West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Indeed.

However...the latest Joint Statement says "....an independent review has been completed by the Heritage Railway Association, and which we hope will lead to a
conclusion....", so 'something' apparently is now actually finished, although as yet the S&DRT has not made any public comment about that. What is less clear is the nature of the wished-for 'conclusion' - is that an actual decision / opinion by the HRA about the matter, or simply the move to the next stage of a more formal arbitration? Sadly IMHO another instance where the lack of substance in a Plc utterance merely leads to more, rather than less, uncertainty.

 

It doesn't sound as if the HRA have made any formal statement following their review. Whether they will or whether they will simply suggest a route or even just wash their hands of it isn't clear.

 

That's fair, but my comment was in response to a rather different view.

 

Far to many.

 

Are you sure the formal process has started? The latest release only talks of an HRA review being carried out.

Nothing is known if that was a formal review with reviewers appointed by the HRA or a simple 'once over' by someone (who?) from the HRA.

Nowhere is mediation or arbitration mentioned.

There are an awful lot of 'weasel words' flying around at the moment, beware of reading more into a statement than what is actually there.

 

From the BBC:

''Boris Johnson will lead the daily Downing Street briefing later where he'll outline further plans to lift England's lockdown.
It'll include the reopening of zoos, safari parks and other outdoor attractions''.

Hopefully a move that will eventually lead to the reopening of preservation sites. Perhaps a mini vintage vehicle rally to attract publicity and draw in the public. <BJ>​

 

The HRA review has happened very quickly...

The SDRT release of 15/5/20 states "In the meantime, the Trust looks forward to engaging in the proposed talks with the WSR plc and other stakeholders on the line, moderated by the Heritage Railway Association."

The joint press release is dated 9/6/20 (Tuesday, written Monday?). So the HRA review was completed by the weekend (?)

So these talks or review (?) were completed in a little over two weeks.


I assume these talks/review are simply the start of a process.

 

They can all (the three Ws) agree to 'see' that the issue is X, & agree a plan & a goal.
It doesn't mean that X is the issue, or that the plans are workable, or the goal realistic.

Multiple people claim the earth is flat, that doesn't mean it is.

 

It seems another of the WSR Press Statement ‘facts’ is being debunked according to this article in the Free Press in the last few days. The run up to this is:

1. The Local MP stated previously that the PLC refused to meet with him to discuss his concerns over the way the WSR is being managed, including concerns over the use of the Hinckley Point C Community Engagement Fund money and the promised train trips for local school children in 2019.

2. The WSRA released a statement saying the MP & Headteacher were wrong and nothing to worry about, the money is safe and used for the correct community use and not for the PLC and there is nothing more to say.

3. The PLC released an aggressive press statement recently saying the PLC had tried to talk to the local MP a number of times and he refused to communicate with them despite trying and wanting his help.

4. Now the local MP says he has been trying to talk to the PLC and has now been excluded from a meeting with a local council (and PDG member) and the Taunton MP whose constituency doesn’t cover most of the WSR.

5. Its reached my ears from 2 independent external sources that the local MP even tried to meet the Chairman at Minehead by turning up one day as a last option after attempts to make contact and not being given a meeting, he was refused an audience.

6. There also seems to be a theme: The S&D, Local Headteacher (whose school is now being threatened by the PLC by being told to stop talking about school trips and grant funding or else) and the MP have all been accused of refusing to meet/talk to the PLC despite evidence that it’s in fact the other way round.

The WSR is really not doing itself any favours by alienating more people at this point because people are asking questions which they don't seem to want to answer and distract from it by making aggressive statements about them in public. Its also strange that the PLC are meeting with one influential member of the PDG when it said it would only meet as a PDG group? I was going to make a point about ‘alternative facts’ but maybe that’s too Trumpish !!

As has been said elsewhere above, there are an increasing number of questions, not less that need answering in my opinion due to the recent WSR Communications supported by all three Boards.

 

Its full steam ahead for the Open letter as we head for 400 signatures. Please continue to stand up and be heard and lets continue to share the message that the S and D needs to stay at Washford and Organisational change is required for the WSR to succeed. http://chng.it/pDnhNvw9

However there is a welcome release from the WSRA re the formulation of a joint fundraising group and hopefully more meaningful information re the PLC requirements. The release https://www.wsra.org.uk/2020/06/11/forward-steps/ also has a rather interesting last few sentences, it appears the joint statement earlier this week was actually not!

 

Where are the Rockers?

 

Socially distancing on Minehead beach?

 

I suspect that most of the 400+ or so signatories to the letter have already identified exactly where the source of confusion and shoot-from-the-hip mixed messaging lies. Unfortunately, forum rules prevent us from discussing any one named individual. But you can bet that the source is within the sacred 200 mile radius of Minehead (says the Essex resident). In fact, you could do worse than start that search around 20 miles in the North-Easterley direction!

The same 400+ people have also probably realised that, as with the methods of Donald Trump and Dominic Cummings, such misinformational 'chaff' is a deliberate ploy to try and throw people off the scent. Luckily, many of the WSR's supporters are very intelligent people who can see through this.

Keep up the good work @Maverick and co.

 

Maybe there should be a Twitter-style 'fact checking' department that monitors PLC and WSRA press releases!

 

Good to see Dick Wood on board and representing our plc on the proposed fundraising working group.

What chance Dick/RAW Communications be engaged to manage plc press releases and public statements? Now, that would be a very good investment.

 

I note the Coombes Report being mentioned regarding cohesive fundraising. It has taken a very long time for that part of the Report to sink in.
Maybe it will be more successful than present arrangements, but does seem rather the like the stable door being closed after the horse has bolted. The appeals seem to have been going for much longer than those of many other lines but less successful.