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West Somerset Railway General Discussion

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

  1. City of truro fan

    City of truro fan Member

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    I’m surprised no one has tried to take an engine away while they are all busy in the meeting. Or just get one going as everyone is bored of them not running the railway anymore and want to see trains again
     
  2. Chufferpuff

    Chufferpuff New Member

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    Why 1799 votes with only 250 members ???????
     
  3. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    With margins as big as that, I think even without the missteps that the ten made, which caused me and others considerable difficulty in how to vote, that didn't ultimately affect anything. Too many people joined to vote against. I presume resolution 7 was also rejected? That would be a better measure of support rather than the unhelpful clumping of votes so far published for the candidates.

    So, what next then?
     
  4. WSSRTcandidates

    WSSRTcandidates New Member

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    We are disappointed that our reform agenda has not found favour with the membership of the WSSRT.

    We do of course respect the decision.

    It is now for the Trustees of the WSSRT (and specifically those Trustees who also sit as PLC Directors) to ensure that the concerns we have raised about the wider interests of the members, volunteers and supporters of the West Somerset Railway that arise from their decision to remain outside of the proposed new structure prove to be unfounded.

    Furthermore, we look to the WSSRT Trustees to actively, independently and responsibly manage their share interest in the PLC, given the PLC's questionable commercial response to the pandemic, the reputational damage caused by the PLC’s eviction of the S&D Trust and, most recently, their evident failure to maintain the WSR in operational condition as witnessed by the recent ORR letter to staff and volunteers.

    Thank you to all who supported us.
     
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  5. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    So the membership was 80 and it's now three times that number. Good, indeed, for the Trust in numbers and revenue.

    So that means that a large proportion of those who joined recently actually voted in favour of the Trust's proposals and against those 10 prospective candidates?

    Unless I've missed something that is a ringing endorsement for the status quo.
     
  6. ross

    ross Well-Known Member

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    Thank you for posting this.
    Sadly I think this is the end of the best hope for the future of the WSR
     
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  7. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    I presume they added up all the votes for each candidate, 1799 divided by the 10 candidates suggests roughly 180 members voted against, and 508 votes in favour suggests roughly 51 members voting for. That sounds quite low, looking at it. I do hope my vote was counted, I didn't get an email response despite my request for confirmation.
     
  8. Chufferpuff

    Chufferpuff New Member

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    Ah, missed that, you are probably correct.
     
  9. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    I presume, having lost, you won't by flouncing off, unlike @rodders154 suggested he would if the vote had gone the other way...
     
  10. 60044

    60044 Member

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    Give up and leave 'em to it, is what I'd suggest. The PLC clearly feels it doesn't need outside donations enough to make any sort of change in its ways to appease potential donors who have been appalled by its behaviour and the WSSRt members have nailed their colours firmly to that mast. They'll just have to hope that when the time comes they'll be able to find a new home as the S & D lot have.
     
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  11. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    Because of how the voting papers were structured. I’m more interested in the way that statement was so critical of the way that the 10 recruited followers (me included) - does that mean none were recruited for the incumbents?


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
     
  12. WSSRTcandidates

    WSSRTcandidates New Member

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    No flouncing but as this is the end of our 'campaign', there will be no more messages from this joint NatPres account. "We" shall leave it to individuals of the 'ten' to now contribute to the ongoing discussion as they see fit. Over and out and good luck to the WSR!
     
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  13. Snifter

    Snifter Well-Known Member

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    The question on whether one of the ten was simply interested in the line for the purpose of testing experimental trains caused a few chuckles.

    The board stated that they have every faith in the integrity of their lease. Nothing to worry about there then.
     
  14. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Just replying to myself and correcting the maths.

    If 70% of the votes were for the existing Board (and the co opted folk) and there were 250 members, that doesn't mean 250 members voted but had they done so then each Trustee will have received about 175 votes.

    In other words, none of those who joined the Trust recently seemed to vote for the '10', apart of course, for the ten individuals.

    That is really quite strange and therefore very significant?
     
  15. Monkey Magic

    Monkey Magic Part of the furniture

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    You tried your best.

    On an 80% turnout. So 200 voters by my reckoning which would be 140 votes to 60? So basically, the 10 managed to recruit 50 new members. So if we assume that the 80 original voted against, that would mean another 60 people would have needed to have been recruited. If we assume that the 50 non voters come from the original 80, then this would mean that 90 pro-PLC people joined the WSSRT.
     
  16. ikcdab

    ikcdab Member Friend

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    There were 183 voters each voting for 25 resolutions.
    Ian C
     
  17. Chufferpuff

    Chufferpuff New Member

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    Mr Trump would have demanded a recount !!!
     
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  18. Dennis John Brooks

    Dennis John Brooks Member

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    I don't think there is any room or stated purpose for the WSSRT to remain on the WSR, what little they do to enhance the railway is negligeable & could be carried out in a farmers barn on Salisbury plain.

    DjB
     
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  19. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    So 70% of 183 is about 128. The membership increased by about 170 and we should probably assume that many of them would have voted or why bother to join just ahead of an AGM?

    Whichever way you cut it, the new members didn't vote en masse for the '10' as was feared.
     
  20. Monkey Magic

    Monkey Magic Part of the furniture

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    183 voters winning 70% means 128 to 55 margin. With 67 not voting.

    So this would mean that between 115 and 48 new members voted against the 10. And the 10 were accused of stuffing the membership? Quite clearly either the 10 were completely ineffective in getting their recruits to vote for them or there was an effective counter-recruitment.

    I did find Steve Williams comments ungracious, hypocritical and classless. You know if you want to build for the future then you need to be dignified when you win a contested election.

    However, there you go. It was an election and members have made their decision. Let's hope that they take responsibility for the consequences of their decision.
     
    Last edited: Nov 14, 2020
    DavidH, Kje7812, desperado and 6 others like this.

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