West Somerset Railway General Discussion

I make no comment on the legitimacy of the contract or the ethics of the WSR plc decision to issue notice to quit. I do observe though that the suggestion that the form of the agreement may raise issues should the case go to trial, and that it makes the prediction of an outcome less clear.


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I suggest that apart from the breakdown of trust I am far from convinced that the WSR will reopen next year, or if it does reopen that there may well be a different operator.

In addition to this while it may well have been what was available at the time, Washford is quite remote unlike the Mid Hants

 

Quite. I don't feel like having anything to do with the sycophantic WSRA or WSSRT. If I'm driving in the area on one of my visits to the delights of Exmoor or the Quantocks, I might just peer over a bridge to view a disused station, or less likely a train, but that's about as far as it goes. Very sad. I can only hope that somebody will shake this lot up.

 

At least one does have the option to take a rather narrower view across the border, a few miles further west!

 

Apologies, then, if I have offended. The British Army left many marks on me, notably a somewhat dark and macabre sense of humour. I sometimes forget that not everyone had their compassion stultified in their youth.

 

News on WSR. org of negotiations with SDRT on a new 10 year lease for Washford yard.

 

Doesn't the S&DRT already have a lease?

A few things occur to me - the implications for other groups with leases such as the WSSRT. Does this not create a precedent for the PLC to renegotiate their leases (claiming the same 'invalidity' that John Bailey but no one else seems to be able to find)?

It seems to be a strange deal that the PLC takes over the station, which they don't really have the money or the workforce for (I'd have thought the trackwork, safety systems etc etc would be more important than a wayside station).

And all that guff that @Lineisclear and others came out with about how the PLC needed Washford for PWay yard, and all of sudden it no longer needs Washford for its pway yard, despite the trackwork still needing to be done, I think shows how dubious the claimed rational was in the first place and how gullible some people were to believe the arguments put forward by the PLC.

TBF - I think the S&DRT is better off away from the WSR and its poisonous atmosphere. This deal allows the S&DRT to wind down operations at Washford, and of course, we have no idea where the Midsomer Norton or Shillingstone projects will be in 5-10 years time (or for that matter whether the WSR will still exist). Arlesford is closer to Bath and Bournemouth than Washford is...

In the end I think the S&DRT and MHR are the winners out of this. S&DRT gets out of the WSR and its constant self-inflicted bouts of stupidity, it gets to move to somewhere more enlightened and civilised. The MHR gets a suitable and useful loco and a group that can contribute to the line and the visitor experience. The WSR loses a group, loses a loco, loses goodwill, loses reputation, loses supporters, but it does gain a station... well done PLC board, top notch management, give yourselves a hand as to how well you've run the railway (into the ground).

 

As usual there is nothing in the statement about the WSR paying the S&DRT 'betterment' for the improvements they have made to the site that is now being returned to Plc control.

I would strongly urge the S&DRT to push for every penny they can get by way of compensation - or remove everything they have provided while they have been on occupation from the site. Some might call it overkill but I would not leave two bricks standing if the Plc did not pay me for providing them. Scorched earth policy? You bet! It's what the plc deservers and the response it has earned following its utterly disgraceful behaviour.

 

Washford Shepton Mallet 44 miles. Alresford Bournemouth 47 miles. I think the nearest point to Alresford
on the S&D proper might be Corfe Mullen 46 miles.

Washford to the S&D works at Bridgwater 27 miles, and then there is Bridgwater
21 miles away.

No idea how far Arlesford !, is from the S&D.

Michael Rowe

ps Washford to Midsomer Norton 52 miles, Alresford to MN 76. Not "scraping the bottom
of the barrel" merely questioning a statement.

 

What's that screeching noise?

Oh, it's the sound of the bottom of a barrel being scraped.

What part of ‘closer to Bath and Bournemouth’ don’t you understand?

I thought you’d vowed to never post again? So glad to see you break your vow for such an important issue like which bits of the old S&D are closer to which line...

But oddly, you’ve nothing to say about how much time, energy and goodwill the board have wasted to achieve exactly nothing other than a coat of paint on Washford station?

 

For Washford, I will remain
apprehensive until a new lease is signed sealed and delivered, and stamped, and registered with the Land Registry.

In the interim, the SDRT is at the very least, if not significantly more, 'holding over' and the WSR plc board accepting it's rent payments.

If the most recent report on Steve Edge's site is accurate, then that amounts to an admission on the part of the WSR plc board that it's 'Notice to Quit' over Washford was invalid/could not be substantiated re statutory s.30(g) grounds. As I've always argued.

Why oh why did not wiser counsel prevail back in February and March of this year?

But we are where we are apparently according to Steve Edge, and we must hope that this is a genuine reposition of the WSR plc board, and not a clever device to run the clock till 10th February 2021, when the 'Notice to Quit' has run out.

 

The fact remains that some of the assets of the S&DRT are being relocated, and an second location, away from Washford is being set up with the help of the MHR, After whats gone on, and the way the trust was treated, I certainly would not be surprised if over time, Washford dwindles at the experience of a better relation with its Southern friends, .

 

Magic Monkey, please allow me to reply formally in language you might understand.

I have always stated that I would like to see the S&D Trust remain at Washford.

I have always criticised the wording of the original press statement from the WSR Plc.

I am pleased that a resolution appears to be at hand. I wish the Trust well and hope
moving artefacts to other locations does attract a larger audience.

One who enjoyed travelling on the S&D, Michael Rowe.

 

Ah, I see we've returned to the primary school playground. Can the children please play nicely or the Natpres headmaster might have to have a word.

 

Paradoxically, I think this puts the S&DRT in a stronger position than other groups on the WSR.

At least if the worst happens, and the WSR goes tits up, it has an alternative based already secured.

If the WSR survives under the current regime then it can manage a phased exit and doesn't need to rush.

If there is a change in the WSR to more enlightened, civilised and normal management, then it has a base to build in Somerset as well as Hampshire.

Waits for supporters of various people to claim that this is evidence of their brilliance

 

fifty lines " i must play nicely" was it, or did the big stick come out, 6 of the best, assuming Big Al can still wield the cane, my old headmaster couldn't, he could barely lift his arms, let alone give us a damn good trashing, his deputy, though on the other hand, could, and proved it on several occations

 

Army, or service humour is only something others who have served will understand

 

>>>>Alresford is closer to Bath ......than Washford is....[/QUOTE]
Oh no it is not

 

According to a response from the S&DRT to a query on their FB page, they are not getting any money from the WSR to cover their movement costs. :-(