If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by gwr4090, Nov 15, 2007.

  1. FrankC

    FrankC Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2009
    Messages:
    468
    Likes Received:
    2,110
    Neither of these are true - there are detailed plans for both. But there is no reason why they should be published on NP.
     
  2. 60044

    60044 Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    Messages:
    406
    Likes Received:
    785
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Salisbury
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I mentioned a while ago that I left the WSR Discussion forum because Rodders' pontifications at the time dominated the proceedings but showed very little grasp of reality, hopefully the rest of you can now understand why I left!
     
  3. Monkey Magic

    Monkey Magic Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2018
    Messages:
    3,498
    Likes Received:
    6,845
    Location:
    Here, there, everywhere
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Be glad that they weren't sent to the wrong person with all your details....

    More seriously, might I suggest that voting papers be sent back recorded delivery because you know things can get lost in the post and never delivered.
     
  4. The Dainton Banker

    The Dainton Banker Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2014
    Messages:
    1,720
    Likes Received:
    3,186
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Over the hills and far away
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Many would consider that publishing that sort of information would, if nothing else, be good PR as it shows that things are progressing, even if in the background, which is not always obvious to those not directly involved.
    It really should not be necessary to point out that Public Relations are very important to the Railway, which depends to a considerable degree on both volunteer labour and public donations for its existence. Why is the current Board unable to grasp that basic fact of life ?
     
    MattA, MellishR, tom-bex and 13 others like this.
  5. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2014
    Messages:
    15,328
    Likes Received:
    11,666
    Occupation:
    Nosy aren’t you?
    Location:
    Nowhere
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    So just give us your cash but we won’t tell you how we spend it?
    I’d suggest a look at certain group in the North East and how they go about fundraising.
     
    Monkey Magic likes this.
  6. FrankC

    FrankC Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2009
    Messages:
    468
    Likes Received:
    2,110
    This is about what this thread on NP has become. Give the mainly hyper-critical readership, it’s not really a sensible vehicle for PR.
     
    Dealornodeal and Bifur01 like this.
  7. bluetrain

    bluetrain Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2019
    Messages:
    1,326
    Likes Received:
    1,460
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Wiltshire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I do have some sympathy with Chris Austin and his fellow WSSRT Board members, suddenly finding themselves faced with a (relative) deluge of new members and Board candidates who wish to make fundamental changes. But they might wish to reflect on how the S&DRT Board felt when they came under attack from the WSR. The work of the WSSRT will continue, whether it remains stand-alone or becomes part of a wider charity, whereas the S&DRT faces major disruption to its work.

    Some of the most recent events do again emphasize that passions are high and tempers frayed, perhaps resulting in hasty and ill-judged actions.

    It is now almost two years since the WSR PLC Board, apparently struggling with a deteriorating commercial and financial situation, decided to hand over total power to an autocratic new regime. In its early days, the new regime appeared to gain much support from WSR supporters, who surely hoped for both improved management and for an end to the feuds and infighting that had characterized the railway for some years past. Certainly, the new leadership went on to claim that they had rescued the WSR from insolvency. That claim may or may not have been true. But a number of controversial actions, most notably the Washford eviction notice, have bred further layers of feuding and infighting. These folk are skilled at breaking eggs, but not at creating omelettes. Even if negotiations find a compromise settlement to the "Washford Incident", I think this affair will have caused long-lasting damage to the WSR.

    Whatever future organizational structure is adopted for the WSR, it surely needs to come under the overall leadership of someone with strong talents in the areas of negotiation and politics/diplomacy/tact - someone who can bring warring factions together and build peace rather than further conflicts.
     
  8. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2014
    Messages:
    15,328
    Likes Received:
    11,666
    Occupation:
    Nosy aren’t you?
    Location:
    Nowhere
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Hang on a sec, if you want my cash that I go out to work for, I’d like to know what your going to spend it on. I really don’t think it’s an unreasonable request to want to know where it’s going.
     
  9. jma1009

    jma1009 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2013
    Messages:
    1,381
    Likes Received:
    1,637
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    ynysddu south wales
    Or anywhere else Frank?
     
  10. nick813

    nick813 Well-Known Member Loco Owner

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2010
    Messages:
    1,503
    Likes Received:
    1,503
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    poole dorset
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Meanwhile watching from the wings,certain people pull the levers, out of sight and mind, waiting for the orchestrated train crash.......and can then ' rescue' The WSR........
    What a wonderful distraction.
    I am putting together for myself a 5 year time line of events and statements.....it is being to make interesting reading.

    My own obverseation.

    Nick
     
  11. FrankC

    FrankC Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2009
    Messages:
    468
    Likes Received:
    2,110
    I absolutely agree with you. So if you want to make a contribution send me a PM and I’ll point you in the right direction so that you can get the information you need to make an informed decision.
     
