STERNE'S SPRING.
Man cannot live without water and human communities have always developed near rivers or some kind of constant supply.
In Skelton's case, I have always believed, that this was the natural spring that rises at the bottom of old Boroughgate Lane between the two streams that run either side of the Castle and where the first villagers lived.
It could have been flowing for thousands of years.
The Spring was certainly still in use when Laurence Sterne used to visit Skelton Castle in the eighteenth century.
It was possibly the famous author himself who wrote the following verses to it.
"Leap from thy mossy cavern'd bed,
Hither thy prattling waters bring
Blandusia's Muse shall crown thy head
And make thee too a sacred spring,"
'Sterne's Well', although the source was a natural spring.
|
How the enclosed water supply looked in the 1950's, with horse trough in front.
[Photograph kindly contributed by Brian Hudson, Professor of Urban Development, Brisbane, Australia, a native of Skelton.]
|
At some later date, the water outlet was moved some yards away by the roadside with a horse trough in front. The remains still stand.
I remember filling a bucket there myself in the 1940s/50's when nothing was available through the mains.
The spring still flows today and has been diverted to a pipe that allows the water to run into the stream, called Lawns Gill, to the right.
LIVE LONG IN SKELTON ?
Records from the Burial Register of the Parish of Skelton in Cleveland for the first decades of the 1800's suggest that it was then a very healthy place to live long and retire to.
Skelton Parish stretched as far as Moorsholm with Farms dotted here and there, while Skelton village itself was small.
"Out of 799 persons, buried between 1813 and 1852, no less than 263, or nearly one third,attained the age of 70.
Of these, two were respectively 101. Nineteen others were 90 years of age and upwards.....
Between the ages of 80 and 90 there died 109. Between the 70 and 80 there died 133.
In one page of the Register, containing 8 names, 6 were above 80 and in another five above 70.
In the Parish of Skelton there was then living a man named Moon, 104 years old, who was blind, but managed a small farm till nearly or quite 100 and a blacksmith, named Robinson Cook, aged 98, who worked at his trade until within six months of this age."
The census statistics for 1901 shows that by then conditions were not so good.
The discovery of Iron ore and the opening of the Mines had resulted in the population booming to 4786 with large families and lodgers in small terrace houses.
There was no one in Skelton over 90 years of age and only 7 people over 80.
The oldest person was 87.
In fact, only 81 people [1.5%] were over the age of 70 and one of these was 74 and still working down the Ironstone mine.
More people means more germs and the new terrace housing crowded folk together in unsanitary conditions.
Many children died in infancy, but this had always been the case.
Conditions and death rates in large towns and cities were much worse.
Much of this was due to obtaining water from Wells that, as the following reports show, were often contaminated.
|
WELLS AND TROUGHS.
The first Ordnance Survey Map, dated 1856, shows Skelton's reliance on ground water from Wells and Troughs and a Cistern [rain water gathering device] on Skelton Cross Green.
|
|
Cleveland Water Company 1872.
Plaque at Lockwood Beck.
|
1870.
THE CLEVELAND WATER COMPANY ESTABLISHED.
Throughout history people have devised ways of bringing water to their communities.
The industrialisation of the Victorian age made it possible to undertake the enormous task of leading pipes for miles underground and new methods of filtration had been invented for purification.
Other areas had seen the formation of Water Companies and now John Thomas Wharton of Skelton Castle decided to invest in a Company to create a Reservoir by damming Lockwood Beck and supply water to the villages of Cleveland.
Shares were offered at £10 each and therefore only available to the monied class.
Selling a product that people would not be able to do without sounds like a good investment, but it was a massive undertaking that would take a long time to complete and there was apparently no rush to buy.
The London Gazette:-
Notice is hereby given, that application is intended to be made to Parliament in the ensuing session by the Cleveland Water Company to......
..... alter, amend, extend, and enlarge, or repeal, all or some of the provisions of " The Cleveland Waterworks Act, 1869,"......
