West Somerset Railway General Discussion

It seems to me that if the intention the spirit of the report is followed then the Notice to Quit served on the S&DRT should be withdrawn, to say nothing of course of the fact that the new 'team' may well wish to include them.

 

I agree, that would be an easy and immediate step to take which would help prove there is new, rationale thinking coming into play.

Its especially important that its immediate (as in days) because the timescales involved with the S&D having to relocate means the plans to leave must already be well underway.

 

Be interesting to see the responses to parts 1-3

 

Yes, that is the elephant in the room.

 

Roger, I agree. Perhaps it may be time for me also..

Michael Rowe

 

Not exactly a return to normality however the railway has announced that they will be operating a 'living museum' at Minehead station over two weekends in July and August with an engine in steam, shunting demonstrations and activities for children.

https://www.west-somerset-railway.c...nce-two-living-museum-weekends-on-the-railway

 

Such as the continued presence of the SDRT?

The WSRA response sounded great - as far as it went. No mention of items 2 and 3, which were the whole reason this blew up in the first place, and no real mention of the fact that any changes are going to be entirely at the discretion of the Plc, whatever the PDG decides is a good idea.

To quote Greenway from post 26965
The WSR is changing (I am assuming it weathers the present storms and survives) and many of the present players are going to find life a little troublesome, I believe, in the future, if they are not co-operative in the new vision. We may discuss the Bailey Report but that does not imply that those who will implement it will take note or listen.

So better co-operate chaps, if you want to keep on playing the game. Depending on the direction the WSR takes it may just be that very few if any will be needed at all.

 

As an erstwhile S&DRT member for some 35-odd years, let's be blunt about this - but as politely as I can - the 'S&D' simply does not 'fit' in a GWR-centric WSR. That is not to say there is anything inherently wrong with that, merely that it is 'different' from other groups and stations on the line. But...if you want to change that by getting them to leave, then you do that nicely by engaging in gentlemanly discussion and providing them with as much assistance and time to 'move on' as you can, NOT in any way by the confrontational process and approach which the Plc has adopted. What next - will the Board compel those nice folk at Dunster to repaint their station in GWR colours to match the rest of the line?

The responses to Bailey from the WSRA and WSSRT do give rise to hope that things may be changing, albeit probably more slowly than many of us would like. But in the meantime the Plc effectively is still pulling the strings and this needs to stop - there ought to be a moratorium on such things as the WD eviction until there has been a proper discussion of Bailey within the PDG and a consensus reached as to the way ahead. Only when the 'new' structure is in place should such changes take place, if at all.

 

Which shows how divisive your 'bluntness' is: If the PDG is properly reinstated the plc won't be pulling any strings......

 

Given the length of the line and that Washford is one of the less used stations, I cannot see how the presence of the S&DRT significantly detracts from an overall GWR ambience.

 

Day to day matters can still be decided by the PLC, but long term planning and other matters such as the eviction notice should be placed on hold and decided by negotiation between the new company and the S&D , as the lease will be voided anyway .

 

>>>Which shows how divisive your 'bluntness' is: If the PDG is properly reinstated the plc won't be pulling any strings......

Sorry, but I fail to see the connection between those two things. Whether the S&DRT 'fits' or not is unrelated to how the PDG might be reinstated, the more important questions are when and if the PDG will be 'properly' reinstated.

>>>Given the length of the line and that Washford is one of the less used stations, I cannot see how the presence of the S&DRT significantly detracts from an overall GWR ambience.

I was not suggesting that it did, merely pointing out that 'green and cream' S&D presence at WD is not the same as the 'dark and light stone' at most of the others stations (excepting also DR of course), and therefore might provide someone/some body an 'excuse' to seek their departure.

 

Sorry, as you mentioned it and others have I simply made a point about Washford it wasnt aimed at you but simply a general observation

 

The point was that if the PDG is properly reinstated then S&DRT cannot be excluded from that Group.

 

It is very good to see a general positive direction. I do think two issues remain - the safeguarding of smaller groups like the S&DRT, within the wider WSR organisation. And to this end, a positive resolution to the Washford issue and the S&DRT remaining on site and in place, and 53808’s future guaranteed.

A new organisational form, but with a significant group kicked out, would not be the best way forward.

The second potential issue remains turning plans into reality and ensuring that they do work as intended. Quite often what people imagine a plan as entailing and the reality when it emerges are often two very different things and people often get nasty shocks. It was mentioned earlier that some people were unhappy about the proposals, but that would have happened no matter what had been proposed because with so many different factions and so on, inevitably some groups and people will fear the loss of power, while others may not think that the proposals go far enough.

To paraphrase Harold Wilson, just because I’ve buried the hatchet doesn’t mean I can’t dig it up again.

There are still plenty of concerns, and the key issues over the quality of railway management, treatment of staff, volunteers, and groups remain.

 

Yes, but......it may be that by the time the PDG is 'properly reinstated' the S&DRT has passed the 'point of no return' and had to begin the process of dismantling and preparing to move out on order to meet the 12-month deadline.