L&BRT and EA Joint Statement

The following statement also appears on the two organisations' own websites:

Joint Statement from the Chairman of the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Trust and the Directors of Exmoor Associates

There are a number of items of misinformation being circulated in various media concerning the Lynton and Barnstaple project and the relationship between the L&B Trust and Exmoor Associates. We would like to clarify the position in order to put to rest the corrosive misinformation that is being circulated which is harming the future of the project and undermining the efforts of everyone working hard to see the rebuilding of the entire Lynton and Barnstaple Railway.

Dealing first with the relationship between the L&BT and EA. Considerable activity has been going on behind the scenes to resolve the differences that existed between us. With the aid of mediators the current trustees are now more able to understand and appreciate the actions that were taken when the directors of EA were directors of the L&B. Time and ongoing liaison is repairing the rifts that have existed in the past and corporately we are working closely to secure the land and rights to extend the railway.

It should be remembered that the L&B Trust and the majority of its trustees are shareholders in EA and in some cases are founder members of EA and it is in all our interests to foster close and productive working arrangements.

With regard the speculation over the financial position of the L&BT much has been made over the loans made to the railway. Many of these loans are several years old and were made when funds were very tight in the early days by benefactors who have not made any request for repayment. However, in the absence of agreement under present accounting rules these have to be shown as being repayable within one year. It is a mark of the confidence in the project that no-one has yet asked for repayment.

The L&BT and EA are likely to remain separate entities for some time to come. The reason for this is that our two organisations have different, although complimentary, objectives. The L&BT continues to focus on the operation of the railway, its heritage and its reconstruction, initially to Blackmoor Gate, using some of the land that has already been acquired by EA. Meanwhile EA will continue to buy trackbed as and where it can and hold this in anticipation of future extensions. This demarcation of roles is agreed and respected by both our organisations.

L&BT has started the process of fundraising to acquire the remaining land between Killington Lane and Blackmoor Gate and to start the essential tortuous legal and administrative process involved in getting the consent to reconstruct the railway. We would both strongly urge you to support this in the confidence that we are working together to see the rebuilding of the railway with all the satisfaction this will bring all our supporters and benefits this will bring to Exmoor and North Devon.

 

Excellent!

 

Hear hear!!

 

Bravo! Not exactly my local railway (although I live in the same county) but I think this is a brilliant scheme which actually has a lot of similarities with an elephant. It has had a very long gestation period but, even now things are moving, progress is relatively slow!

Exmoor is uniquely beautiful. I've seen it in all weathers as I often conduct on an open top vintage bus tour in the summer. Seeing new aspects of the moor from an L&B carriage is certainly something worth waiting for.

John.

 

Well done guys. Note how quiet the soothsayers are now. I think that this needed saying and to be finally laid to rest. Blasted well done.

 

At last the railway project has become more important than some egos and we can now work towards extending this fabulous line. Well done everybody.

It is up to all of us now, to support the project as best we can.
JdF

 

I see that said ego has stated on another forum that this thread will now die a death as he is no longer participating... It would seem that his arrogance is boundless.

 

In which case we should keep it going if for no better reason than to prove the little twit wrong.
The statement is a welcome turn of events and let us now hope that the project can take major steps forward.

 

To be fair, I suspect the reference was to one of the threads that "TheEngineer" started: Exmoor Associates - Acquisition of More of the Old L&B Line and to which I did post the official first notification of the joint statement, and which may well now come to a close as a result. The important thing though, is that this statement - although only words - when translated into actions by all concerned, could signal a new beginning for a great heritage railway project. Please do what you can to give it as much support as possible, especially by contributing to healthy debate and discussion of the L&B.

 

I am glad we have begun a new joint thread. I understand BTW that another tranche of railway is being negotiated for
JdF

 

Well hopefully now we can be more postive on this site about the railway, my only concern is that it will now take longer to do in the current financial climate. So long as we all remember that there is no reason to get on the backs of the management if nothing appears to be happening, as it will be down to having the money to do it and if they don't have the money then nothing will get done, time to think about some creative fund raising schemes................

 

Excellent news, and well done to both organisations. Now they can get back to the important stuff, ie raising money to rebuild the railway. It may take a long time, however I'm sure they will get there.

Nice to hear as well Exmoor are working on getting more bits of land saved.