in hand so that they might be able to transfer P-1,300 or £1,500, so that they would not feel any extra charge on the rates because of the increase in the rateable value and the lowered amount they had to pay on loans; and in addition to this they were all hopeful that Aberystwyth had not yet seen the highest position that it wonld occupy as a watering place. Councillor Williams said the balance in hand on the water fund was taken into account every year so that that would not go to reduce the rate. Alderman Jones It is increasing. The interest is getting less and less. You had to pay P,200 every two years under the Provisional Order, but that ceased this year. That meant £ 200 less this year as regarded loans than the two previous years. When this scheme had been carried out- say two years hence-they would be in such a position that the repayment of the loans would be no greater than now. But he anticipated an in- creased rateable value still, it might be P,40,000 in two or three years. New houses were springing up, and occupied, and they were talking about increas- ing their area. Alluding to the Surveyor be said the cost of carrying out the drainage extension scheme was eight or ten per. cent. under the estimate, and was remarkably well done. Mr. Bees Jones' figures were always to be relied on, and the local and practical knowledge that he possessed enabled him to prepare an estimate better than any other person. Alderman Doughton said if it had not been for the drawing to pay other rates the £ 20,000.for the Plynlymmori scheme would have been already repaid. It had been reduced to £2000. Councillor Wynne said it was not a new scheme, and when the plan was shown in 1895 opinion was in favour of it, and he thought the same feeling existed in the town now. A Worcestershire lady recently wrote to him asking if there were shelters on the Terrace as in most places now shelters were provided, and visitors expected to see improvements going on to meet their comfort and requirements. He did not suppose the work would be carried out all at once, but in instalments. On the amendment being put it was lost by six to three, Councillors Williams, Salmon and Thomas voting for it. Alderman Palmer's resolution was then carried. TOWN BAKD PROGRAMME. Councillor Salmon said that a large number of tradesmen were under the impression that they could publish a band programme in the same way as Mr. Rea, but it appeared that Mr. Edwards accord- ing to his own statement, had given Mr. Rea the sole monopoly, and had promised him that he would give it to no other tradesman. Mr. Edwards had done this on his own responsibility. He was an official of the Corporation, and it was moat unfair that one official should go and give a monopoly to any tradesman. Councillor Williams said there ought to be a report from the General Purposes Committee. Councillor Wynne said the Committee discussed the matter for an hour and a half, and it was arranged that Councillor Peake should interview Mr. Rea, but Mr. Rea said it had nothing to do with the Committee. He said it had been an enterprise on his part, and he did not think he would receive enough benefit to meet the expense. DANGER. The Town Clerk drew attention to the bathing carried on at a dangerous spot on the north end of the gentlemen's bathing place, and he suggested that a warning be put up. Alderman Doughton said it was a very dangerous spot. Alderman Jones moved that the matter be referred to the General Purposes Committee with power to act.—Carried.

LAMPETER.

TREGARON.

LLEDROD.

BARMOUTH.

DOLGELLEY.

|TOWYN.

CORWEN.

ABERAYRON.

LLANILAR.

MACHYNLLETH.