Mr. W. J. Weld presided at the meeting on Thursday, when there were present – Messrs. Ridley Brown, W. H. Jarvis, A. Rudge, A. Fairfax (clerk), G. Elkington (surveyor) and J. Smith (inspector).

Miscellaneous

The Clerk reported that the balance in hand was £219 7s 9d. He said he had received a communication asking if there were any suitable places in the district for hospital accommodation were it needed, and he had replied that the only places were schools and reading rooms, which might be available.

The Clerk read a letter from Mr. Gordon Everett, the secretary of the Warwickshire Relief Committee, asking if any of the Council’s men had joined the colours. The reply was in the negative, consequently there was no necessity for any relief measures.

The Radway Drainage Question

This matter again came up for discussion, having been postponed for two months.

Mr. Brown said that Captain Gwyer and Mr. Gwyer were both engaged with the forces, and he suggested that the matter should be further postponed.

The Chairman observed that Mr. Lloyd George had said in a speech that local authorities should take care not to spend too much money.

Mr. Brown moved and Mr. Jarvis seconded that the matter be postponed for two months, which was agreed to.

Widening the road at Ratley

The Clerk read a letter from Mr. G. England, of Ratley, in which he offered to widen the road to twelve feet and put up a ‘dry’ wall four feet high for £6 15s.

The surveyor said the amount was reasonable, and said there was a good deal of preparatory work to be done. There was an old ruin to be taken away.

On the motion of Mr. Brown seconded by Mr. Rudge, Mr. England’s offer was accepted.

The Diversion of a Watercourse at Warmington

The Clerk read a letter from Mr. E. H. Boote, of Warmington, the clerk to the Parish Council, stating that a complaint had been made by a number of householders with regard to the diversion of an old watercourse by Lady Stonhouse, and asking the Council to inform her that the watercourse must be put back to its former position. The letter said that the Parish Council had distinctly informed Lady Stonhouse that it was not in the power of the Council to grant her leave to divert the watercourse. The clerk said that when Mr. Elkington opened the watercourse he found that it went a different way to what Lady Stonhouse supposed.

The Chairman. I told Lady Stonhouse that what she did in the matter was entirely at her own risk. It will be alright if the pipe is plugged.

The surveyor said that they could not tell where the water really did go without taking a great deal more trouble in opening the place up. If the pipe was plugged the water, he thought, would go into its proper course.

Mr. Jarvis said the Parish Council wished the thing settled. They objected to what had been done, and he moved the Clerk write to Lady Stonhouse and inform her that the water must be allowed to go into its proper course.

Mr Rudge seconded the motion, which was carried.

Overcrowding at Avon Dassett

The Chairman drew the inspector’s attention to a case of overcrowding at Avon Dassett. It was said there was something over twelve in the house but he would not vouch for the truth of it. A new tenant had taken possession of the cottage. He also called the inspector’s attention to a drain at the cottages above the chapel, which was blocked. The inspector said he would attend to the matters.

Banbury Guardian, October 1914