West Somerset Railway General Discussion

...and now, since writing that, I read the latest 'blast' from the Plc, who seem to be determined to help the WSSRT not to follow the path set out by Bailey, and apparently outraged by the process of democracy in action. As if they had not already got enough problems to worry about.

Of course, if the Plc had made Bailey stick to the original remit of dealing with the S&DRT-related issues, rather than digress into wider WSR structural changes, they might not have dug themselves the ever-widening hole which seems to be opening up before them

 

Its interesting to compare and contrast the plc's support for the WSSRT to it's lack of support for the S&DRT.

And as you infer, what possible legitimate reason could the plc have for interfering in another organisations internal politics?

This outsider thinks that the proposed action seems eminently sensible, and could be seen, apart from anything else, as saving the WSSRT from itself. After all, what good will operating in splendid isolation be if there is no railway left?

There does seem to be an element of burying heads in sand and ignoring the issues in wishing not to support attempts to repair the broken structures.

 

That there are fourteen people putting their names forward from a range of depts and different backgrounds, suggests to me that this is something different to the usual small clique of the same old faces. That fourteen different people are involved also prevents the WSSRT from becoming a personal vehicle for one or two individuals.

There seems unusually for the WSR to be a unity of purpose and of how it is to be achieved.

 

This latest "blast" from the PLC has one name written all over it, and it's not the Chairman's, for a change. No prizes for guessing which of the other PLC directors has an interest in the WSSRT. I wonder if he got he approval of the other PLC directors to release this statement?


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I agree. I did actually come round to the idea that the WSSRT could remain independent, but it couldn't simply sit on its hands and hope nothing would change as it appeared to want to. It had to be involved somehow, at the very least to do something about it's anomalous shareholding. But it refused to do so, so it's going to get what it gets and it'll like it or lump it. It looks like they intend to lump it.

Here's the Plc statement by the way: https://www.west-somerset-railway.c...ypx6zql37eO7CF3AiVO0fg4B4q7NCrlU2_mvzATTl5yXs

Given the number and breadth of candidates putting themselves up it seems rather silly to say it's a power grab by Robin.

Quick question for @Maverick or anyone else - you mentioned news would be on the 'Unofficial West Somerset Railway Group' on facebook. I'm a member of two WSR groups, WSR friends and WSR supporters unofficial, neither of which seemed to be the one referred too. Can we have a link please? Ta.

 

Happy to oblige: https://www.facebook.com/groups/unofficialWSR/?ref=share

 

Thank you.

 

I’m afraid that position seems to have a degree of “cakeism” . If, as is professed, the WSSRT just wishes to concentrate on carriages and museum, that is perfectly fine - but how does it then justify holding any shares in the PLC? As things stand, an organisation with a very small membership has an effective veto over the wishes of the railway’s membership organisation with several thousand members. How can that be justified?

On any other railway, the (singular) membership body would have primacy in the organisation, particularly in determining what sort of railway you wished to be. Yet the WSR has arrived at a situation in which two organisations of very different size are effectively neutralised and, worse, the members of the railway are thereby disenfranchised. If the WSSRT wishes to remain a small, independent charity of limited scope fine - but the trustees should then find a mechanism to exchange the shares so they are concentrated in the single pan-railway membership body.

Divide and rule - it must suit the plc to have two major shareholders which precisely neutralise each other in terms of shareholding.

Tom

 

Indeed, I was particularly amused to see the merger being described as "divide and conquer" elsewhere!

 

if you look, you will see certain lines being used, constantly by some pro PLC posters, its almost as if some posters are being told what to write

 

PLC statements always have more than a whiff of drunk texting about them.

 

Oh, L-rd, the WSR Soap Opera, Episode 748.

Noel

 

...now being shown on the Drama channel. Meanwhile, over on Pick, a re-run from the beginning of all the previous series:- WSR Begins, WSR Enterprise, WSR Deep S**t Now, WSR Resurrection, EX6 - A WSR Story, WSR: Clash of the Titans.......

Coming next year, a thrilling tale of Middle Somerset..... The (Bad) Habbit Part 3: Battle of the Five Charities.

 

Legally they need do nothing. Morally? Well, what is the point of a charity having a significant shareholding (With no financial value) if you are not going to use it to encourage the Plc to work towards the charities aims?

 

As you can see, I got the wrong one first time round:



Curiously it didn't apply to the comment the same poster made about how the railway "needs shot of her ASAP". In other Facebook news, this appeared below the Facebook post on the official WSR page publicising their statement:


Is this disagreement really something the WSR wants to be publicising to the general public who just want to have a ride on a steam train? (as distinct from places like here or specific Facebook groups which have a different audience)

 

This group has a staggering 62 members so hardly a representative sample of supporters or detractors of the West Somerset Railway!

 

Indeed, it seems to be a vehicle for a particular individual...

 

You're going to need a bigger bag!!

 

Well, that has certainly set the cat amongst the pigeons.

It is amazing how the Plc Board can arrange a Board level conference, come to a conclusion, agree a response and issue an agreed ‘notice’ about something that is nothing to do with the Plc. in such a short space of time. (Although, perhaps they are worried these events might give the Plc shareholders ideas…?)

Anyway, not signed, just from “The Directors of the WSR plc (sic) Board” so who knows if it’s a formal position statement or just one Director’s rant.

So let’s look at the details:-

“…a hostile takeover campaign…” Err, No. Some members of the organisation with a differing view to the current management are offering themselves for Board positions if approved by the membership. It’s called democracy.

Does it matter who delivered the nomination forms? No. (But it looks like the Plc might be scared of @Robin Moira White. Wonder why?)

“Their purpose appears to seek to take over the activities of the WSSRT Charity at their next AGM” I see no reference to a ‘take over’, merely a merging of the charities. I see nothing to indicate that the current WSSRT ‘group’ would be affected in any way other than their fundraising would be through the combined charity and quite probably ring fenced for WSSRT use if they so desired.

“…the recent John Bailey report that suggested that the WSR plc should transform itself into a charity with a subsidiary operating company…” Wrong!. (Plc visions of grandeur again?) An overall charity with subsidiary operating company has been suggested where the Plc would become the operating subsidiary.

“…to try and force massive change on the WSSRT and its membership…” What changes? As far as I see it’s only the administration of the WSSRT need change. And note that the people standing for election are members themselves opting for change.

“The WSR plc will, therefore, do everything within its power to support the existing WSSRT trustees to repel this attempted and hostile takeover…” It is none of the Plc’s business. It is WSSRT members exercising their right to stand for election to the Board. The Plc Directors would soon start screaming “foul” if any of the groups on the railway tried to interfere with the Plc’s elections

“As things stand, the takeover proposal would result in the effective destruction of the Steam Trust…” Why? How? As far as I can see this is noting more than a pathetic attempt to induce panic and worry into the members of the WSSRT. This sort of statement is worse than any of Trump’s “Fake news” claims.

Oh I give up. There is just so much twisted misinformation and so many inaccuracies in that statement I could fill this page with comments tearing it to shreds but I will bore you no more.

Suffice to say that it’s a WSSRT matter for the WSSRT to sort out. New ballot forms will have to be issued but they would have had to be replaced anyway because of all the errors on the initial form. That should be easily achievable between now and the original date for the AGM so I see neither reason nor justification for any delay.

It looks like something has finally started to properly threaten the cosy status quo at the WSR and certain groups and individuals already appear to be afraid of what the outcome might be.