LETTER FROM J.E. HALLIDAY OF YARD HOUSE, EAST STREET, WARMINSTER, TO JOHN BANNISTER, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF HIGHWAYS, THURSDAY 6th APRIL 1843:
My dear Sir,
The state of my health has of late been such as to preclude my attending the Monthly Meetings of our Board of Highways. I therefore beg to request that you, as Chairman, will please to bring before the Meeting (which I observe is to be held today) the circumstance of my having been, for many months past, subject to a great nuisance in the street, against my premises. Since a notice was posted at Hatchet Corner, warning off Coal Carts & Waggons from that neighbourhood, the rendeavous [sic] of them has been against my dwellinghouse and wall, – and not a day passes without annoyance.
About four years ago, when, for the benefit of the Town, I was induced to set back my Garden Wall, & thereby expose my House to the Street, it was expressly stipulated that no Coal Carts or Waggons should be allowed to stop there, – nor Boys permitted to play against the Building. The intention was that no Coal Carts whatever sho’d be permitted to halt in any of the streets, but should go into the Weymouth Road & the Boreham Road; – and for a while this was attended to. But now they constantly stop and unhitch in East Street, – and precisely in this the narrowest part of it, – much to the disturbance of myself and family. I also receive complaints about it from Neighbours, who seem to expect me to get the nuisance abated. I beg therefore to solicit the intervention of the Board for that purpose, – and at the same time to mention that I cannot prevent the Boys of the Neighbourhood from playing at Ball against my house, nor from throwing about the stones left by the Carts; – by which, in addition to the pelting of my house, several of the paving stones have already been broken.
I trust that, under these circumstances, you will be kind enough to bring this matter before the Board for me, ~ and in the hope that they will immediately apply the requisite remedy;
I remain
My dear Sir,
Yours very faithfully,
J.E.H.
East Street, Warminster,
Thursday 6th April 1843.
John Bannister, Esqr.
Chairman of the Board of Highways.