| Administrative History | Gourdon Special Drainage District was in place by 1890, with a starting rate of 11 1/2d in the pound. There was a Special Water Supply District, too, by 1891. It borrowed £650 in 1894 from the Public Works Loan Commissioners for new water works. When the water supply was improved, the drainage system also worked better. The County Medical Officer of Health thought that the village would benefit from being formed into a Special Scavenging District in 1895, though he admitted that the District Committee was doing quite a good job with scavenging. Special Lighting and Scavenging Districts were proposed in 1896, to be co-terminous with the other districts. The Special Lighting District was finally formed in 1919, but the Kincardine County Council forgot to publish the details in the Edinburgh Gazette as was mandatory, so the project was officially delayed for a year. The water supply to the village was short from at least 1914 to 1919, and a new supply was planned from the farm of Auchindreich, Arbuthnott. However, the estate was up for sale, so the arrangements were delayed, and only completed in 1925. The public ashpits along the main street were frequently complained of, and again and again from 191 to 1926 the reports of the Medical Officer of Health and the County Sanitary Inspector recommend the formation of a Special Scavenging District. All but one of the ashpits were finally cleared away by 1932. The Landward Committee on Public Health recommended the formation of a Special Scavenging District in 1936, as scavenging in the village was proving a drain on landward rates. It was finally formed in 1937. Lighting was installed shortly afterwards, and was to cost £113.7.6, but the lights were not used at first because of Second World War lighting restrictions. The Special Scavenging District was one of those not dissolved when services were taken over by the new County refuse service in May 1961. |