.....to extend and better define the limits within which the Company may supply water, and to include within such limits the several parishes, townships, and • extra-parochial, and other places 'following; namely:
Skelton, Marske, Upleatham, Saltburn-by-the-Sea, Redcar, Brotton, Skinningrove, Lofthouse,
|
Kilton, Liverton, Moorsholme, Easington, Stanghow, Guisbro', Tocketts, Hutton Low Cross, and Pinchingthorpe, and the several towns, villages, hamlets, and other places within or
partly within such parishes and townships, or any or either of them, all in the North Riding of the county of York.......
.....to authorize the Company to construct and maintain the several works hereinafter mentioned, or some of them, in addition to their present waterworks undertaking (that is to say) :—
1. A reservoir to be situate in the township of Stanghow and parish of Skelton, in the North Riding of the County of York, on certain lands belonging to John Thomas Wharton, Esquire, which said reservoir will be formed by an embankment or dam across the stream called Lockwood Beck, at a point on the said stream about three chains to the south of Lockwood Beck Bridge, in the said township and parish, and extending to a point about thirty chains south of the said bridge.......
.....description of many conduits and lines of pipes.......
.....to construct and maintain all' necessary and proper embankments, dams, byewashes, weirs, culverts, cuttings, bridges, communications, and other roads, approaches, sewers, drains, sluices, filtering beds, reservoirs, engines, pumps, conduits, catchwaters, tanks, pipes, syphons, and other apparatus for the effectual construction, maintenance, and use of the said intended works, and for conveying and distributing water to and within the said parishes, townships, and places aforesaid or any of them.......
....to enable the Company to continue and maintain their existing sources of supply, and to collect and divert into the said reservoir, aqueducts, conduits, and pipes, and other works hereinbefore mentioned, or some of them, and to make, use, and appropriate all or some of the waters of the several brooks and streams called Dale Beck, Lockwood Beck, Swindale Beck, and Oven Close Beck, and the several tributaries thereof, and all surface waters and other waters and springs flowing into or forming part of the said streams.....
.....to make, lay down, complete, and maintain and from time to time alter, vary, replace, repair, and restore conduits, culverts, pipes, drains, tunnels, and other works, for the conveyance of water in, through, or into and over, or under, private lands, and in, along, across, and under, all or any turnpike and other roads, highways, streets, passages, rivers or railways, whether public or private, within the said parishes, townships, or places hereinbefore-mentioned, or any of them, and for the above purposes, permanently or temporarily, to break up, stop up, alter, or divert, all or any of such roads, highways, streets, passages, and other ways which it may be necessary to break up, stop nip, alter, or divert, for any of the purposes of the said Bill......
....to authorize the Company by compulsion or agreement to purchase and acquire lands, houses, and other hereditaments........
.....to levy, collect, and recover rates and rents for water supplied within the district, and to vary and alter the existing rates and rents for water supplied by the Company,......
......to make provisions for ascertaining the quantity of water supplied for other than domestic purposes, and for preventing the waste, fouling, or misuse of water supplied by the Company, and for preventing and punishing fraud in the taking and using of water so supplied, or for wasting the same.........
.....to enable the Company to contract with all or any of the local boards or local authorities within the district for supplying such local boards and local authorities with water for the public roads,
streets, drains, and passages within their respective districts, for cleansing and watering the same, and for extinguishing fires, and to empower any local board or local authority of any district acting under the "Public Health Act, 1848," or "The Local Government Act, 1858," or any other local authority, to contract with the Company for such service and supply, or for the supply of water for any other purposes, and to pay for the same out of any rates ........
|
Lockwood Beck and associated filter beds etc would take 5 years to complete.
Seen here in later days, it had a perimeter of one mile.
|
The following letter suggest that it was not an immediate success. In fact, it would not be until well after the Second World War that today's reliable supply would become the norm.
1873.
12th August - NEW WATER ON TAP - UNRELIABLE AND A 'CLAY PUDDLE'.
Letter to the Northern Echo.
Dear Sir,
Some time ago I was induced by the representations given in the prospectus of the Cleveland Water Company to have water laid on to my premises, thinking thereby that I should have a plentiful supply of pure water in all weathers.
