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Black Dyke Road in Arnside is having new water pipes installed. There have been short delays for motorists and discolouration after loss of water at times, but that shortage is nothing compared with the trouble the inhabitants suffered in 1880.

Arnside, originally consisting of very few buildings, was already a holiday destination after the coming of the railway across the Estuary, but, as a report in the Westmorland Gazette of 1880 shows, the Sanitary Authority had proposed installing a water system. A meeting was held in a local hotel.

This proposal to bring piped water had caused dissention among the locals as they claimed their rainwater tanks were adequate for their needs. About thirty attended the meeting and the voting went in favour 10 to 9. Many abstaining.听 The building which was currently under way had water carted in for it.

The major complaint about the water shortage in the meeting of 1880 came from a visitor who said that in spite of听 his taking one of the best lodging houses in Arnside there was never enough water for him to have his daily bath! He considered this an absolute necessity. And said most emphatically that all visitors would expect it! (our water has occasionally come through this colour! We expect it.)听

Here is the modern pipe waiting to be laid in Black Dyke Road, Arnside.

All systems go. The work is nearly completed and we will be back to normal soon.
We still use rainwater, but that is for the garden so visitors should rest assured of their daily bath if they come to stay in Arnside!听