West Somerset Railway General Discussion

The elements are all there. I am not prepared to post 'back of envelope' figures publicly before discussing them with those who would be involved / responsible.

I haven't asked for your support - yet - you can see where that fits in to the timescale set out above.

I look forward to the project team convincing you then.

Robin

 

Noted. Surely the first people that need convincing are the WSR PLC board. Without that the scheme is a non starter. Have you approached them?

 

Agreed.

'Them' collectively...no.

One member to understand how to present this...yes.

Far too early to present to the board as other than a great idea - some more work needed. But the level of support is plain.

But 'Nat Pres' is I know, avidly read...in various quarters.

Robin

 

Given that both "attractive" and "well-managed" are to some extent subjective judgements (one more so than the other) it's very easy for this to become a circular argument.

"Your project didn't raise funding? Evidently it can't have been attractive and well-managed, otherwise you would have got it."

 

It's read by some, but not all, trustees and directors as are other forms of social media. However it's not the only source of opinion and therefore an uncertain gauge of the wider support that might exist.

 

If that is so, how come the WSRA already owns PLC shares?

 

Looking at the Charity Commission website the WSRA was registered as a charity in 1994 so presumably the shares had accrued before that time?

Just a guess, someone correct me if I am wrong!

Regards

Matt

 

Hang on. Cart before horse! Surely the sequence is to get agreement in principle from all involved parties, then develop the details including firm costings, and only then appeal for cash.

 

You are correct. Also the WSRA has received some by legacies albeit they have no value.

 

That is essentially my point. Nothing can happen, unless, and until, the WSR PLC board give it their backing in principle. Robin has just asked one member of the board. Unfortunately Robin has, with every good intent, let her enthusiasm get ahead of things. Few would doubt her commitment to the cause of Railway preservation both on the WSR and elsewhere, it just needs the brakes applying gently from time to time.

 

Hang on!

What I haven't done is bother the Board with a scheme in its early stages of gestation. There is a lot of hard work (which I shall be doing - with help I have been offered, largely as a result of the discussion here and on Facebook) to get a proposal in a form to be considered by the relevant bodies.

Where would you like to apply which brake? And why?

Robin

 

That really won’t do. Surely you could, and indeed should, have put an outline case to the board before going public? Unless you first have the WSR board’s blessing all your, and other people’s hard work will be wasted. IMHO it is a classic case of putting the horse ahead of the cart.

 

Isn't that the normal place to put the horse?

Tom

 

Perhaps this is a push pull working.

 

Surely there is chicken and egg - an idea may need support before the case can reasonably considered, even at outline.

 

Whats the facebook page - you or a WSR one?

 

The intention is to put the horse ahead of the wagon.

Frankly, my intention has been to divert the negative comment about the state of Dunster into the positive that it can be if we work together in future.

The barometer that is Nat Pres (and tgevequivalent Facebook threads) have shown that there is likely to be considerable 'member / supporter' but-in for a scheme that gives the P.Way staff modern facilities and also moves our heritage forward.

Robin

 

I assume those are hard/impossible to change?

Maybe a new charity, then (alongside the WSRA)?

Noel

 

I think you are trying to invent a complicated way for what is actually very simple - charity raises money, charity spends money (directly, or by awarding grant) on a project that meets its charitable objectives.

Tom

 

All charities are severely restricted in what payments they can make.