I have waited 2 years in hopes of this expectation being realised, but my patience having become entirely exhausted, I have determined to find an outlet through the medium of your columns.
The fact is, that during the past 3 months the supply of water has been anything but satisfactory - in short a complete delusion.
We find the water turned off during the whole day - without any notice - and turned on for a short time in the evening.
This might be endured if, when we did get a supply, it was fit for use, but it is totally unfit for any domestic purpose, and little better than clay puddle from a brickyard.
I need scarcely say that this is a very unsatisfactory state of things, especially during the summer season, at a time when all our springs round about are dried up.
As the Company, according to their last half year's report, is in a highly prosperous condition, no doubt gratifying to the shareholders, perhaps they will not consider me too selfish in asking for a little more consideration on behalf of the consumer.
Could they not send a bellman round stating what time the water would be turned off, and when we might expect to have a clear supply.
Our wives would then have a chance of getting the kettle filled for breakfast.
I am sorry we have to pay in advance, but have great hopes, taking in consideration their past delinquencies, that the Water Company will never attempt to collect the rates for the next quarter.
from, yours respectfully,
AQUA, Skelton in Cleveland.
1874.
4th February. - WATER CARRIED UP TO SKELTON GREEN.
The Cleveland Water Company was bringing water from a tap on Cross Green to the houses at Skelton Green, while pipes were laid from Boosbeck.
11 February - FEVER ON HIGH GREEN.
The Chairman of the Skelton Board of Health stated that he had written to Messrs Bell Brothers and T Vaughan and Co about the inefficient water supply to their houses on the High Green, but had got no reply.
The Board urged him to write again urging the imperative necessity for a liberal supply of water, owing to the continued prevalence of fevers on the High Green.
The supply by the companies carts would be required for a short time only.
1876.
1st April - SPRINGS AND BECKS POLLUTED BY MINING - SOUR GRAPES.
At a meeting of the Whitby Highways Board regarding Cleveland Waterworks, Capt Turton, the Chairman said that he had no sympathy with that Company. Consequent upon mining operations for ironstone, the springs and becks in the neighbourhood of Skelton, Carlin How and other places have been either dried up or so polluted as to become unfit for human drinking.
The reservoir at Lockwood Beck has been found an utter failure from the simple fact of its not holding water.
The Cleveland Waterworks Company came in the most autocratic manner by Act of Parliament and seized a portion of his Estate as a reservoir.
1878.
9th August - LOCKWOOD BECK RESERVOIR COMPLETED.
20th half yearly meeting of the Cleveland Water Company, Mr J T Wharton presiding.
The report noted that the Lockwood Beck storage reservoir and the filter beds connected therewith were completed a few days ago having occupied nearly 5 years in construction.
1879.
8th August - CLEVELAND WATER COMPANY.
At the half yearly meeting held at the offices at Saltburn the chairman, Mr J T Wharton reported that the reservoir at Skelton might be expected to be completed in 3 months time.
|
|
1883.
It seems that at this time individual house owners could pay the Cleveland Water Co to have taps installed in their homes, while the Council paid for stand pipes in the back street for the use of everyone else.
4th August - STREET STAND PIPES.
The surveyor, M Cross, reported to the Skelton Local Board that the cost for stand pipes to be fixed in the street for the water would be £10 5s each, but he did not know about the price the water consumed would come to.
|
Section of 1894 map showing stand pipes on Skelton Green.
|
Sketch made by John Wood, joiner and undertaker of 3 East Tce, Skelton.
|
1888.
2nd June - SKELTON AND BROTTON BOARD - THE WATER QUESTION.
At the monthly meeting of the Skelton and Brotton Board the Clerk read a reply from the Secretary of the Cleveland Water Company saying
that his directors were unable to make any alteration in the charge for hydrants in the Boards district other than that suggested on the
25th March last when they offered to put Skelton on the same basis as Brotton and charge £1 per annum per hydrant for 15 years instead
of the 16s 9d annually as at present.
