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West Somerset Railway General Discussion

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

  1. Robin Moira White

    Robin Moira White Resident of Nat Pres

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    I have seen some very perceptive comments on this thread about why the WSRA may not be shouting from the rooftops at the moment and what may be going on behind the scenes.

    This isn’t one of them.

    Robin
     
  2. Andy Norman

    Andy Norman Member

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    Come on Robin this is wearing bit thin now. Whilst I have seen comments and hints here recently that the WSRA are doing something behind the scenes, I’ve also seen such comments made periodically here for a year or so now. I’ve also had many such comments made directly to me as you very well know when I’ve raised my concerns privately and directly. This have been accompanied by many, many reassuring words and even promises along the same lines given again and again over the last year.

    However when the moments of truths have come and gone I then hear: ‘Ah, well we were going to but…………..’

    Perhaps a cynic could say such words are good at getting people to back off for a while in the hope it will all just go away.

    Still we live in hope and perhaps at some stage we will see some substance as well as just some easy words. As always I would love to be proved wrong, and please come and say here in public ‘I told you so’ when it becomes real, I’ll take that squarely on the chin in good grace if it helps the WSR.
     
    Last edited: Apr 8, 2020
  3. RailWest

    RailWest Part of the furniture

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    Given that AIUI the WSRA currently holds the chairmanship of the PDG, then I believe that it should take the initiative to call a PDG at the earliest practical opportunity [#]. The mere action of calling such a meeting should not imply either criticism of, or support for, the Plc. What will be more 'telling' is (a) whether or not the Plc attends and (b) what they may say/do at the meeting.

    [#] Given that many of those involved seemed to be having video conferences already, it may be feasible to have a'virtual' PDG sooner rather than later. However, I appreciate that those involved may have more pressing demands on their time at the moment.
     
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  4. Robin Moira White

    Robin Moira White Resident of Nat Pres

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    I continue to act in the way that I perceive best for our Railway. That involves acting within the bounds of collective responsibility with my fellow WSRA Trustees. There are great advantages to that but some restraints. One such is not speaking my mind as openly as I might personally wish on every species of social media.

    Robin
     
  5. Robin Moira White

    Robin Moira White Resident of Nat Pres

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  6. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    I note that "we are working to encourage co-operation and engagement between all parts of the railway family."

    Also that each WSR TV episode refers near the beginning to "all members of the WSR family".

    There appear, however, to be at least two different opinions as to which organisations and individuals count as members and which do not.
     
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  7. bluetrain

    bluetrain Well-Known Member

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    Food for thought here. If I am reading correctly, the post is discussing what might happen if the WSR PLC becomes insolvent and enters administration. A "knight" (who could be an individual or a group) purchases the business from the administrator with the intention of resuming railway operation. Banks and other creditors are paid-off (or provided with a business plan that gives a sufficient level of assurance that debts will be paid-off in an acceptable timescale).
    The existing WSR PLC would then presumably be wound-up and its existing shareholdings liquidated. It is unclear what roles, if any, would be continued by the WSRA and WSSRT under the new "WSR Mk2" set-up.

    Perhaps those knowledgeable on such matters could clarify what would happen in respect of the track-bed lease from Somerset County Council:
    - Would the track-bed lease automatically pass with the sale to "WSR Mk2"? Or does it revert to SCC, to be re-let only at their discretion?
    - Would SCC be obliged to let a new lease to "WSR Mk2", or could there be competition from others with a potential interest, including the Minehead Rail Link Group and SUSTRANS?
    - Would SCC be obliged to re-let the lease for the whole line on existing terms and conditions? Or could SCC, for instance, exclude the Minehead station site in favour of its sale and redevlopment?
     
  8. RailWest

    RailWest Part of the furniture

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    I read the letter with interest, looking for any sort of 'clue' as to the Association's stance on the S&DRT. Other the reference highlighted above, I could find nothing obvious. Hopefully time will tell.....
    :Morewaitingisrequired:
     
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  9. simon

    simon Resident of Nat Pres

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    Answers:

    No it wouldn't in fact it would in all probability lapse
    No
    No
    The SCC would be effectively freed from the benefits and obligations of the existing lease.
     