  12. THE PATH TO A SINGLE OVERARCHING CHARITY TO SUPPORT THE WSR – HOW TO VOTE FOR THE 10 WSSRT TRUSTEE CANDIDATES:

    Steam Trust AGM papers are hitting doormats. Please vote for we 10 candidates (item 6) seeking genuine whole-Railway restructure of the WSR. We also support Helen Anson, Matt Jackson and Alan Smithers as worthy candidates. We do not support candidates Steve Williams, Mike Thompson or Geoff Evens.

    Please vote in favour of the two resolutions at item 7. The text of these resolutions is reproduced in full on the AGM agenda. The Steam Trust expressed their support for these in their newsletter No.15 issued earlier this week.

    When not to Vote: If, for any reason, you feel unable to vote as your conscience dictates, it is best you do not vote at all.

    Members should vote (for, against or abstain) for ALL the candidates and resolutions.

    There is a general acceptance that we need to build ‘One Railway’ and that the best model is for one sole membership-led supporting charitable body to own the Railway assets, with a PLC subsidiary to operate the Railway.

    Those of us standing for election do not believe that the WSSRT can remain outside the proposed new structure, with a continuing focus on museums, education and heritage coach restoration.

    These activities are physically integrated within the fabric of the WSR and form an essential part of the whole.

    Also, the WSSRT is a significant shareholder in the PLC and as such it is hard to see how it can protect that interest from the sidelines.

    We feel that the future interests of the WSSRT are far better served in the coming restructuring discussion with the PLC by being part of a single membership body able to ensure that the combined shareholding allows the voice of the membership to be heard at this critical time.

    That voice – that combined voice – must be heard. The success of the railway depends upon it. It is the key success factor.

    Please contact us with any questions by emailing wssrtcandidates@gmail.com You will be assured of a reply.

    If you have any doubts over any aspect of voting and wish to discuss them, please delay completing your voting form until you have heard back from us.
     
  13. staffordian

    staffordian Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2012
    Messages:
    1,501
    Likes Received:
    2,134
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    The Potteries
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Sorry, but as an outsider, this sort of answer makes my blood boil.

    No-one should have to jump through hoops and search in vain to find out where their potential donations might be used.

    It should be clear and well signposted. Not the subject of requests to people that interested outsiders may know nothing of.

    Yet another example of where the WSR as a whole is let down and doing far less than it should if it wishes to succeed and prosper.
     
  14. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    26,103
    Likes Received:
    57,429
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Sorry, that's a perfect encapsulation of the tin ear that the WSR has for communications. If you look at the railways that have major infrastructure programmes underway (the Bluebell has been mentioned by others, and I'd add the NYMR, SVR and GWSR as other examples) they have been quite upfront both about what needs doing, and in providing regular updates of work in progress at the appropriate times of the year. That doesn't have to be on NP: if you provide it elsewhere on a public website, it can be linked here.

    Instead you seem to be deliberately trying to hide such information, or release it on a "need to know" basis. If the information exists, why not just post it, rather than say what is, in effect, "please contact me privately and I'll give you the keys to the secret information store".

    And then you wonder why there is a clamour to fill the resulting vacuum! If you want the WSR to gain a better perception, you need someone with real flair for communication, and they need to get on the front foot, not be constantly snippy and defensive. Who is the West Somerset's John Elliot?

    Tom
     
  15. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2014
    Messages:
    17,609
    Likes Received:
    11,223
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    St Leonards
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Happen to agree with what you say Nick, clearly all of this stems from some ones wish to be the fat controler, of their own railway, even if they don't actually own it, those people who on facebook support mass expulsions are being hood winked by someone elses personal animosity on one hand, and another person's game plan, that possibly involves the side-lining of the power held by the two main charities, I have one question that I an not sure of, and its this, in the event of the PLC turning its self into a charity, does the shareholding of the WSSRT and that of the WSRA become valueless as a controlling influence over the governance of the charity, and if the Shares held by the WSSRT, ended up being given to the PLC, or a person who happens to sit on the PLC board, would that give them a controlling interest in the new charity?
     
  16. RailWest

    RailWest Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Dec 7, 2011
    Messages:
    3,803
    Likes Received:
    7,441
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    West Country
    So what happened to No 11 and the possible No 12 then please?
     
  17. Bayard

    Bayard Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 26, 2015
    Messages:
    1,826
    Likes Received:
    3,871
    Gender:
    Male
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Possibly because of the truism that if no-one knows what you are doing, then no-one will know if you get it wrong.
     
    ross likes this.
  18. Bayard

    Bayard Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 26, 2015
    Messages:
    1,826
    Likes Received:
    3,871
    Gender:
    Male
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    The WSR is starting to resemble the Snailbeach now.
     
    Miff likes this.
  19. The past chairman rejected those nominations in contravention of The WSSRT Ltd Articles. They are now being resubmitted to the Acting Chairman as the actual deadline for nominations is 31st October 2020.
     
    Bionic_Woman likes this.
  20. A note about WSSRT's various GDPR breaches.

    It appears WSSRT have not appointed a Data Controller as required by the Data Protection Act. It seems the Company has failed to register with the Information Commissioner's Office. This has made reporting data breaches problematical.

    If elected the new board will rectify this governance issue as a priority by applying for registration.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 24, 2020

Share This Page