The Surveyor said that there were 74 hydrants in the Skelton district [which covered Boosbeck, Lingdale and Moorsholm] and 17 in the
Brotton district.
Mr J T Wharton reminded the Board that the charges were fixed by the Board and the then surveyor.
He had heard many complaints about domestic water.
Mr Stockdale said; "Only too right."
They had met Mr I'Anson, the Water Company's Secretary, who had promised to bring them before the Directors, but had failed to do so.
There was no scale of charges.
They just charged what they liked.
The surveyor reported that at other places, Newcastle, North Shields, Whitby and Hornsey the local Board paid the cost price for the hydrants and no charge whatever for the water used.
Mr Coatsworth said what the Surveyor had agreed in the past should not stand for all time.
Things had come to a crisis.
Houses were paying 1 shilling per week of which 25 percent went to the Water Company.
In parts the hydrants were only for properties in the lower areas and the higher neglected.
The Chairman pointed out that as a Sanitary Board it was their duty to see that the Water Company supplied people, but they could only "go by gravitation" and therefore people living in the higher parts were left out.
It was resolved to form a Committee to attend the next meeting of the Water Company and debate the question to try and secure a reduction.
17th November - HIGH WATER CHARGES - "FIRE HYDRANTS USELESS".
A meeting of property owners and others was held in the Free Gardeners' Hall, Skelton to discuss the question of the high charges made by the Cleveland Water Company for hydrants and to private consumers.
Mr Coatsworth of Lingdale showed that in other towns the highest charge per hydrant was 8s 4d, while in Skelton it was more than double at 18s 8d.
He also said a number of hydrants were practically useless, being upon the gravitation level and the slight daytime pressure was switched off at 5 p.m. after which most fires were prevalent.
The Cleveland Water Company's Act of Parliament limited the charge to private consumers to 7.5 percent of the annual value, while in some cases the Company were charging 20 to 25 percent.
The ratepayers were urged to oppose the new Act for which the Company were about to apply.
|
|
1889.
31st January - WATER CHARGE PROTEST.
A largely attended meeting of Ratepayers and property owners was held in the Free Gardeners' Hall, Skelton last night for the purpose of protesting against the Bill which has been presented to Parliament by the Cleveland Water Company.
A resolution was adopted -
"that the Chairman of the Skelton and Brotton Local Board be requested to call a special meeting for the purpose of co-operating with the Saltburn and Loftus Local Boards in opposing the present
action of the Cleveland Water Company in promoting a Bill to increase the charges for water supplied for domestic purposes.
WASH DAY.
Water could now be collected by some from a tap rather than the Well.
But, before the arrival of Gas and Electric appliances, it had to be heated on an open fire, or the hard working housewife had to light a coal fire under a 'copper' in the corner of the kitchen.
The photograph below shows Elizabeth Harrison of 16 Trout Hall Lane, Skelton Green with her 'poss tub' in the mid-1900s. Then the washing had to be wrung out in the old mangle.
Unlike today, water was valued and hot water more so.
My Grandmother's sister and her husband, Johnny Bulmer, ran Mount Pleasant Farm on the Moors in the early 1900s.
|
Anyone who stayed with them could be told by Johnny that they were welcome to share his morning wash facilities:-
"Thas a drop o' good watter in that bowl."
|
1890.
14th April - WATER SHORTAGE.
A large number of occupiers at High Green presented a petition complaining of the scarcity of water and it was resolved to write to the Cleveland Water Company.
1893.
22nd September - GREAT SKELTON FIRE CAUSED BY BOYS.
A fire of an alarming nature occurred last night at Green Farm which is occupied by Mr R W Stevenson.
It is supposed two little boys about 6 years old were playing in the granary with matches.
The fire quickly spread to other outbuildings. The Skelton fire brigade were soon on the scene but owing to an insufficient water supply was of little use
A number of men formed a chain of buckets to the main some 100 yards away.
After 3 hours the Guisborough fire engine arrived and by this time the hydrants at Saltburn and Coatham had been turned off and a good supply of water was obtained.
