West Somerset Railway General Discussion

I expect Chris Austin was rather busy two days ago and as we have recently discovered was under considerable duress.

 

Deleted

 

Lovely, a proper engine.

 

Not so long ago you were pouring scorn on the claim by the 10 candidates that they had been harassed, citing as a reason the fact that no-one had contacted you about it. Given that stance, perhaps you would like to give a little more detail of the accusation given above.

 

Sorry Robin, but I think some explanation is called for. Whilst the GDPR breach was clearly unlawful and motivated by malice, to involve the police in what is clearly a civil, (or uncivil) matter is of great concern. And I am not at all sure that Devon & Somerset constabulary have any time, resources or interest in a bunch of trainspotters arguing about who's turn it is with the flags and whistle.
We need a free, democratic election, if there's anyone left to elect, not more lawyers and obfuscation

 

I wonder if perhaps it is simply the case that some people have been confusing talk of possible (civil) court/legal action with (criminal) police investigation?
Until such times as some clarity is provided on this particular matter, much of the recent postings IMHO is just speculation.

 

Fair question.

I have, with some reticence, put the relevant parts of my recent correspondence with the WSSRT Trustees into the public domain. There is nothing else to add from me.

Robin

 

Read the Facebook page where the gentleman concerned says why he has resigned - again after a long period of service to the Trust. I believe what he says is truthful.
Sadly it seems no side in this debacle has clean hands.
If you care to read some of the replies you can see the awful hostility that is now very evident amongst WSR people. There is a very slim chance that this fiasco will end amicably. That outcome has been predicted by some NP posters but always seems to be dismissed.

PS: you don't need to sign in to this F/Book page.

 

The explanation is that some people are using this as part of their game plan, I will leave you to decide who, and why,

 

Aint it so. The Facebook page is what the real volunteers who work live and breathe think not a line spun by some many miles from the WSR on here. Threats of legal action and to call the police doesn't sound like some are too sure of the result. BTW there is NO chance this will end amicably. The people on the railway will not forgive and forget I am sure of that 20 years + as a volunteer on the WSR gives me an in site into the mind of the silent majority.

 

Unless I'm missing something, @Robin Moira White seems to be suggesting the threats of police action, harassment etc. etc. all stem only from the email she has published. If so, it is gross over-exaggeration on the part of the recently resigned trustees. If there is something else however, I think we ought to know. Perhaps @ikcdab could at least confirm if there was anything else which might have contributed to the fear of police action etc. outlined that wasn't the email Robin published, even if not what it is?

 

@Robin Moira White, whether the 10 like it or not, seems to be the principal target of allegations by the incumbent trustees, presumably because any communication couched in formal terms is thought to have come from Robin's pen. The e-mails of 21st Oct Robin posted were quite clear, and as you say, suggested a way out of the immediate GDPR problem with minimal fuss.
However, Mr Coleby then makes the claim West Somerset Railway General Discussion that there has subsequently been a threat of police action in this matter, a threat repeated to all the current trustees.
The E-mails that Robin quotes are from 3 days ago, whereas this claim of police action, if true, clearly postdates the e-mail exchange. That is why I think clarification is called for- If the prospective trustees are threatening all manner of action against the existing WSSRT trustees, this is outrageous behaviour.
It is equally possible that this claim is an exaggeration, and a further attempt to put the prospective trustees in a bad light.

Someone ain't telling the truth.

 

Any duress he may, or may not have been under is down to his handling of this sorry sad saga, he, and he alone is the architect of any problems he faced, he chose to behave in the way he has .

 

I think he may also have been advised by others who might be a little more intense in their opinions.

 

Anyone who seriously believes the contents of a social media page and the comments therein, particularly Facebook which is strangely popular in the UK, 37 million users out of a population of a little under 67 million compared with 32 million users in France for a 67 million population figure, undermines their credibility in the eyes of many.

 

I wholeheartedly agree and suspect that is why there was the monumentally dim breach of GDPR. It is not a difficult area to understand and comply with so anyone with half a clue should have put their hand up immediately and rectified the situation rather than doing nothing. Do not forget that doing nothing is a choice.

Welcome back by the way.

https://ico.org.uk/for-organisation...nciples/lawfulness-fairness-and-transparency/