Archived Extracts

The question of the proposed purchase of a housing site was the subject of a good deal of discussion at the monthly meeting of Huthwaite Urban District Council on Tuesday evening, when Councillor F.C. Sowter presided. Other members present were Councillors J. Davies, T. Goodall, E.H. Lowe, J. Potter, J. Iball, S. Allcock, A. Wilson, M. Betts, J. Peters, W. Clarke, J.G. Wright, D.D. Bonser and W.E. Hancock.

  Mr. Betts objected to the proposed purchase of the housing site on Beech Avenue. He contended that if the Council bought this site they would be hindering a private speculator. He did not object to progress in housing, but as they had done a lot of work up Harper Lane he thought they ought to carry on there and leave other sites for builders who were prepared to build and sell. He moved that the minute instructing the purchase of the land be deleted.
  Mr. Lowe seconded. He said the Council had called the builders together and asked them to try and build homes according to the Minister's request, and them the Council bought the best sites. He knew a builder who was trying to buy the site on Beech Avenue and the speaker thought they ought to let him have it.
  Mr. Betts: We ought to help those who are prepared to spend money and build houses for sale. They are assisting us to increase our population, and that is what was want to do. We objected to a man building some time ago, and since then he has built over 300 houses outside the town, and is still at it.

  Mr. Davies, speaking in support of the minute, said as a representative of the ratepayers of the parish, he considered the buying of suitable sites for the erection of houses by the Council as much in the interests of the ratepayers as of any other person, whether the houses were for selling or letting. They were applying to build 40 houses under the Wheatley Act and the Harper Lane site was required for these. In addition, under their five year programme of slum clearance, they proposed to demolish 39 houses. They had no site for houses to replace these, and it was up to the Council to buy the best possible site for that purpose. It must be in the best interests of the ratepayers and everybody generally that this be done, and the proposed site was one of the best in the neighbourhood.
  "Why should we buy back land and leave front land for speculators?" asked Mr. Davies. "Everyone has an equal opportunity to buy and build where he likes, and it is our bounden duty as a Council that we should buy the best possible sites."
  Mr. Clarke supported Mr. Davies, saying that the proposed site was a finer one than the Harper Lane site, in purchasing which they had had some trouble. They would not have any trouble with the purchase of the Beech Avenue site.
  "We are here for the ratepayers," observed Mr. Clarke, "and the ratepayers need our attention, which I trust we shall give them."

  The Chairman endorsed the remarks made by Mr. Davies, every word he had said being the truth. The Harper Lane site was already ear-marked and consequently the Council had no site under the Slum Clearance Act, and it was their bounden duty to provide a site. As this land was in the market they has as much right to purchase it as a Council as any private speculator. Even private speculators gave credit to the Council for the consideration given to them.
  "We have been publicly congratulated in the Press as being the only local Council who were prepared to give support to the private builders." remarked the Chairman. " Therefore we cannot be charged that we are hindering or hampering them. At the same time, we have been building for a number of years, and it is our duty to buy land, which is much cheaper to-day than it has been. I think we are taking the right step in endeavouring to buy this land."
  Mr. Betts said he did not object to houses being built, and they always found him voting for houses in certain places. But they would not find him voting for a site when they had one already. They had spent a good deal of money on the Harper Lane site in laying gas and electricity and they were only just beginning to get it back. He was prepared to support 40 houses being erected there, but he was not prepared to support the purchase of the Beech Avenue site, because he believed speculators were prepared to come forward and build there and so assist the Council in connection with the provision of houses.

  "This land will cost £550 and is sufficient for 20 houses," added Mr. Betts. "Have we ever given so much per house before? Where are we going to get to? It is time we looked these things in the face."
  Mr. Lowe said he still supported the amendment that the minute be deleted, and on a vote being taken five voted in favour of the amendment and nine against.
  Mr. Davies moved the names be recorded, and Mr. Betts seconded, the meeting being unanimous.
  Members were then asked to vote again and Messrs. Betts, Lowe, Wright, Wilson and Goodall were for the amendment, and Messrs. Sowter, Davies, Potter, Bonser, Allcock, Iball, Peters, Clarke and Hancock against it.
  Reporting on the proposed pail closet conversion scheme, the Clerk said a list of owners agreeing to the scheme and their properties had been compiled, and the total number of conversions were 304, and the total cost at £6 10s. each would be £1,976 10s. The Clerk suggested that the Council could borrow sufficient money to commence the scheme, and then the cost would come in as the owners paid their share.
  Mr. Lowe: The Council's share would be two-thirds of the total cost?
  The Clerk: yes, £1,317 13s. 4d.
  Mr. Davies remarked that the proposed conversions were approximately one-third of the total in the parish, which was just over 900.

