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West Somerset Railway General Discussion

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

  1. brennan

    brennan Member

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    The statement reports that more directors are to be recruited but only to specific responsibilities. I assume that directorships are unpaid therefore I wonder who would want to put themselves in such a very exposed position ie finance, operations, p way and infrastructure, given the known problems?
     
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  2. johnofwessex

    johnofwessex Resident of Nat Pres

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    Still no sign of the 'Williton shuttle' with the 37 in Saturdays timetable
     
  3. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    If they're worried about that, then they shouldn't be considering the role. A board of directors has shared accountability for what happens in that company, and if someone is reluctant to sign up because they are "exposed" by having clear responsibilities, then that's a sign that they aren't fit for the role.

    Making the roles within the board clearly defined seems only sensible as a way of achieving a focus.
     
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  4. simon

    simon Resident of Nat Pres

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    Depends how bad things are. I would be happy to take such responsibilities in a well run organisation, but not if I think it is not well run or is in deep financial difficulties with little chance of recovery. Generic comment, i do not know the real situation at the WSR.
     
  5. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    That should go without saying, and in either of your two negative cases, the absence of clear responsibilities would be an indication of problems.
     
  6. thequantocks

    thequantocks Member

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    I have seen the notice and it says "removed" not resigned
     
  7. johnofwessex

    johnofwessex Resident of Nat Pres

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    Reading the release it explained why, ie that being a board member didnt sit well with his responsibilities to implement the boards plans
     
  8. AnthonyTrains2017

    AnthonyTrains2017 Well-Known Member

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  9. KA-2B

    KA-2B New Member

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    Should appear in the weekly operating notice out on Wednesday. Won't be in the public timetable.
     
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  10. Springs Branch

    Springs Branch New Member

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    Responsibilities, or being instructed to implement by the board (or else?)
     
  11. johnofwessex

    johnofwessex Resident of Nat Pres

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    Why not?
     
  12. Miff

    Miff Part of the furniture Friend

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    The press release is quite clear which.
     
  13. Another Yorkshireman

    Another Yorkshireman Member Friend

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    I would imagine it allows the service to be withdrawn [if necessary] without risking negative feedback from the general travelling public.
     
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  14. KA-2B

    KA-2B New Member

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    Mainly because the timetables were published before the diesel running days were agreed. The Williton shuttles only run when a diesel loco is rostered but not when it is the DMU. We'll try and get it right next year!
     
  15. Legally it's recorded as a resignation. Companies House displays the date of resignation. I guess he was told to resign. I don't think someone else can resign on behalf of a director.
     
  16. jma1009

    jma1009 Well-Known Member

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    Am I alone in thinking that JJP now has complete control of the now much smaller WSR PLC board and any new appointments to it?

    Seems to me to be shades of Sir Gerald Nabarro, and the SVR in the early 1970s? (With all the usual disclaimers).

    The completely stupid set up of the WSRA -v- the WSR PLC has allowed this to occur, and not implementing the Coombes Report has led to all this, and those who backed the Coombes report just to get rid of the old WSRA trustees, and failed to implement the Coombes Report in full, must wonder with some aghast this week how things are quickly developing.

    It seems to me JJP now controls the WSR PLC without any input, personally, from him, of the funding required to justify this ascendancy and dominance, and also without any legitimacy.

    Cheers,

    Julian
     
  17. tracker

    tracker Member

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    In 2004, Nethergate Old Growler won GOLD in the Stout and Porter Class in CAMRA's Champion Winter Beer of Britain competition.
    Robin L.
     
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  18. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    It strikes me that JJP has certainly taken a firm grasp since arriving on the WSR. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. The WSR needs taking a firm grip of, of that I'm sure few will disagree (unless you're from the people's republic of course...). Whether he's taking a firm grip in the right way or not remains to be seen, but it really is too early for comparisons to Sir Gerald. Interviewing candidates for the board for specific areas of responsibility before appointing them seems much more sensible than waiting for an AGM, hoping some names appear on a ballot and seeing who wins, then divvying up jobs. Shareholders only get a short statement from potential board members, an interview with a proper CV followed by appointment by someone who knows what they're doing is far preferable.
     
  19. nick813

    nick813 Well-Known Member Loco Owner

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    I guess I am from The People's Republic....... Thus I disagree.
    Have you looked at who is on the Board? What or who are a Forty Fifty Partnership?.......
    Lots of unanswered questions.
    Who provided the £200k loan?
    Why open a meeting with the words. ' I want to be open and honest' .......that implies that that person is not usually open nor honest.
    The locomotive sold without any proper explanation.
    Where is the actual prof that the railway was going to go in to administration.
    Where is the ORR. Report that the meeting was promised.
    There are a few.
    There is remarkably little info on the web about the chairman or was my keyboard slip correct.


    As an individual.

    Nick
     
  20. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    The X6 regime stank, and they needed getting rid of.

    If fears about JJP are justified - and the accretion of power in his hands does make me uncomfortable - then the root cause lies far before the WSRA vs plc battles in a structural set up that both allowed for that accretion of power and denied supporters much effective control.

    However, the Nabarro comparison seems to me wholly overblown nonsense on stilts. The circumstantial evidence suggests a genuine care for railways in general and the WSR in particular, and from afar I see the far greater risk as being over centralisation and reliance on one individual.


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