COMPETITIONS.
Walton-le-Dale Sewerage Scheme — Some little time back the Local Board of Walton-le Dale, near Preston, Lancashire, advertised for schemes for the sewering and disposal of the sewage of their district. In response to this, many schemes have been sent in. The ultimate decision as to the merits of the various schemes was submitted to Mr. Thomas Fenwick, C.E., of Leeds, and we are informed that he has just awarded the first premium to Mr. William Wrennall, C.E., of Liverpool, and the second premium to Messrs. H. T. Johnson & Co., civil engineers.
THE BUILDER. [DEC. 10, 1887.] page 803
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WALTON-LE-DALE SEWERAGE SCHEME.
SIR, I read with some surprise in the issue of your journal for the 10th inst. [p. 803] that “some little time back” the above Authority advertised for competitive schemes, and that Mr. Thomas Fenwick, C.E., of Leeds, has awarded the premiums.
The words “some little time back,” and the name of the adjudicator in this matter, prompt me to write to you to say that “some little time back” means two years within six weeks since the schemes were deposited with the Board. This long delay has, no doubt, been a disappointment to others along with myself; but this is augmented by the news that the adjudicator, to the best of my know-ledge, has not carried out a sewerage scheme under the modern requirements of the past twenty years of the Local Government Board.
Therefore, if experts are invited to compete, as I have no doubt some have done, it is most unfair to my mind that a non-expert should be the judge in such matters.
I have refrained from expressing an opinion as to the time the Board have taken, but this case suggests the question whether or not the Local Government Board should not exercise some restrictive power to limit local authorities and prevent trifling with the time of an industrious class of professional men, to say nothing of the large amount of capital and time expended on a scheme of this magnitude.
COMPETITOR, M. Inst. C.E.
THE BUILDER. [DEC. 24, 1887.] Page 898.
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