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S&D Railway Trust

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by Andy Norman, Feb 24, 2020.

  1. mvpeters

    mvpeters Member

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    Just my opinion, but there is any number of 'potential' homes for the S&DRT but they are all very, very 'potential'. If you combine the need for somewhere near the S&D, adequate space for storage & restoration & enough track to make sense or any combination thereof, nothing matches Washford.
    It would also be enormously expensive, no matter who ends up paying the costs.
    If only the Plc would be more open about why it wants the WD site, we'd have a better understanding.
    I am optimistic that the S&DRT won't be moving.
     
  2. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    Perhaps this situation may be the catalyst for change that is needed for the WSR to finally sort out its internal struggles once and for all, who knows it may lead to just having one body , and one supporting organisation on the line, if by necessity they have to combine to pressure the PLC, or emboldened by the removal of the S&D trust, the PLc decides it does not need separate supporters organisations ?
     
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  3. jma1009

    jma1009 Well-Known Member

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    Hi Martin,

    What you say is very sensible, but has significant legal and personality issues to overcome to achieve for the first part of your post.

    (
    what you state here is just about the worst scenario)

    In the meantime, please consider joining the SDRT and supporting it for a very modest membership fee and an excellent magazine and much else besides...

    http://www.sdrt.org/Membership.Html

    The spring edition of the SDRT magazine 'Pines Express' dropped through my letter box today that included the most splendid reproduction in print of a painting of trains crossing at Midford viaduct that I am going to carefully cut out and get framed.

    Do please support the SDRT by joining up.

    And if you don't agree with what the WSR PLC board is attempting to do to evict the SDRT from Washford after 45 years and a new 50 year lease please also email the local MP Ian Liddell-Grainger, and Somerset County Council. This will be of more use than posting on here. The local MP's link is as follows:-

    ianlg@parliament.uk

    Cheers,

    Julian

    [edited after 35B's post/reply to Martin, for the bit I have added badly in brackets]
     
    Last edited: Mar 11, 2020
  4. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    One of which outcomes would be positive; the other perhaps more troubling.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  5. garth manor

    garth manor Well-Known Member

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    SDRT will require the agreement of WSR to dismantle or remove infrastructural improvements unless they have prior written agreement to do so.
     
  6. jma1009

    jma1009 Well-Known Member

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    Not correct.

    Under the lease, anything the SDRT have added to the site at Washford remains their absolute property, and under the lease when it ends in 2070 they must remove all they own; contents of the signal box, anything they have added to the station building, and all the track and buildings in the yard... effectively leaving nothing but an empty station and signal box, and no track and nothing whatsoever in the yard.

    Cheers,

    Julian
     
    Last edited: Mar 11, 2020
  7. ikcdab

    ikcdab Member Friend

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    It's for demonstration only. Nothing to do with day to day operations.
    Ian Coleby
     
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  8. jma1009

    jma1009 Well-Known Member

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    Just be careful here, Ian; the WSSRT might be next in the firing line, and as I stated the other evening you ought to take this opportunity to clarify your own personal view on all this and put an end to this shifting and evasiveness. I am unclear over the WSSRT's stance on all this, and you have the opportunity on here to state your personal view clearly, and that of the WSSRT trustees.

    Cheers,

    Julian
     
  9. The Dainton Banker

    The Dainton Banker Well-Known Member

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    Julian,
    You are sounding very certain about the contents and, therefore, the implications of the WSR/S&DRT lease but it is not clear whether you are referring to the original lease or the one signed in 2018. Are you actually in possession of a copy of either or both of these or are you just guessing at the contents based on general practice ? It seems to me that Ian, having signed the new lease, probably has a better grasp of its provisions unless you can demonstrate otherwise.
    A bit more information, please.

    Mike
     
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  10. jma1009

    jma1009 Well-Known Member

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    Mike,

    I have copies of all the relevant documents; I am not speculating on the terms of the lease between the SDRT and the WSR PLC or the 'Notice to Quit'.

    For various reasons I thought it better a few weeks ago not to disclose this on here, but various people added 2+2=4, and things have moved on a bit since 3-4 weeks ago.

    I cannot comment on Ian Coleby other than what I have very directly stated towards him over the last few days; and it is for Ian to consider his position and decide whether he wants to comment further here.

    Except to say that Ian made a number of posts on here since the SDRT Notice to Quit was made public that it was a "pity", but then thought a vacant Washford yard might be a good location for carriage restoration, and I might merely add that the WSSRT has it's own carriage restoration projects...

    Does the WSSRT have an eye on Washford if it were to become vacant, as Ian Coleby implied?

    We haven't got pics of daffodils yet at Stogumber on here, though I noticed with not a bit of irony Steve Edge has as his avatar daffodils!

    Cheers,

    Julian
     
    Last edited: Mar 12, 2020
  11. The Dainton Banker

    The Dainton Banker Well-Known Member

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    Thank you for the clarification.
    Mike
     
  12. Steve Edge

    Steve Edge Member

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    Accuracy is important. Them's not daffs. :)

    Steve
     
  13. johnofwessex

    johnofwessex Resident of Nat Pres

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    It seems to me that one of, if not the biggest issue from the WSR side is the potential costs of attempting to evict the S&DRT especially were the attempt to fail, given the alleged issues about the PLC finances.
     
  14. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    It’s a major issue but IMHO very much secondary to the moral issues over that behaviour.


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  15. Andy Norman

    Andy Norman Member

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    Please see below the S&DRT's Chairman's report issued this week in the S&DRT quarterly magazine "Pines Express", in addition there are more words on the subject on Page 27 of the magazine which you can see if you buy the magazine or get free if you become a member.

    Posted here with the permission of the S&DRT and as a document which is now in the public domain from yesterday.

