Mon 20 May 1901
Clerk to put in gates for Dudbridge Lower Lock first week in August or when canal stopped.
Stroud District Council laid sewerage pipes under canal for drainage of Cainscross. Notice from Mr T Winterbotham, clerk to Stroud Rural District Council which intended to proceed with Cainscross and Rodborough sewage scheme.
Mr Sibly’s signed apology. ‘I find that I was misinformed as to the Public having a right of way over the Company’s towing path at Stonehouse and regret that I attempted, in the interest of the Public to assert a supposed right to use the path on 13 February last, on which day it was stopped by your orders. I hereby undertake not to make any such future attempt and I consent to your publishing this undertaking’.
Discussion about adopting practice of Great Western Railway Company and stop towing paths on fixed day each year but allow anyone who asked permission to pass.
Mr Stanley Marling called attention to wall supporting approach to towing path at Ryeford, owned by Company or Mrs Spring, owner of Ryeford Mills. Clerk to repair wall.
Committee Meeting held at Wallbridge on Tuesday the 21^st day of May 1901
Present: Mr H Hamilton Mills Chairman, Mr S S Marling, Mr F A Little, Mr A B Hooper, Sir W H Marling Bart, Mr P J Evans, Mr W J Stanton, Mr A J M Ball, Mr E P Little.
The Clerk reported that the Gates for Dudbridge Lower Lock were now made and that he proposed to put them in about the first week of August unless he found that the Stroud Rural District Council would within the next three months lay the sewerage pipes under the Canal for the drainage of Cainscross & Rodborough in which case he would put in the lock gates when the Canal was stopped for the sewerage work.
The Clerk reported that he had received notice from Mr F Winterbotham, Clerk to the Stroud Rural District Council, of the Council's intention to proceed with the Cainscross & Rodborough Sewerage Scheme, and he was directed to refer Mr Winterbotham to the letter of 24^th Feby 1900 which set out the terms on which the Company were prepared to consent to the laying of the pipes.
Mr Mills reported that Mr Sibly had signed the following apology and undertaking which had been advertised in the local papers:-
"To the Stroudwater Navigation Company
I find that I was misinformed as to the Public having a right of way over the Company's Towing Path at Stonehouse and regret that I attempted in the interests of the public to assert a supposed right to use the path on the 13^th February last, on which day it was stopped by your orders. I hereby undertake not to make any such future attempt, and I consent to your publishing this undertaking.
Dated this 7^th day of May 1901
G W Sibly",
Mr Mills also reported that Mr Sibly had paid the legal expenses incurred by the Company and the cost of advertising the apology.
A discussion took place as to whether instead of closing the towing path entirely to the public every three or four years as had hitherto been done, it would be advisable in future to adopt the practice of the Great Western Railway C^o with respect of rights of way and stop them on a fixed day every year but allow any one to pass who asked permission to do so. No resolution was passed, but the Clerk was directed to bring the matter forward again at the beginning of next year.
Mr Stanley Marling called attention to the wall supporting the approach to the towing path at Ryeford which required to be repaired and a discussion took place as to whether the wall belonged to the Company or to Mr Spring as owner of Ryeford Mills. It was resolved that the Clerk be instructed to repair the wall.
Cheque drawn:
Messrs Vizard, Wender & Son: £1..12..5
