Sunday 21 October 2012

Hutton Rudby parish council, April 1947

This account of the Annual Meeting of Hutton Rudby Parish Council was published in the Darlington & Stockton Times on 5 April 1947. 

A fascinating glimpse of the past.

They debated the cobbled footpaths, the proposal for public toilets, the village school, the burial ground and the acute post-War housing shortage:


Fate of Cobbled Footpaths
Threat to Hutton Rudby "beauties"

Problems which have confronted Hutton Rudby Parish Council during the past year were reviewed at the annual parish meeting on Monday, when Sir Bedford Dorman presided over a representative attendance of ratepayers, who included all the parish councillors - Mrs Griffith and Messrs T B Milburn, J W Tarran, R Dodsworth, T Hardcastle, W Atkinson, and C E Tompkins.

As chairman of the Parish Council Mr T B Milburn gave a comprehensive report of the council's activities during the year and the clerk (Mr J A Burton) presented a statement of accounts showing a balance in hand of £30 18s 2d.

Capt Basil Webster asked whether it was the council's intention to do away with the cobbled footpaths which were so characteristic of the village.  He would like an assurance that the Parish Council would not do anything which would destroy the beauties of the village.

Mr Milburn replied that there had been subsidences since the laying of water and electric mains and the council were mainly concerned with the dangers which had arisen through the unevenness of the cobble stones.

A Former Footpath

Mrs Roche referred to a former footpath leading from the top of Station-lane in the direction of Drumrauch which the Parish Council had asked the County Council to reinstate.  She understood that this path was made by her grandfather and she saw no necessity for its reinstatement.

A question was asked as to where the proposed public conveniences in Hutton Rudby would be and when it was stated that the Planning Officer would have to agree to the site Capt Webster said that the Planning Officer did not live in the village.  Mrs Roche said that if the proposed site was on the village green it ought to be stopped.

Responsibility Question

Miss Hall asked whose duty it was to keep in repair the piece of ground between the main road and the King's Head.  At present she said it was in a deplorable state.

Mr Milburn agreed and said there was another similar spot in the north end, and a further piece of ground near 'The Wheatsheaf'.  Presumably these were former portions of the village green, but for many years vehicles had passed over these pieces of ground and they were now looked upon as parts of the roadway.  He could not say whose responsibility it was to repair the pieces of road mentioned.

Mr W Atkinson said he thought some ruling should be obtained as to who was responsible for the upkeep of these roads.

Sir Bedford Dorman replied that they could not get a ruling except in a court of law and such a process might be expensive.  He added that the County Council took over the responsibility for road maintenance from the Rural Councils and if the Stokesley Rural Council had previously repaired those pieces of roadway, the County Council would be responsible now.

School Needs

Mr Griffiths asked what facilities would be offered to children affected by the raising of the school-leaving age.

Sir Bedford Dorman replied that the County Education Committee would build the proposed new school at Stokesley as soon as possible.

"How long will that be?" asked Mr Griffiths.

"That will depend on his Majesty's Government," replied Sir Bedford.

Capt Webster referred to the village churchyard and said the path leading to the grave spaces now in use needed attention.  Seeing that the churchyard was used for the burial of people of all denominations he did not think the entire charge should have to be defrayed by the Church Council.

The vicar (the Rev W Griffith) said that at the last meeting of the Parochial Church Council it was decided to ask for tenders for the making of the path, and Mr Milburn remarked that it seemed unfair that the entire cost should be borne by the church authorities.

As a member of the Housing Committee of the Stokesley Rural Council,  Mr James Barthram was asked for latest information on housing prospects in the village.  He said that the housing position in the village was deplorable, but he was pleased to say that the latest allocations of new houses for the Stokesley rurual dstrict was greater than was expected.  Sites were available at Hutton Rudby and as soon as the land had been valued preparatory work would be put in hand.

Instancing the need for houses in the village he mentioned that there had been eight enquiries that day for a house in which the occupant had been dead only a few hours.  Two years ago there were 32 applicants for a house which had become vacant.  He added that he knew of a house in the village in which five people had to sleep in one small bedroom.

Answering Mrs Hardcastle, the Vicar said he had undertaken to receive subscriptions for the Lord Mayor's Appeal for the flooded areas.


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