    (Personal Comment: Perversely the eviction notice has served to generate many, many new members and donations for the S&DRT in support against this Notice to Quit and I was impressed to read in the Page 27 Article that its generated 33,000 Facebook hits for the S&DRT since this blew up. However time to stop this nonsense now, get this turned around, say sorry to the S&DRT and ask them to stay).

    Chairman's Report

    When the New Year started, I naturally began to consider the challenges that 2020 would bring to the Trust. They were not inconsiderable. We had completed, in 2019, a wide-ranging assessment of our organisation covering volunteering, sales and resilience, funded by an HLF grant. This led on to a Governance Review covering effectiveness of the Board, long term strategy and risks to the business, to name just three of the areas. To take the last point, there were already concerns that the relationship with our landlord, WSR plc, was undergoing a fundamental change - and not in a positive way. The change became abundantly clear in early February when a letter arrived at Washford Station from solicitors acting for the WSR containing a Notice to Quit in twelve months. The Trust has challenged this notice under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954. The WSR’s stated reason is that it requires the land at Washford for its own use. Whether this is true or not is open to much speculation. The fact that no discussion took place before the serving of the Notice speaks volumes. Since the Notice to Quit was received, other reasons have been given by the WSR for this decision not the least of which is the Trust’s declining to contribute money towards the WSR’s recovery plan, as has become clear in press statements and Board news bulletins. I cannot emphasise enough that the Trust’s obligations, under Charity Law, include an inalienable responsibility to use its funds only for the furtherance of its charitable constitutional objectives. Legally, this specifically precludes providing funds to another organisation, no matter how worthy the cause. However, we are prepared to support the WSR in other ways and, indeed, this has always been the case. As before, we are open to discussion on a more positive approach which benefits both parties.

    What is clear is that the present management of WSR plc has no regard for respecting the position we have adopted and is taking an approach to its relationships which ignores the heritage principles upon which our sector is based. Whatever the outcome of this situation maybe I can tell you that there are two certainties. One is that a huge amount of the Trust’s resources will have to be diverted from its core functions in order to protect its legacy. The second certainty is that this is not the end of the Trust and the Board are determined that we will not only survive but flourish, in spite of the actions of those who previously, we believed, were our partners if not our friends.

    I must apologise to those members for whom all of this has come as a great shock. A great deal has happened in a short space of time. We have issued a statement via email but there has not been time to send letters in the post. I must pay tribute to all those who have sent letters of support together with cash donations. These are very welcome. Apart from renewing your membership it would also be helpful to check that we do hold a current email address for you. I am also heartened and encouraged by the huge support noted on other websites and blogs, mirroring our astonishment and incredulity at how a charity, with a long history of achievement and integrity, can be treated in such a potentially destructive way.

    Ian Young.
     
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  16. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    A calm, measured, level headed response. Much more grown up than any of the PLC's actions. Pleased that they're not taking it lying down, but yet again the WSR will be in court over internal arguments, even more bad publicity.
    Speaking of bad publicity, I noticed that the dispute over Hinckley point C funds has reached the local press: https://www.somersetcountygazette.c...chers-accusation-misappropriating-grant-cash/
    Perhaps those in charge may have a bit of a think and wonder if maybe they ought to do some things differently, rather than obtusely carry on the way they are. JJP's approach of "if you don't like it you can leave" was no doubt intended to try and bring an end to the reputation the WSR has for infighting, but it has unfortunately backfired and only made the situation worse. A different approach is badly needed, and quickly.
     
  17. GWR4707

    GWR4707 Nat Pres stalwart

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    I finally got round to finishing reading this months SR last evening and in doing so also revisited the piece they printed regarding this.

    A number of things sprang out on a second reading, firstly the suggestion that the PLC wish to site some manner of small animal attraction on the site, because nothing works better next to a working railway with lots of noisy smokey steam engines than lots of animals.... secondly I note SR either couldn't find, or didn't seek any formal response from the PLC in writing the piece just quoting an 'unnamed volunteer' which is frankly shoddy journalism of the highest order. Finally the magazine has been full of stories and quotes from the PLC Chairman over the last few months explaining how he has saved the railway, yet on in this case its down to an unnamed volunteer to respond, if you are going to take the plaudits shouldn't you alos be responsible for your other actions?

    Setting aside the content and the letter, I am a little at a loss why it was felt necessary or in fact appropriate to send it on school letterhead, a point which I note the only BTL comment to the letter so far appears to have also raised (below), although how the writer would know she is being highly economical with the truth whilst ain the next sentence sking that the PLC/WSRA respond is a bit of a poser?

    'Quantocks Man

    Clearly Mrs Norman is engaged in personal attacks and is being highly economical with the truth. She poses questions which WSRA and WSR plc should fully respond to, but the bigger question is around Mrs Norman's fitness to be a Head Teacher by choosing to send such a public letter on school notepaper. The Governors of the Schools should suspend Mrs Norman immediately pending a full investigation of her use of their property for such perposes and the veracity of her allegations.'
     
  18. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    You don't have to be a mathematician to put two and two together on who wrote the letter and her relationship to a vociferous poster on this forum. To be stupid enough to write what is obviously a personal campaign letter on school headed notepaper takes some beating.
     
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  19. Jimc

    Jimc Part of the furniture

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    If children from her schools were intended to benefit from the grant and she believes that hasn't happened then it would not seem inappropriate to write in her capacity as head teacher. The statement from WSR Plc is kinda ironic following the denials of a bullying culture.
     
  20. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    To be fair to Andy he has already declared his relationship when he posted the original letter here a little while ago. In these enlightened times we live in, I'm perfectly prepared to believe Andy and his wife can hold independent opinions whilst being formed based on each others' experiences in addition to their own. Doing it on headed paper is certainly bold though.
     
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