Earlypchistory

An act of Parliament allowed the setting up of parish councils from December 1894.

Martley's first parish meeting was held on Tuesday 4th Dec. 1894 at 6.05pm, in the board room of the workhouse, the purpose being the election of 9 parish councillors.

Sixteen valid nominations were submitted but one, (Col. Currie) withdrew. Parishioners present were allowed to question the candidates, but only a few questions were put, and these mainly referred to allotments & lighting. (the Parish still has neither of these in 2003!)

The nine councillors were then elected by a show of hands! Not surprisingly, most were farmers, landowners or ran a business. Then, quite illegally they elected Col. Currie of Laughern House, as their Chairman and Treasurer, a post he held until his death 10 years later.

The first clerk to the council was John Eaton, who was also the Assistant Overseer of the Union Workhouse.The first meeting of this newly elected council was on Mon 17th Dec. 1894. The main business was to vote,by 5 to 4, to exclude the public from the meetings!

Over the first 10 years a total precept of £17 was received and spent - none of it on the clerks salary: he made do with his assistant overseers' salary. That is, except for 1902, when £22 was precepted for and spent on the coronation celebrations for Edward V11 - viz. a Divine Service, tea and/or medals for the children, plus a bonfire and fireworks.

I cannot find that parishioners attended or raised any questions at the annual meetings during this period.

Jan 1899 Petition to C.C for the abolition of tolls over Holt Fleet Bridge.
Jan 1906 Councillors grumbled about the damage caused to the road by the G.W.R motor running daily through the village. ( This was a steam wagon).
Jan 1908 They discussed approaching Lord Dudley regarding the corner at Martley Court. (This was altered 80 years later! AB).
July 1915 A committees was set up to see what could be done about having a shelter for bus passengers.
Oct 1917 A committee organised a collection for prisoners of war.(This was one of a very few references to war).
Jan 1923 The G.P.O finally established a "Public Telephone Call Office". The Parish Council paid 25 shillings rent to Mr. Fidoe for providing accommodation for this.
March 1928 Following a row between the local P.O. and the P.C., the call office was changed from Public to Private.
Aug 1933 the P.C. told the District Council that the parish did not need a scheme for providing water supplies. (Mains water came in 1952).
April 1937 £24 was precepted for Coronation celebrations.
A.G.M 1946 Mrs E Badger of Hope House Farm, became the first woman to become a Parish Concillor.
1929 Mains electricity came along the Worcester road to Martley.
1951 Mains electricity was provided to Martley Hillside.
Feb 1955 A 30 mph speed limit was set, but which was not approved by the police.
March 1955 Complaints about gypsy caravans in Kingswood Lane
Oct 1955 Bus shelter finally erected at a cost of £108
June 1973 Agreement reached for a 21 year lease on the playing fields for £60 per annum.
1974 Parish Councils were first allowed to comment on planning applications.
June 1981 Councillors agreed to inform neighbours of planning applications.
Oct 1981 P.C.C said churchyard would be full in 3 to 4 years. (Not so!).
April 1983 The 3rd Parish minute book was full.

Later years saw the purchase of the playing field and much was spent on Memorial Hall improvements.

Council spending increased from;- 5/- in 1900; nil in 1905;, £7-1s-5p in 1930; £18-2s-2p in 1950; £41-10s-0 in 1970; £1,110.72p in 1980; and rose to £8,093 in 1990 (inc. £1650 p.o loan repayment).