West Somerset Railway General Discussion

My understanding is that grievances were raised by staff members against some of the 14/10 WSSRT nominees. In order to keep it fair, the investigation was carried out by an independent external professional HR company. Based on their findings, action was taken by the PLC. A proper appeals procedure was invoked.
Given that the grievances were raised and had to be dealt with, I can't see what was lacking in the process.
It is common to criticise the process when the outcome isn't what you would like. And vice versa, of course.
Ian Coleby

 

Good challenge, my poor wording. What I meant was this particular thread. Agree there is good stuff in the wider NatPres world.

 

In the context of issues over the availability of policies discussed ad nauseam on here before, the politics surrounding that AGM, the suggested motives of complainants, and the web of technically independent but in reality associated companies involved around the plc, that is a statement that begs many questions, especially when words like "kangaroo" have been used of the proceedings.

I do not however suggest that this is an appropriate place to rake over the details of allegations, complainants and accused.

 

Ian, perhaps you would like to re-read my opening paragraph, where I was saying that any lack of diversity on the WSR is hardly the WSR's fault, because, as you agree, "Any business can only reflect the makeup of the population around it."
No, the "issue" of the SDRT is not irrelevant here. The shabby treatment of the SDRT demonstrates the problem the WSR has with inclusivity. As you well know, the WSR has always been a loose confederation of warring tribes. You yourself suffered in one of the many internecine struggles, so you can't very well pretend they didn't happen.

 

So, Ian Coleby thinks that National Preservation has a poor reputation, , It wasn't so poor to stop you using it when you needed its help to unseat the 6 WSRA trustees now was it? I would go as far as to say, its not this forum that has the poor reputation, its the WSR, , the PLC, and the Spineless trustees of the supporting organisations, who stood idly by whilst long standing volunteers had their hobby taken from them, stood by when a fellow group were branded Cuckoos, and evicted from the railway, on very dodgy grounds, then when you thought it could get no lower, your petty animosity towards others who were standing for trustee ship because it would upset your cosy apple cart, lead to what has been described as a witch hunt against the same reformers you shared a platform with, if anyone has a poor reputation Ian, it is you, and your fellow trustees for not standing up for what is right.

 

What to me is sad being an outsider as it were , and a southern man in GWR country we will go to SVR before going to WSR even if it takes 30 min extra because our past experiences on WSR have not been particularly positive whereas SVR the experience is usually positive. They always seem happy and engage with the punters on SVR, as do most other railways we visit. Maybe that non positivity comes from a disunited organisation and people still trying to keep it going in a hope that one day it will get better. Another point for us we have a dog who loves train rides, but we need to exercise her just before joining train, at WSR it is useless mean the station and at Minehead dogs not welcome really either on the beach, at least close to the station. Would really help to have a dog walking trail at Bishops Lydiard. WSR needs to make themselves attractive to the general public, they won't survive on entusiasts only. It also seems some of those railways who got COVID funding have also used the time and money to good effect in updating systems and invested in trying new things to attractvthe public and the young, come on WSR you need to do something similar.

 

This is exactly why the dictum exists that justice not only needs to be done, but to be seen to be done. When you have a process that is carried out entirely in private, then it is not surprising that those not privy to it are left suspicious that justice was not done.

 

The obvious question might be, what was so important that the PLC had to get involved rather than the WSSRT dealing with the matter, and secondly even if we were to assume some sort of issue existed that might have involved the PLC given the history of the railway might there have been a case for either the PLC declining to get involved or asking an organisation like the HRA for mediation?

 

Couldn't have been said better by Sir Nigel Hawthorne........

 

Mr Sidmouth sir,

Are you hypothesising that the entire shoddy episode could have been arranged by an individual outside the organisation. Did they have an axe to grind and at the click of a finger, their obedient servant came running to papa, telling tales and demanding action ? That's almost as improbable as a representative from the independent external professional HR company carelessly admitting it was a stitch-up.

surely not......

 

Well, if one of those persons, who were the recipient of this " Stitch up" just happened to have been an Barrister, and the grounds that on which it was brought, were , how should we say, less than lawfull, Some of that legal advisors senior partners might just have one very messy, expensive claim on their hands, As could certain officials , if it is established they acted outside of their legal responsibility in discharging their duties as trustees, and/ or officers of a company.

 

No comment

 

OMG - here we go once more. Do I really have to replenish the depleted supply of popcorn yet again. Surely people have more important things to stress about than going over the historic rights and wrongs of the WSR for the umpteenth time.

Peter

 

For the umpteenth time, while the WSR organisations appeal outside the organisation(s) for support they're open to scrutiny from those from whom they seek it. Were it just to be distant rights and wrongs you may have a point, but management(s) in place are accountable for many things that are still ongoing (S&D, opacity of financial information, withdrawal of passes etc. - the list is quite long). People involved are still there now, seeking support, and IMO it's unrealistic to expect people to overlook those rights and wrongs.

 

Isn't,t it time to have 2 threads on WSR, one for gripes about the setup and politics and one for day to day news. I fear some good info gets lost in the never ending saga of the politics.

 

wsr.org.uk for news without gripes and politics.