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  10. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    All of which presumes that in such proceedings, the existing WSR plc would cease to exist - other ways through proceedings can arise, and corporate entities remain.
     
  11. simon

    simon Resident of Nat Pres

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    Yes but I was answering the specific question and scenario asked about.
     
  12. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    Sorry - the comment was also meant to refer to the original question.
     
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  13. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    I think that we all understand the 'eat elephants a bite at a time' point.
    A nice calming letter that actually says little, presumably for the same reason. Meanwhile 'Rome' smoulders even it is not actually burning.

    Does anyone else look forward to the day when the West Somerset Railway sorts itself out? Reflect for a moment on the fact that it is FOUR YEARS since six trustees were evicted from the WSRA.
     
  14. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    In the event of the WSR becoming insolvent, I would imagine the assets it holds 9351, 7828 etc being sold by the banks and finance houses that are on paper the holders of the railways debt, As Al pointed out 4 years on, and the WSR is no nearer to peace than before, except its the PLC;s turn to self implode, and this has far more serious issues than any of the supporting groups, and its sad that its because of the chairman's wishing to pick a fight with a supporting group, and generally insult the hard work done by these groups, clearly the railway has given someone not suited to working with such groups , a job that they clearly are not suited to, but on the face of it can't admit, or won't admit they made a mistake, my view on this is this, left unchecked, this has the ability to close the railway as a legal fight will bankrupt the company, then you have to add on the amount of ill will it creates, saying that a group that have in the past , assisted the survival of the railway before, and calling them cuckoos in the next, is not the way to build a one railway mind set, its the way to fracture and alienate the family, if anything it looks like the chairman is the Cuckoo, he's trying to throw out the smallest , weakest, first, then if he succeeds he will turn to the next, until the mother bird, realises her chicks are no more, just this fat, screaming ugly cuckoo demanding more and more and she cant keep up with its appetite, and abandons the nest, and that will be the outcome here, if JJP, manages to in effect take over the railway, and cower everyone, what does that do to the railway, ? people who freely give their time won't, those who fall out with him are thrown off, there might be a railway, but it will stagger on, until the losses take it under, I would say its at that point now.
     
  15. Snifter

    Snifter Well-Known Member

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    Yes and we have seen history repeat itself. The incredible thing is that an individual who interfered last time and prolonged the struggle to remove them, reminded us on these pages how he had played a role in getting us into the present mess.

    You couldn't make it up.
     
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  16. FrankC

    FrankC Member

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    Can you please clarify this comment, Snifter? Who are you referring to, please?

    Frank
     
  17. Bayard

    Bayard Well-Known Member

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    IANAL, but I would have thought that the lease has a value and hence is an asset of the Plc. Unless it contains clauses to the effect that, should the WSR Plc cease to exist, the lease reverts to the freeholder with no consideration to be paid, then it should be worth at least a proportion of what was paid for it, even if part of that amount was paid in, now worthless, shares. Should that be the case, the SCC would be able to acquire quite a lot of valuable land simply by paying the residual value of the lease to the Plc's creditors. In any case, in the event of the Plc going bust, it is likely that land will end up at SCC's disposal one way or another. It remains to be seen as to whether they decide to continue its present use.
     
  18. Robin Moira White

    Robin Moira White Resident of Nat Pres

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    It’s sickening.

    Some of us had to strap our body armour on those years ago do help WSRA members deal with the X6+1 and then loyally stood by while a series of bad plc Boards have frittered away the Railway’s legacy with game playing and personal agendas.

    Oh well, plenty of time to spring clean the armoury when back at home again tomorrow for a spell.

    Robin
     
    Last edited: Apr 8, 2020
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  19. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    I read that to refer to post #24275, in which @Maunsell907 wrote "if indeed Messrs Courtney and Greenway were instrumental in recruiting Mr Jones-Pratt to the Plc Board we have much to thank them for."
     
  20. aldfort

    aldfort Well-Known Member

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    Fair comment except it's a little unreliable due to demand and highly hackable. (See Bleeping Computer news thread)

    I've used it a few times recently and had to abandon the meeting due to stuttering video and Dalek like sound.

    Still if we could do it on MS Teams it would be worth a go.
     

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