S&D Railway Trust

If no one ever gets out there, it seems to me that it should be left as it is, but perhaps renamed:

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/53744/adlestrop

Express train? That'll be for me, to misquote the fast show.

 

Well, I for one have been at Washford many times when people have got off the trains, or others have got on. Equally I have been there on days when very few, if any, have done so. So it is not that 'cut-and-dried'.

It has to said, in fairness, that given the location of the station and the fact that it faces roughly North, sitting on the platform waiting for a train on a cold, damp day with the wind and rain blowing along the platform is not a pleasant experience, especially when the shop is shut.....:-( Nothing beats a nice warm waiting-room fire.....except perhaps a nice warm signal-box with armchair and cooker

 

Sorry but Point well and truly missed......

 

In the latest Railway Herald magazine, they report the latest statement from S&DRT, but it is followed by a direct quote from Jonathon Jones-Pratt:-

"We are not going to get involved in a tit-for-tat battle in public with the S&DR Trust over this, the due legal process will take place and they will leave the WSR. Their recollection of events and meetings is clearly different to our own, which is disappointing, but it rather shows what we have been up against."

Make what you will of that.....

Ed

 

It seems to me that it would be possible for the PLC to come up with a half way sensible plan for Washford and a justification for the eviction of the S&DRT, indeed it would move the argument along significantly were they to do so.

However to date they have not.

 

So the WSR try to evict the S&D, then post a press release calling the S&D a cuckoo in the nest and the Jones Pratt whips out an onion and tries to make out that somehow the S&D have been engaging in tit for tat.

The WSR MO seems to be attack the opponent of the day and then when things don’t go their way, cry and claim that they are the victim here.

 

They just did and, on that basis, probably will again.

 

Lets just get a few facts correct, please!

The SDRT have what is known as a full repairing lease for Washford Station; they are required to maintain the station buildings at no expense to the WSR PLC - which they have done for the last 45 years or so, and will do so for the next 50 years. The SDRT pay rent and business rates.

This is quite different from the set up of 'Friends of so and so station' who are under no legal obligation to maintain the station (as in to be responsible for ALL repairs to the structure etc) or pay rent, or pay business rates.

The SDRT are legally required to maintain and repair Washford Station under the terms of it's lease, regardless as to how many passengers use or visit the station.

The lack of a train ticket selling facility at Washford is a complete 'red herring'; that is why the WSR has TTIs on it's trains.

Either this is 'bluff' from JJP, or sheer stupidity. The SDRT could start it's own County Court proceedings tomorrow to challenge the 'Notice to Quit' served upon it by the WSR PLC Board's Solicitors under s.25 and s.30 (g) grounds of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954. The WSR PLC would immediately face an application for 'security for costs' if it lodged a defence, plus an application for 'summary judgement'.

The WSR PLC can only rely on the s.30 (g) grounds 'the landlord intends to occupy the holding for the purposes, or partly for the purposes, of a business to be carried on by him therein, [or as his residence.]'

JJP himself stated that the WSR was on the brink of insolvency. If the SDRT go, so will the track in the yard, the buildings in the yard etc. The WSR PLC will have to pay the business rates and all other charges plus have to assume responsibility for maintaining the structure and repairs to the station etc. And no rental income.

Cheers,

Julian

 

Frontal assaults on an objective are not always the most successful - but (sadly) it doesn't sound to me from this that any private attempts underway by any other body or individual to mediate, co-operate or negotiate are yet being successful either.

Patrick

 

I suspect that noise that you hear in the background is people banging their heads against the wall in frustration.

 

Yes I've been doing that for a year now !!!!!

 

Back in the days of BeeWorld Stogumber was the 2nd busiest intermediate station after Watchet. Well promoted from the Minehead end, but hardly mentioned at BL, for obvious reasons. I think a travel plus attraction joint ticket existed, at least from Minehead.

Washford does have off site attractions. A walk to the White Horse Inn is a strong recommendation for CAMRA sorts. An agreeable lunch with excellent beers compliments a very enjoyable stroll past the Abbey ruins. Last summer we walked off lunch by catching a return train from Watchet.

I'll comment on the Washford Beer Fest soon. Will catch up on the umpteen new posts first!

 

A bit like taking a can of petrol to put out a fire.
Were there no minutes of these meetings ?

 

I wonder if you have actually been to SR Stn on a train ?....

 

Well at least we can predict what sort of appeals will be posted on the WSR YouTube account...

"In these times of crisis, many people are worried for the future, especially their financial future. We simply don't know how long this current situation will go on for, and lots of us are feeling the pinch.

"Like us, you're probably gravely worried about the situation of your local lawyers at this time. Many solicitors are having to consider keeping last year's car, and some barristers might even have to sell their second homes in the coming months. If the global pandemic lasts for more than a couple of months, they might even face the gravest threat of all - not renewing all of their golf club memberships.

"Here at WSR, we want to do what we can to help these deprived members of our community. If you donate to us, we can personally guarantee that not only will 100% of your donation go straight to suffering members of the legal profession here in West Somerset, but we will provide matching funds ourselves until our cash reserves run out, doubling the value of your donation! Not only that, but we promise that all funds will go direct to local lawyers who understand how things are different west of Bridgwater, who understand that things written on paper south of the M5 just don't apply any more when our Glorious Leader changes his mind.

"Donate now, and donate all you can afford. Your donation could change the life of an impoverished member of the legal profession...today"

 

No reason for minutes to be published, the statement is clearly made on behalf of the WSR and reflects the views of the PLC board, it is not an individual vanity trip.

 

The question wasn't about publishing the minutes but asking if minutes were taken. If minutes were taken of the meetings then they should reflect what was said.

Given that it is effectively a board of one, it is hard to see it as anything other than a one man vanity trip.

 

Yes, many times - but I'm not sure that I see the relevance of that to my question. OK, so it may be quite a walk from the station to the village, but the pub lunch and the post-lunch walk might be attractive for some.

 

Perhaps with the emphasis on 'should'. In my previous career there have (fortunately not too many) occasions when I have been present at meetings where my recollection and notes, and those of a colleague, were at odds with what actually emerged in the Minutes - but as the Minutes had been signed by the Chairman of the meeting as ab accurate record, they were accepted as the 'truth'.

 

Never mind CAMRA, it should be a recommendation for anyone - except perhaps on a cold, wet, windy day without transport! Just make sure that you leave plenty of time to walk off lunch afterwards, as you would not wish to miss the train home