| Description | Council meeting, 26 February 1810
[Sederunt given]
The Provost laid before the Council a letter from Mr William Forbes of Echt, representing the proprietors of the salmon fishings of the Raik and Stells of the River Dee, concerning the intended Harbour Improvements and recommending amended proposals [text engrossed]. Mr Thomas Telford's objections to these amendments were also laid before the Council [text engrossed] for its consideration. The Council resolved to reject the first two proposals, namely the making of a new cut in the channel and the giving off in property of a space sixty yards in breadth, along the north side of the River Dee. However the Council agreed to be bound to make out and maintain a new channel on the south side of the River Dee, near the lower end of the Mid-Chingle Fishing to the mouth of the River, of a sufficient width to waste the extra flood water envisaged and for the accomodation of the Fishings. Further, the Council agreed to prohibit building or works within fifty yards of the north side of the river, failing that to grant them in absolute property the margin of ground on the north bank of the River from near the upper end of the Inch Dyke to the upper end of the proposed Tide Lock, to the extent of thirty yards in breadth, reserving one or two passages for the accomodation of all parties. (132r - 135r)
The Provost laid before the Council the copy resolutions of a general meeting of merchants, ship-owners and other gentlemen respecting the proposed Harbour Bill, declaring their intention to oppose the Harbour Bill's passage through Parliament unless the management was vested in trustees, two thirds of whom to be elected by the Burgesses and one third by the magistrates and Council from their own number. The Council rejected these resolutions but recommended that the Provost meet with this committee of merchants to endeavour to overcome their objections to the Harbour Bill. (135r) |