Folios 225-232. To: The General Board of Health. From: Henry Wrigg, Surveyor, Preston...

Folios 225-232.

To: The General Board of Health.

From: Henry Wrigg, Surveyor, Preston Local Board of Health [Lancashire].

Subject Matter: Letter in reply to a letter of 26 May 1851 containing a copy of a memorial [petition] from J R W France and R W S Lutwidge concerning the width of certain streets. Wrigg forwards a tracing of the proposed streets [not included in the item]. He explains that the Local Board has decided, where practicable, that the minimum width of streets should be 33 feet. He states that, in the case of Brewery Street and Malt Street, they were happy to continue allow their continuation at 30 feet wide as proposed by the memorialists, but that they desire for sanitary reasons that Hop Street and Vat Street should be 33 feet wide, particularly as they are located in a chiefly working class neighbourhood. Wrigg explains that the Local Board are aware that the plots of land adjoining these streets will be worth less, but states that, in the opinion of the Local Board, the increasing population of the town must be spread out, space being one of the most important conditions necessary for good health. He further submits that the Local Board were initially content for Floyer Street, Grosvenor Street, Ashworth Street, and Richmond Street to be only 30 feet wide, provided they were carried on in straight lines with their existing portions, since this would give greater facility for the construction of underground works such as sewers and gas supplies. He submits that the memorialists have refused to comply with this, alleging that the Local Board has no power to control the direction of streets, and so the only way to compensate for a lack of straightness in the streets is to increase their width to 33 feet. He trusts that the General Board will find that the Local Board have followed the correct course in this matter.