| Description | COUNCIL REGISTER, VOLUME 71, FOLIOS 62v - 70r
Council meeting, 7 September 1824
[Sederunt given]
The Provost reported on the recent proceedings respecting the construction of the proposed bridge over the River Don to connect more conveniently with the continuation of King Street and the Ellon Turnpike Road [details of funding proposals and communications with the County concerning a new Turnpike Bill given]. The Provost also stated that the Committee of the County were keen that the Council, as Trustees under Sir Alexander Hay's mortification, should apply part of the present Bridge Funds and adopt the plan formerly obtained from Mr John Gibb, engineer, for building a bridge at or near the present Bridge, at the village of Balgownie, or between the said Bridge and the mouth of the Don, and that parliamentary notices should be advertised in the Aberdeen Journal and London Gazette to enable the Council to introduce a Bill in the ensuing parliamentary session to execute the plan. It was noted that the magistrates had obtained an opinion of counsel which stated that a new bridge could not be constructed at another location without parliamentary consent. Should the powers to lay out the funds of the mortification fail to be granted by Parliament, the Provost informed the Council that he had in 1823 procured from Mr Robert Stevenson, engineer, a plan for building a bridge across the River Don and ravine above the present Bridge as well as the approach roads, along with reports and estimates. Upon consideration the Council approved the steps taken in this matter and authorised the parliamentary notices to be inserted with the intention of bringing a Bill into Parliament at the next session. (62v - 65r)
The Provost laid before the Council a letter from Dr William Laurence, Principal of Marischal College, with copy memorial respecting the state of the College buildings and requesting the same to be submitted to the consideration of the Town Council. The Council approved the proposed design and stated that, in the event of the College applying to Government for financial assistance, the Provost and magistrates would give their full support and recommended the same to the favourable consideration of the new Council. A copy memorial had also been sent to the College Chancellor, the Marquis of Huntly, who had likewise given his support. [Copy memorial engrossed containing historical account of the College buildings and report of the architects John Smith and Archibald Simpson respecting the buildings]. (65r - 69v)
The Council admitted John Stott as a Craftsman. (70r) |