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Teifi Valley Railway

Discussion in 'Narrow Gauge Railways' started by Anthony Coulls, Jun 22, 2014.

  1. Elizabeth Perry

    Elizabeth Perry Member

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    The essential fact is that if Companies House close the TVR Company down, the LRO goes with it. End of 40 years work from buying the trackbed to building the railway.
     
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  2. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Perhaps some folks need a clearer understanding of the term 'statutory requirement'. I'm no great expert on company law, but seems necessary to note that terms such as "whenever you can get round to it" or "if or when you can be bothered" are generally conspicuous in government legislation by their absence.

    A volunteer track basher mightn't need to know anything much about the finer points of company law, but a director damned well does. It's not as if anyone Teifi Valley way can claim ignorance and using "we were repeatedly told, it's not our fault we didn't listen" as an excuse seems unlikely to cut much ice.

    If there's no-one with the necessary experience, an appeal for assistance is infinitely more likely to garner support than "What? Again? Just shut up and go away" .... which is precisely what @Elizabeth Perry, who clearly cares deeply for the line, is being told.

    Could you imagine what would happen if we ran UKPlc that way. Wozzat? ..... Oh, right! :Meh:
     
  3. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    the cynic in me would perhaps suggest that is how we do run UK plc
     
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  4. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    You might think that (and do please feel free to play with emphasis), however I couldn't possibly comment. :Muted:
     
  5. Elizabeth Perry

    Elizabeth Perry Member

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    There are not two sides to this, only one . The Company is an entity and the directors people who temporarily work for it. It's not like a late personal tax return when several excuses for delay are available. If the usual person can't manage to get the Accounts done, then the directors MUST get help from elsewhere. In this case, the accountants in Cardigan have tried to help but without success.
     
  6. D1039

    D1039 Guest

    The TVR Company's next accounts up to 31 December 2020 are not due until 31 December 2021, so there's no current prospect of Companies House closing them down.

    However lamentable, were the Busy Bee Cafe Limited to be struck off the cafe could presumably trade in a new capacity pretty quickly.

    Patrick
     
  7. 40F

    40F New Member

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    The filing period for private company accounts is 9 months after year end, so due by end September. I don’t think this requirement has been relaxed by any of the pandemic response measures.


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  8. steam_mad

    steam_mad Member

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    Filing deadlines were extended by 3 months for companies with a filing deadline (assuming no previous extension) between 27 June 2020 to 5 April 2021: https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...hanges-to-companies-house-filing-requirements
     
  9. D1039

    D1039 Guest

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  10. 40F

    40F New Member

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    Thank you - I stand corrected. Interesting that this relaxation didn’t come up on the .gov webpage I looked at. Just goes to show that it’s often necessary to check multiple sources.


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  11. Maldwyn

    Maldwyn New Member

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    Filing deadlines were indeed extended by an extra 3 months as standard during the pandemic last year. This came to an end earlier this year (circa April?) and is no longer automatic. Companies can still apply for an extension if they cite issues around covid but it must be requested. Possibly this us how Teifi have a filing deadline of December 2021 as technically it should be September.. As D1039 has stated there is no danger in the company being shut down yet due to late accounts this year as a result of this change (lessons may have been learnt from the last accounts by making a request before a problem occurred). It would appear though the company is treading a fine line. The filing history does show that they were late in filing something else; a confirmation statement back in July. There is really no defence for this as this is really confirming the current company status in relation to directors, shareholders etc. You don’t need to use accountants or the like for this. I have to complete statements for two separate companies a year and each takes no more than five minutes checking and verifying the records held on the system. Admittedly I only need to confirm there are no changes from the previous year (so I don’t have to type anything) but even with changes it’s should not take too long. I would assume the delay is why the company received its second notice for compulsory strike off this year. Whatever the reason, to have to contest two strike offs in a year does suggest the company would benefit from help and / or expertise in maintaining the legal obligations of running a limited company irrespective of how well the volunteering works on site are going.
     
  12. ross

    ross Well-Known Member

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    I joined the TVR as a long distance supporting member last summer. It took a little while to actually get an acknowledgement, but apparently the lady who attends to membership stuff was busy, or working from home.... whatever.
    Since joining.....nothing.
    I get quarterly newsletters from the Corris Railway.
    I get quarterly newsletters from the Welshpool and Llanfair Railway.
    From the Teifi Valley, nothing. Not a letter, not a "latest news", not an e-mail, nothing.
    It now strikes me that my membership will have lapsed because no-one asked me to re-new.
    Crazy. I'm not sure I will bother continuing this membership
     
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  13. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    That’s interesting as I’m sure I saw on their Facebook site (or possibly here) that the newsletter person was no longer involved but there was a replacement on the way. That was some months ago now so would of expected something had been put out to the members by now….
     