The fire raged for 8 hours and destroyed the straw house, the barn,the granary, the chaff house and about 20 tons of straw.
The estimated £400 of damage is covered by insurance.
1894.
18th March. - FRESH WATER DEBT TO THE SQUIRE.
Letter to Editor of local Gazette.
The inhabitants of this district owe a great debt to the late Mr J T Wharton as [owing to bad and insufficient supplies of water in the 18 towns and villages dependent on our works] fever was very prevalent when the Company was formed 22 years ago.
Owing to the opposition on the part of several small landowners, the Company could not have been formed had it not been for the assistance of Mr Wharton, who was the chief landowner in the District and who subscribed largely to its capital at a time when the investing public would not pay par value for its £10 shares that are now selling at £22 each.
Our reservoirs are on Mr Wharton's Skelton Castle Estate and the water pipes pass through it for 10 or 12 miles.
Yours truly,
William I'Anson, The Cleveland Water Company, Saltburn by the Sea.
[William's youngest son, Leonard, a Solicitor in Middlesbrough, became the Officer in Command of our local Volunteers, the Skelton "G" Company of the 4th Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment.
He was killed at Ypres on the 22nd April 1915, when they famously took part in stopping a German advance after the 'Boche' had used chlorine gas for the first time.]
1905.
July - DROUGHT.
Parish Magazine - The rain that has fallen lately has not yet raised the level of water in the 'Freeborough' reservoir and we fear that before this Magazine reaches its readers the supply will be cut off from trade and other purposes and the domestic supply reduced. Fortunately the mines have made other arrangements.
BATH NIGHT.
Only the rich had bathrooms. The Miner's family would share a tin bath, once a week or maybe just infrequently, usually in front of the coal fire and iron range with its side oven as shown here.
|
|
|
1913.
19th August -
RUNNING HOT WATER FOR BATHS AT NORTH SKELTON 'TUTE' ?
It is recorded for June 1905 that three baths had been provided at North Skelton Institute.
The following quote for the provision of hot water has been kindly contributed by Howard Wilson of Skelton History Group.
It was among some papers found by the Red Cross at the Institute.
It is not presently known whether this plumbing work was ever carried out.
On page 69 of Skelton Stories there is an advert for hot and cold baths at the Wharton Arms Hotel and other articles mention the possible provision at Skelton Institute in the High Street.
Eventually in most large towns people, without baths at home, could pay a small fee for hot, private baths provided by their local Councils.
|
|
1914.
4th July - WATER SHORTAGE AT SKELTON GREEN.
At the Council meeting a letter was read from the Engineer of the Cleveland Water Company about the complaints as to the scarcity of water at Skelton Green and the higher part of Lingdale.
The problem was due to the Company's desire to help the manager of South Skelton Mine to keep the Mine at work during the hot weather owing to the shortage of water.
1915.
11th October - WATER MAN DIED OF A BROKEN HEART.
The news of the death of Mr William I'Anson of Bardencroft, Saltburn, which occurred early yesterday morning, will be received with regret in Cleveland where he was well known as the Secretary of the Water Company.
For the past 50 years he has resided in Saltburn and is largely responsible for the great improvements in the provision of fresh water that have taken place during that period.
When the North Riding Territorials went into action for the first time last April at Ypres, he sustained a severe blow by the news that his son, Captain Leonard I'Anson, a popular officer, who commanded the Skelton Territorials, had been killed. From this Mr I'Anson never really recovered.
1917.
9th November - FIRST WORLD WAR LOCAL TRIBUNAL.
At the Skelton and Brotton Tribunal on Thursday afternoon, October 25th, most of the applications were made by farmers or small traders and with one exception the periods of exemption were continued.
Conditional exemption was given to an employee of the Cleveland Water Company who assists his father in the work at the Company's reservoir and considered essential to provide the Cleveland District with pure water.
1918.
7th September - POOR WATER SUPPLY.
At the Council meeting it was decided that the Cleveland Water Company be informed that some parts of the Council's area were without adequate supply. The Company said that they were doing their best.
