Folios 194-196. To: The General Board of Health. From: Messrs Catterall and Catterall,...

Folios 194-196.

To: The General Board of Health.

From: Messrs Catterall and Catterall, [Solicitors], Preston [Lancashire].

Subject Matter: Letter stating that the Preston Local Board of Health has resolved at a meeting that a proposed exemption for the Township of Fishwick would limit and embarrass their efforts under the Public Health Act 1848, but have given no reasons why this would be the case. They state that the mover of the motion argued that if Fishwick was granted an exemption then other parts of the Borough would apply for exemptions, and the seconder added that Messrs Swainson Birley and Co, owners of the Fishwick Mill, carry their cotton through the town of Preston and so ought to pay for upkeep of the roads, but that no other observations were made before the motion was carried. They submit, on behalf of the inhabitants of Fishwick, that none of the reasons for the proposed exemption have been answered, and that the inhabitants of Preston are happy to 'continue to tax the inhabitants of Fishwick for improvements which can benefit the Borough of Preston only'. They explain that a heavy rate is expected in the future, since the Surveyor to the Local Board of Health has stated that the current rate of 1s 2d is not enough to cover the cost of surveying the town and conducting works. They again submit that the prayers of the ratepayers' memorial asking for an exemption [from the provisions of the Public Health Act 1848] be granted, 'especially so because in case it should be hereafter thought expedient that the Act should be applied to their Township it might be effected by an Order of Her Majesty in Council under the provisions of [Section 10] of the Act'.