  14. Elizabeth Perry

    Elizabeth Perry Member

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    Sorry to learn of your experience of the Railway Society Ross. The monthly Society meetings ceased some years ago and the newsletter shrank from quarterly to annual very rapidly. Then recently the editor "retired". The Society continues to exist as the entity holding the majority of shares in the Teifi Valley Railway Ltd. The plan of the Board Chairman in 2015 was to persuade the conman/asset stripper to buy all these shares and thus own the railway and the LRO. More money could then be made by selling rolling stock, rail and the site itself. Unknown what might be the plans of the current management. The Charity Commission has complained about the Annual Return of income and expenditure being late for the last 2 years.
     
  15. TVR Volunteer

    TVR Volunteer New Member

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    As many of you know I initially tried to engage with audiences not in the know via National Preservation , trying to paint a real picture of the goings on at The Teifi Valley Railway.
    I have been speaking with one of the managers at The Teifi Valley Railway about comments made on National Preservation in recent months.
    The comments made by the manager were as follows “they’d never read National Preservation nor do they have any interest in the comments whatsoever.”
    We must acknowledge that back in 2015 comments were made as to the ability of the management and the lack of faith in the railways future by certain individuals , yet our dedicated volunteers numbers continue to grow as do the railways skills and abilities. This is attributed by the railways continuous growth since 2014.
    Little faith was placed by certain people as to the ability of the current management team. The management put out a statement with words to the effect that if anyone had any GENUINE interest in the wellbeing of the railway or any concerns - legal or otherwise- they could contact the railway at www.teifivalleyrailway.wales, email- teifivalleyrailway@gmail.com or phone 01559 371077 or an appointment could be arranged for a visit to the railway to air any concerns. The management does not discuss it’s business on an open forum. No more statements will be made by the management which has been the case. The said manager then explained to me why certain things had been done at the railway. The truth is that the railway HAD collapsed into a position where it was all but finished. It has been time consuming , complicated and expensive to rebuild the railway. People do not understand the problems have had. We shall continue to re build in our own steady fashion. We have a small but very capable team of volunteers and the atmosphere is positive. The railway is 100% voluntary with many volunteers contributing financially and there are no hidden expenses account.
     
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  16. TVR Volunteer

    TVR Volunteer New Member

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  17. MartinBall

    MartinBall Guest

    Not capable, one gathers, in undertaking its statutory obligations as regards submitting accounts, however ...:(
     
  18. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    Okay, if I'm honest, I'm not sure why the TVR have no interest in engaging on the forum, in some ways it re-enforces the comments that have caused offence - if it wasn't an issue surely it would be logical to say so?

    I'll also point out that I'm also not quite sure its the best public relations to be openly stating that the railway will ignore any discussion here. Some of us are genuinely interested in the rebuilding of the railway from almost the point of no return and applaud the efforts so far. There are some that have misgivings over the administrate side such as accounts which has been pointed out. As I said earlier in the thread, there are two sides to every story. Wouldn't it make more sense to dispel those concerns by engaging? At the same time you could provide some updates to the work on the ground, which I am sure the vast majority would like to hear about.

    I do hope that the TVR management read this and take it on board, we are interested in the survival and rebuilding of the railway. We don't expect perfection. Please engage and use that interest on the forum to your advantage.
     
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  19. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    Thank you for the frankness of this post. Next time you are talking to this manager, you may wish to suggest that the failure of one aspect of the TVR to fulfil its statutory obligations is publicly visible and drawing negative comment that cost the railway goodwill that, in its current state, it can ill afford to lose.

    If the conversation develops, you may wish to point out that failure in one area of legal obligation can cast doubt on other, more critical areas, of legal obligation, and more generally make people wonder about the ability to prioritise.

    That he does not read this forum, or have any interest in it, is to miss the point about this discussion - it is somewhere that can influence people, for good or ill.


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  20. Bikermike

    Bikermike Well-Known Member

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    I think this overstates the importance of the forum. If there has been a genuine offer to engage via other means and no-one has taken them up, then it rather shows how much anyone is prepared to follow through with any influence they may have.

    I'd also suggest that anyone taking their legal guidance from a website would not be acting in their best interests.

    Given the relentless negativity on here to the current management, why should they engage?
     
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