Handwritten ‘Notes for Petition’ with regard to the crossing of the Melksham Turnpike Road by the proposed Wilts, Somerset and Weymouth Railway

Melksham Turnpike Trust & Wilts, Somerset & Weymouth Rly Notes for Petition o.g Clauses - Sent copy to ..... & Smith
11 Apl 1845

Melksham Turnpike Road

That the Turnpike Road No 9 across which it is proposed by the Bill that the Railway shall pass on a level, is the High Road from London to Bath & Bristol thro 1 the towns of Devizes & Melksham.

That it is proposed that the Railway shall cross such Road close to the Town of Melksham.

That Melksham contains about 5000 inhabitants.
That Melksham has a market for cattle, every fortnight & which is well supplied being a principal market for the sale'of -t1rat cattle for supplying the Bath & Devizes & other ..... markets -

That Melksham is a Polling Place for the election of memb rs to serve in Parlt for the Northern Div ..... & that it is in the most popular [struck through] populous district [struck through] Polling district in the county. That. In a district including the Populous [struck through] .............
included in such District alone cons. Manufacturing Towns of Throwbridge & Bradford {struck through] above 20000 inhabitants.
for Electrions of Members to serve in Parliament for the Northern Divsion [struck through]....

That there is very considerable traffic on the Road both by day and by Night.

That the public will be greatly inconvenienced if the Railway should be allowed to pass the Road on a level & great danger may be apprehended though in more particular from the numerous Market carts going & returning at all hours of the night to & from Bath & Devizes & the neighboruing Markets -

That there are no Engineering difficulties in making a Bridge whereby the Turnpike Road may be carried over the Railway at the usual inclinsation of one in 30 -

That it is proposed by the 1st Bill that in the [struck through] Parish of Melksham the Road No 46 shall not be made steeper than one foot in 20 -

That the Public will be much inconvenienced by such an inclination of the Road & that there is no necessity for the purposes of the said Railway that the Road should be steeper than one in 30.