Local Government inquiry into the application of the Cuckfield Rural District Council to borrow £15,000 for works in connection with the water supply for the parishes of Ardingly, Balcombe, Bolney, Cuckfield Rural, Lindfield and Slaugham was held at Cuckfield Workhouse on Wednesday by Mr HA Law, an inspector of the Local Government Board. Mr. Waugh (clerk to the Cuckfield Rural Council) opened the inquiry by remarking that the £15,000, which the council were anxious to borrow, was made up as follows

Value of mains, £3601; new well at works, also a ventilating shaft, £3500; brick tower with iron tank to bold 40,000 gallons, £2,350; two sets of Worthington pumps to lift 10,000 gallons per hour from works to tower, £250; water to be carried from works to the tower and from the tower to Handcross, Nymans, Pease Pottage, and Warninglid, £3,158; sundry improvements, engineering, etc £2141. The apportionments for the various districts were, he said, made up as follows: Ardingly, £1700: Balcombe, £2,703; Bolney, £1,281; Cuckfield, £2,629; Lindfield, £4,837; and Slaugham, £2 350.

Lord Frederick Fitzroy pointed out to the Inspector that the principal complaint of the Balcombe people was that the Haywards Heath and Cuckfield urban districts, while receiving the water, had to contribute nothing to the works. The Inspector remarked that he had taken due notice of the objection, and that he would place the facts before the Local Government Board. The plans having been explained by Mr Strachan evidence in favour of the scheme was given by Mr W Stott (medical officer of health) and Mr Warren (owner of Handcross Park).

After the inquiry the Inspector visited the waterworks. [Ed: It was a long meeting after all!]

Sussex Agricultural Express 22 September 1899

Photograph: A spring pond at the side of Wake Road at High Beach (alternatively High Beech) in Epping Forest and the civil parish of Waltham Abbey, Essex. Wikimedia public domain image.

Contributed by Malcolm Davison.