  On the proposition of Mr. Lowe, seconded by Mr. Davies, it was agreed that the Clerk negotiate a loan of £1,000 to commence the scheme.
  The question of naming the Crescent on Chesterfield Road was next considered.
  Mr. Davies thought they ought to couple the old name with the Crescent and call it Tyburn Crescent.
  Mr. Lowe proposed Strawberry Avenue. It had always been known as Strawberry Bank as far as he could remember, and he thought the name ought to be retained. If they had too many crescents there would be some confusion.
  Mr. Wilson said he was sorry the name Woodland was likely to be dropped. He referred to the late Messrs. A.C. and D.C. Evans, who were born at Woodland Cottages, and he thought it would be very nice if the name could be retained because it was associated with such a highly respected family, whom some of them knew so well.
  Mr. Davies said he would withdraw his suggestion in favour of Mr. Wilson's, and it was unanimously decided that the names Woodland Avenue and Strawberry Bank be adopted, it being pointed out that two names would be necessary as the numbers of the houses in the Crescent were duplicated.
  Mr. Hancock: It is about the first time we have ever been unanimous. (Laughter.)
  Quotations for the supply of shrubs for the Park were considered, and it was agreed that that of Mr. Smith, of Matlock, be accepted provisionally.

  Mr. Potter and the Chairman referred to damage done by straying cattle, and it was agreed that the owners of the cattle be ascertained and written to, asking them to fence in the beasts.
  Mr. Betts asked if a resolution had ever been passed to the effect that anyone paying £1 could have a key to a Council house. It had been brought to his notice that a certain person had been told by a member round that table that he could have a key for £1.
  The Chairman: Name him.
  Mr. Betts: No, if the cap fits he can wear it.
  The Chairman: Well, it is grossly unfair; we are all under suspicion.
  Mr. Clarke: There is only one person immune, and that is Mr. Betts.
  Mr. Davies: I think we ought to treat this like an anonymous letter-put it behind the fire and those who bring them.
  Mr. Betts: I ony wanted to know if we had passed a resolution to that effect. Now I can tell them we have not.
  Mr. Iball said there had never been such a resolution passed there, although it had been mentioned that some other councils made a charge when a tenant had a key.
  The Chairman: I hope you are not trying to bring up an election scare, Mr. Betts. You know these stunts don't carry now.

  The annual tea and prize distribution, of the Huthwaite U.D.C. Bowling club was held on Saturday in the Free Library Lecture Hall, kindly lent by the Council. Mr. C.H. Coupe presided, and a large gathering of old and new members sat down to a well served tea, ably catered for by Mesdames A. Purdy, J. Smith, T. Bradley, T. Thompson, W. Webb, T. Dobb, A. Herrod and A. Hunt.
  The president spoke on the ambitions of the Club, and a two minutes' silence was observed in regard for the fallen in the Great War.
  The toast, "The Huthwaite U.D.C. Bowling Club," was proposed by Councillor M. Betts, who referred to the concessions granted to the unemployed by the Council, and wished the club every success. Mr. F. Dyment responded.
  The "E. Lowe" Club Championship Cup and voucher were won for the third year by Mr. T. Bradley, to whom Mrs. C.H. Coupe handed over the awards. She also presented a voucher to Mr. C. Wheeler, who had shown the best results for a novice.
  Councillor W. Clarke submitted the toast, "The visitors," to which Mr. A. Herrod responded and "The President" was toasted by Mr. A. Hall (secretary of the Mansfield and District Bowls League).
  An interesting programme was contributed by Messrs. W. Fox, F. Maxwell, J. Wright, H. Bradley, Councillor S. Allcock, Miss D. Holland, Miss J. Bingham. A vote of thanks to the artistes and committee was proposed by Councillor M. Betts, the Secretary (Mr. T. Bradley) responding. Thanks were accorded the lady helpers on the proposition of Mr. J. Harrison, Mrs. A. Purdy replying.