Folios 524-530. To: The Local Government Act Office. From: Samuel Sharman, 30 North...

Folios 524-530.

To: The Local Government Act Office.

From: Samuel Sharman, 30 North John Street, Liverpool [Lancashire].

Subject Matter: Letter enclosing a memorial [petition] to the Home Secretary from certain owners and ratepayers in the West Derby District. He states the wish of the petitioners that the matter should be investigated 'at the hands of some authority who has not previously reported on the subject'.

The petitioners explain that the Local board of West Derby have spent upwards of £30,000 in establishing a system of sewerage and have constructed two main sewers; an eastern main discharging into the River Alt and a western main discharging into Tue Brook. They add that the neighbouring Walton Local Board have also devised a system of sewerage but the works have not yet begun.

They submit that it would be a great saving of expense if a joint outlet for the sewage of both districts was constructed. They note that the West Derby Local Board has recently resolved to construct an outlet sewer to the River Mersey at Rimrose Bridge at an estimated cost of £29,608 13s. They submit that this could be made a joint outlet sewer for West Derby and Walton at an extra cost of £5000. It is stated, however, that the Walton Local Board have proposed a joint outlet with necessary works for the utilisation of sewage for irrigation at an estimated cost of only £16,420 11s 6d.

The petitioners state that misunderstandings have arisen between the two Local Boards that have 'prevented cordial co-operation and the candid consideration of the two outlets schemes with a view to the adoption in common of that which is most expedient'. There is a strong feeling in the West Derby District against building an outlet to the sea, they contend. They also believe that the Waterloo with Seaforth Local Board and the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board will oppose such a scheme, as it will lead to greater pollution on the shore of the River Mersey.

The petitioners do not feel satisfied by the scheme proposed by the West Derby Local Board and believe that the irrigation scheme has not received full consideration. They state that they have no personal interests in the matter but merely wish for a 'searching investigation' that will satisfy the ratepayers. They ask that an Inspector is appointed to conduct an inquiry into the desirability of the two schemes.

The petition is signed by the Earl of Sefton and 48 others.