1936.
2nd October.
SKELTON WATER NOT SAFE.
At the meeting of the Skelton and Brotton UDC the Medical Officer, Dr C R Gibson, reported that he had taken samples of water in various parts of the District and had them analysed.
As none of the results were satisfactory, he had written to the Cleveland Water Company drawing attention to the doubtful quality of the supply.
The Secretary of the Company had promised to have samples taken. The Council decided to complain to the Company and instructed Dr Gibson to take further samples himself.
1953.
The new house building programme after the War, the installation of flush toilets and bathrooms in the older houses and new Gas and Electric appliances for water etc all increased the demand for
water beyond the capacity of the Cleveland Water Company.
A new reservoir and associated waterworks with powerful pumps were needed, but the investment required was likewise beyond the means of a small concern.
26th March.
CLEVELAND'S WATER PROBLEMS DESCRIBED IN PARLIAMENT.
Mr Arthur Palmer, Labour MP for Cleveland:-
I am raising this evening a matter which is admittedly of primary constituency interest.
It perhaps has no broad application, except in the sense that there are many districts in this country where the water supply arrangements, which were satisfactory 50 or even 30 years ago, are no longer satisfactory.
That certainly is the case in the part of the Cleveland constituency with which I am dealing this evening.
The area concerned is one which may or may not be known to the Hon Gentleman.
It is the extreme northern coastal area of the North Riding, an area which is of mixed industrial and agricultural composition, with the emphasis these days on industry.
I wish to admit that the physical conditions are difficult from a water supply point of view.
It could hardly be denied that, geographically, the district is extremely hilly; I believe that there are some of the highest cliffs in the country along the coast.
The area embraces several small towns and villages. There is the town of Loftus, the urban district of Skelton and Brotton, Carling How and Skinningrove, among other names, which I think indicate the Danish origin of the ancestors of the bulk of the population.
The statutory water supply authority is the Cleveland Water Company and there are also several private water supplies of varying quantity, and also, unfortunately, of varying quality.
I hope the Parliamentary Secretary will understand that I have no desire to go out of my way to criticise the Cleveland Water Company.
It is fair to say that today the Directors and the management of this small Company are struggling with a postwar situation which is rather beyond them.
But I think it could also be said equally fairly that the Company has always lacked capital resources and technical direction adequate to achieve its statutory obligations.
It is true, certainly, that there have been complaints from the local authorities most concerned over a long period of time.
Forgetting the ancient history of the business, in 1944 the local authorities in the company's area jointly sent a letter to the Ministry complaining of the unsatisfactory water service, and pointing out what would be the pressing post-war needs.
The result was that consulting engineers were brought in, and reported in some detail on the resources of the water company.
As an immediate consequence, very minor technical improvements were made.
Later, in 1946, a report was prepared, and this was the first major attempt to look ahead in the planning of water supplies of this district.
The report was in favour of the construction of a large new reservoir, which is described as the Scaling Dam scheme.
Unfortunately, it has been the history of this business, and this is what troubles my constituents and the local authorities which represent them, that practical events still proceed at a tortoise-like pace.
Of course, there was the usual inquiry, there were the usual objectors.
Events moved very slowly indeed and by 1949, it will be found that on two occasions in that rather difficult year for water supplies generally the local authorities concerned were again in touch with the Ministry about the gravity of the water supply situation, pointing out that there were householders in considerable numbers who were carrying water from springs and open streams, with all the risk of pollution and danger to health and sanitation.
It was not until June, 1952, that consent was finally given to proceed with this Scaling Dam scheme, which had first been drawn up six years before.
The original cost in 1946 was £215,000.
The estimated cost today has now advanced to about £450,000.
It has now been discovered that in order to find money for the scheme the Company must raise capital on the open market.
To do that they must further increase their water charges, which have already been advanced over the years.
My comment is that over a period there has been made talk by the water company, by the local authorities concerned and the Ministry about this scheme, which was to provide a solution, but apparently there has been little real thought about how the scheme should be financed.
