West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Just stating a longstanding fact that's all @johnofwessex

Steve

 

Indeed, so what can be done about it?

Clearly @Andy Norman was doing something about it, ignoring any other issues is someone carrying on with that work, and looking at the organisational issues that might inhibit grant funding?

 

I think the question is what are you going to do about it? If you haven't already made a donation then perhaps consider making one. That might be a start.

Steve

 

Shouldn't the question be "What should the WSR do about it?"?

Not being able to raise large sums of money in the past is a legitimate excuse as to why a large sum of money can't be raised right now, but isn't a good excuse as to why the WSR shouldn't be trying harder. presenting a united front would probably be a good start, I'm not sure the WSR has ever successfully does that, even when the various factions were getting on well, you could still easily draw the lines.

 

I’ve often found, even in normal times, that when an email is sent to the Railway and not addressed to a particular individual, a response can be very slow.

May I suggest that you email Sam (female!) Eastaugh at:

shareregistrar@wsrail.net

Hope this helps.

 

I didn't excuse anything.

Steve

 

I am afraid that if I had £5 in my left hand and £5 in my right hand, whilst being undecided how to donate. Then during the current crisis I would give £10 to the NHS.

 

In my opinion the present Coronavirus shutdown gives the PLC the perfect opportunity to solve the problems it has created with various individuals and groups.

Announcing the eviction of the S&D Trust at Washford was a big mistake. It's now time to pause, take a big breath and act as professional management should.

It's a big ask but what is the alternative? Possibly the closure of the West Somerset Railway as we know it today. Who would ever wish for that? <BJ>

 

Or as I and many others did, to Captain Tom Moore and the NHS*

* At present a total of £23m!! <BJ>

 

Thing though is to pause, and re consider takes a certain mind set, and I don't think at the moment that mindset is being shown by the PLC board, some people can never accept they are wrong, and have to be shown they are wrong, often by someone, or something bigger than they are, I'm of the mind that this situation has been brewing for a long time, its not helped by the structure and there in sowed the seeds of its demise. there was plenty of opertunitity in the past to find common ground and purpose that would have and should have seen change, but no one took it, instead everyone is to busy trying to get an advantage over the other side and mis trusting each others motives, If the railway folds, it will be because of its self.

 

I think it's safe to say no money from my bank account will be heading towards Somerset whilst this is going on. To quote any of the Dragons 'I'm out'

 

Look out folks, if the WSR goes under, you know who'll be to blame.

 

more to the point you can guess who's fault it won't be, the blame game will just go on in one endless circle until enough people say, enough of the lot of you and your petty ego's

 

Surprising as this may seem to some, I have donated money to the WSR in the past, but I am NOT going to do so currently if it may result in helping the WSR PLC board fund eviction court proceedings over the SDRT at Washford.

As I see it, even a 'ring fenced' donation to the WSRA would assist the WSR PLC finances generally by potentially relieving the WSR PLC of paying for some expenditure on eg the track and allowing it to finance instead the WSR PLC's board's eviction of the SDRT at Washford.

The WSR PLC board needs to withdraw it's 'Notice to Quit' over the SDRT and Washford, and provide an undertaking it will not then issue another one at anytime in the future, and it will honour the agreement in respect of S&D loco '88'.

Then I (and I suspect many others as well) will make a donation.

Cheers,

Julian

 

I wouldn't bank on it.

 

Let's consider what he said: "Then I (and I suspect many others as well) will make a donation". That has two parts; a) his own declaration that in those circumstances he will make a donation, and b) his suspicion that others will also donate. So which part are you dubious about: a) if so, you would be implying that you don't believe that he will can be relied upon to follow through with his commitment, so I will assume that this is not what you meant; or b) in which case, you must be dubious that anyone else will make a donation. Is that what you meant? Well, I will commit to making a donation if the action against the S&DRT is withdrawn - and I can guarantee you that I can be relied upon to do - so that part cannot be incorrect either. Perhaps you did not analyze his statement in detail (as above) before making that observation?

Noel

 

Anyone is free to make their own conditions before taking any action.

For me it is not a case of 'I'll donate if they do this or they do that'.

For me it simply boils down to whether I want the WSR to survive, or not, this year.

But each to their own...

In case anyone has mislaid the link, here it is:
https://westsomersetrailway.digitickets.co.uk/category/27181

Steve

 

Well said Steve,

The problem for the charities will be if the PLC folds because of Covid 19 going on a lot longer than anticipated then they will have to offload what they have left to other railways if any are left in the south west if my memory serves me right as written in the articles. How would the posters on here feel if they wake up and realise that the money they gave to the WSR in times of need end up going elsewhere. I wonder if anyone out there can tell me how long the charities have to wait from a person donating to HMRC returning the gift aid to the charity. I looked and from what I can gather it may be the claim goes in at the end of the tax year in which case give now get back earliest April 2021. I hope I have read this wrong anyone know different.

Those of you calling for the head of the PLC what is your plan? Who have you lined up? If you don't have a plan then keep quite if you do have a plan let us all in on it.

Rodders

 

errrrr.…. a range of candidates who recognise that this is not "their" railway and their number one task is to prepare to step down at some point, handing it on to the next chairman in a better state than it is today. That chairman will recognise that all volunteers and interest groups have a part to play and will encourage and consider opposing views, selecting what is best overall while putting the case for the decision in full public view. Personal interest or gain shall play no part in their day to day activities.

Is that good enough for you ?

 

The official information is that HMRC process claims within 5 weeks of the charity submitting them. I couldn't find any advice suggesting that the charity can't submit its claims until after year end, so I suspect your information is wrong.

If the donor has incorrectly said they are Gift Aid eligible, HMRC will chase the donor for the money, not make the charity repay it.

Money that goes back to the donor is either returned by accounting for it in their Self Assessment tax return or in their tax code, depending on how and when the donor tells HMRC about it