1870 01 07 Redcar Local Board of Health Meeting

Accreditation The Redcar and Saltburn-by-the-Sea Gazette 07/01/1870.

REDCAR LOCAL BOARD OF HEALTH. 

            At the usual monthly meeting, held on Monday (03/01), the following were present. :- Messrs Lennard (chairman), Fairbridge, Watson, Mallaby, Whitaker, Crabtree (surveyor), and Mr Sale as representative of the Clerk (Mr J. G. Thompson).

            The minutes of meetings held December 6^th and 18th having been read and confirmed, it was resolved that a proposal from Mrs Andrew Smith to find shelter for the sand chairs at 10 shillings per annum be accepted. The following accounts were also examined, and checks given for the amounts. :-The Surveyor, for current expenses. £23.19s.2d; Mr Fleck, for plumbing work, £5.0s.6d; Mr T. Unthank, do., £10.4s.11d; Eden Valley Mining Co., for flags, £9.0s.6d; Mr J. Galloway, do., £6.10s; Dartington Quarry Co., for kerbstones, £8.10s; Wynn and Sons, for broken metal,£12.12s.8d; and Surveyor, for quarter’s salary, £15.15s.

            A plan for building a new bedroom behind 56, High Street, lately in the occupation of Mr John Minikin, was approved, as was also a plan for erecting a schoolroom for the Congregational Chapel. There was also an animated discussion respecting another plan, which had been presented twice and rejected each time. It appears that two years ago, before the erection of the promenade, persons who built had a marked line of frontage to build to, and they could not go beyond that. Now, however, that the sea wall is completed, it was thought desirable by some to allow persons building to go much further, thereby locking up the cottages of those who had built only a few years ago. Most of the persons affected by this change in the line of frontage, thinking the alteration was not strictly just to themselves, forwarded the subjoined Memorial for the consideration of the Board :-

                                                                                                ” Redcar, Dec, 20^th, 1869.

“To the Chairman and Members of the Redcar.

Local Board of Health.

“GENTLEMAN, We the undersigned, beg respectfully to record our protest against the proposed alteration of the line of building ground between Kings Villa, and prospect cottage as decidedly injurious to property already built, and other existing interests.

                                                                        “Your obedient Servants,

                                                                        Thomas L. Walton,

                                                                        Eleanor Cole,

                                                                        Ann Hymers,

                                                                        Dorothy Hall

                                                                        Jno. Robt.Walton, Gentlemen.

                                                                        Robert King,

                                                                        Margaret Hall.” 

            This protest was sent by the To the Earl of Zetland, who, as owner of the land, himself approved of the alteration at first; though his agent, G. D. Trotter, Esq., who in his reply, states that the Board have no power to interfere with him regarding the policing of the ground. Mr Trotter’s reply is as follows. :-

                                                                        “Upleatham, 24th Dec, 1869.

            Dear Sir, I have received your note and the memorial to the Board of Health. In the first place. You must understand that the Board have no power to interfere with Lord Zetland regarding the leasing of the ground near the promenade. I understood when with the Board that it would be a great improvement to have the line of houses to correspond with the others, which I quite agree to. As it appears now, the houses remaining as at present are not considered a nuisance. Has no wish to require the parties to enclose the waste ground, further than considering it would be a great improvement to Redcar, in which I quite agree. As it is now appears, I think it will be as well to let the houses remain as at present.

                                                                        “Yours truly, “G. D. Trotter.

            J. G. Thompson,, Esq,

            “P. S. I think it as well not to forward the memorial to Lord Zetland. When I last named my being requested to attend a meeting of the Board of Health about this property, his Lordship in reply, said the Board of Health have nothing to do with it and to let the houses remain as at present.

            The Chairman, said that they really could not have anything to do with the land. Lord Zetland pulled lease the land if he liked, and they could not interfere.

            Mr Whitaker stated that they could interfere with the buildings erected upon the land. The building in question was really a blockade. It would destroy the view of the neighbouring houses. He did not think it right for the Board to revert to the extension affair after the Earl had said that things might remain as at present.

            Mr Watson proposed and Mr Mallaby seconded that the proposed extension be sanctioned.

            Agreed to; Mr Whitaker against.

            With respect to the plan of a dwelling house to be erected there by Capt. Tomlinson, Mr Whitaker said the bringing forward of that again was a party affair. They were very partial, for this plan injured. The property of the neighbours round about, and a road was left for H. Moore only. He defied such a plan to pass; and if it did pass at that meeting it would be illegal.

            The chairman said the plan had been rejected because the extension of the liner frontage had not been sanctioned; but now that it was, they could pass it. Mr Tomlinson, however, was willing for its being built, either on the or the old one.

            Mr Whitaker did not see how, when they had twice rejected a plan, they could pass it without it’s having been altered in the least. The Board had taken upon itself to pass the extension in the face of Lord Zetland’s wish that things should remain as they were, and which all the property owners, but one had petitioned against. The Board did that to favour one person at the expense of seven others. He then asked the Chairman if he could show him any law wherein they might interfere in this affair.

            The chairman did not know of any special law, so Mr Whitaker requested him to read the building bylaws over, but this he refused to do.

            Mr Whitaker then remarked that these people had all paid £1 per yard for the seawall, and when they least the land they could only build so far down; but now, when the promenade is completed, a person comes and builds a house so much further down that the existing houses are quite blocked up. He proposed that Mr Watson, being the presenter and divisor of the plant, should retire during this discussion; upon which,

            Mr Watson rose up and said, “but before I do go out. I shall propose that this plan be accepted.” He, however, did not retire, and Mr Mallaby rose to second. Mr Watson’s proposition: and on being put to the meeting to work for it, and Mr Whitaker against-the remainder of the members present at staining from voting.

            They then proceeded to examine the accounts above mentioned; but during the time they were so engaged,

            Mr Whitaker asked why the protest had not been read?

            The chairman said it was read last meeting.

            Mr Whitaker answered that it ought to have been read this meeting. This affair was just, doctors in an underhand manner so as to allow Mr Watson to get his plan passed. All the years he had been in the Board. He had never seen such a thing before? And then the owner of the plan to get up and propose the acceptance of it! How could they pass this plan when they had twice rejected it, and when no alteration had been made in it? It, ought to have been rescinded, and a new one presented.

            The chairman asked why Mr Whitaker had not spoken about the protest before, and required it to be read.

            Mr Whitaker told the chairman. It was his place to remember that.

            The protest was then read by the surveyor, and when it was finished,

            The chairman said that they were examining the accounts now; they would continue them, and after they had done, they could attend to Mr Whitaker.

            The subject was not resumed, however.

            It was agreed that a special meeting of the Board should be held on Friday, to look over the arrears of rates, and takes steps concerning their payment.

            “The Committee have the satisfaction to state that the whole of the accounts have been brought before them in a clear and intelligible manner by the Surveyor.

                                                                        E. W. LENNARD, Chairman.”