In any case, on the most optimistic estimate, it will be a year or so before the work is under way and it may easily be three or four years before the scheme is completed.
Meantime, the local authorities, especially Loftus Urban District Council and the Skelton and Brotton Urban District Council, are faced with an increasingly critical situation.
Perhaps I could also quote from a report of the Skelton and Brotton Council, which says:
"The Council would also point out that they are at present engaged on a comprehensive housing programme of several hundred houses, which will entail a continuing and considerably increased demand on the present water supply and they are almost afraid to contemplate the difficulties with regard to water which will arise in five years' time if the Scaling Dam Scheme is then still far from completion."
These are not remote rural districts: they are often small but densely built areas.
It is not unknown in these small towns for built-up areas to be without water for days at a time, even in winter.
It would be penetrating as well to quote from the various reports of the local Medical Officer of Health which I have in my possession, but time does not allow of that.
Therefore, knowing the responsibilities of the Minister under the 1945 Act, I wish to address some questions to the Parliamentary Secretary.
Knowing that the only fundamental remedy for the water supply difficulty in this district is the completion of this Scaling Down scheme, what practical steps does the Parliamentary Secretary's right Hon Friend propose to take ?
He has authorised the scheme, but what steps does he propose to take to hasten the start and the completion of it?
Is it possible for the Company to be helped financially from public sources ?
Is the Minister satisfied that the financial and technical resources of the Cleveland Water Company are adequate to meet their statutory obligations ?
I ask this after careful thought, and following talks on the subject with informed local people.
Would the Minister consider using the powers given him under the 1945 Act to compel amalgamation and the formation of a larger and perhaps more successful authority ?
I would appreciate answers to those questions, which are of importance to the ordinary comfort and health of my constituents, and which are certainly matters of urgent administrative concern to the local authorities affected.
1958.
15th December.
CLEVELAND WATER COMPANY DISSOLVED.
The Cleveland Water Company undertaking was vested in the Tees Valley and Cleveland Water Board on the 1 April 1958. Capital was returned at £9 plus a small amount of interest
per share and the Company was dissolved on this date.
SCALING DAM.
The reservoir was finally completed at a cost of £450,000, with a surface area of 100 acres and water capacity of 1,451,962 cubic metres.
|
Scaling Dam.
|
1973.
WATER ACT
Until the 1950s there existed over a thousand water undertakings nationwide, similar to the Cleveland Water Company.
By the early 1970s their number had been reduced to 198 by a gradual consolidation process aimed at achieving economies of scale.
In this year the government established 10 Regional Water Authorities in order to achieve even greater economies of scale and make possible billions of pounds of investment that was beyond the means of small local Companies.
The Cleveland area and Scaling Dam, even though in Yorkshire, came under the authority of Northumbrian Water.
1989.
PRIVATISATION of the 10 Water Authorities and creation of regulation body OFWAT to ensure that 'consumers receive high standards of service at a fair price'.
NORTHUMBRIAN WATER.
|
|
"HAPPY EVER AFTER" - OR A "FOOL'S PARADISE" ?
All the water problems of the past appear to be over.
Interruptions in supply are a rarity and then only for very short periods of maintenance.
Crazily billions of gallons that have been purified to drinking quality are used for a multitude of other purposes.
No one dreams of paying for Water by the unit, as we do for Gas and Electricity.
Consequently, it is taken for granted by many and there is vast wastage.
But will the good times last forever ?
The Socialist and Liberal do-gooder politicians seem to think we can increase the number of people in our country ad infinitum.
It is calculated that the average person uses some 140 litres a day.
By 2050, the UK's population is expected to rise from 67 million to at least 75 million and where will it end ?
The demand for Water will be drastically increased - [not to mention the need for more houses, schools, hospitals, road space etc.]
Then we have the threat of alleged climate change, with hotter and drier Summer months that is already creating droughts in Mediterranean countries and a forecast surge of migration from Africa.
While we are doom-mongering, Northumbrian Water is now owned by the Chinese organisation, Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings.
The water 'bugs' could yet return !
|
|
