Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development

Not so. Currently there are 4 sections still outstanding which have a trackbed corridor across them that the L&BR needs to procure between Blackmoor Bridge (#56) and Killington Lane Bridge (#65). Each section is owned by a different landowner. The combined total length of trackbed still required is approximately 2271 yards (2076 metres).

 

Thinking about there is one way out of GDPR and that would be the person who wishes to send out the information pays the cost for a mail shot via the Co Sec but then the Co Sec will also need to get proof that in fact every one was sent the mail shot.

But even a simple operation like that can become complicated

 

No, Companies Act 2006 (s116) permits disclosure.
The register and the index of members' names must be open to the inspection—

(a)of any member of the company without charge, and

(b)of any other person on payment of such fee as may be prescribed.

But having been throuigh the pain if all of this with another railway, I would avoid it if at all possible and find other routes.

 

I don't understand that. Why would you not want to know the details and proposed policies of candidates for the Trust Board ? How do you make an informed decision without that information ?

 

Thank you for confirming that, Ian. However the WSR attempt to withhold membership information was totally unethical and I cannot see many Secretaries being so unprincipled as to try to emulate it and expose their Society and themselves to the consequent legal costs.
Incidentally, what is it with all these people who want to "protect" their cabal of Trustees. Do they not understand democratic principles or consider the best interests of their members and organisation before their own self-interest ? Or is it some form of "jobsworth" : "I have the power to make life difficult for you, so I will ! " ?

 

Thanks Chris. Without getting into hostile territory do we know whether three of the four look favourably upon the rail extension or not?

 

The last time I looked (about ten years ago) I though it was only down to two landowners but I think I am wrong on this.
One we know about and was a no way, the second was you need to speak to the family, what ever that means.
The third looks like it still belongs to the ENPA.

 

It gets sent out with the voting papers - this is what happens with other organisations such as Building Societies.

 

...

 

It is an interesting point. I think that we all agree on where we want to get to. A reinstated railway hauling passengers between lynton and Barnstaple. It's just that there are differing views on how to get there. Those running the organisation have a particular plan on mind, others have different plans. I suspect all plans are equally valid, maybe with nuances. Personally I think that most progress is made by supporting those that have been elected to do the job, rather than throwing them out and starting all over again. All that really does is to distract, delay and generate negative PR, which is very unhelpful. Of course, sometimes that is necessary and I don't know enough about the L&B to say what's best here. All I do know is that the nuclear option should be avoided if at all possible.
Ian Coleby

 

No one has that much time to spare

 

I think you're absolutely right and I agree with everything you have said. If the rumour posted on here about some of the existing trustees not seeking relection then they need to identify replacements. I don't see this as sinister - there needs to be sucession and it is difficult to identify replacements who are willing to work. A local charity in our community had lots of people who wanted to be trustees but the majority fell by the wayside after a couple of months when they realised that they had to do things.

If any new trustees are required I would like to see someone with a background in town and country plannning who could act as an interface between the trustees and their planning consultants. If a second person was required then someone with a background in Charity fundraising would be good.

 

Agreed. That is what should happen. But I was responding to a poster who was claiming that there were difficulties for prospective candidates in contacting members to make their proposed policies known.

 

I just wonder whether there will actually be any other candidates after all the posts here and the facebook groups.

 

Hi Ian, I think that every other option has been tried and suggested but for what ever reason nothing has happen and this has lead to the current frustration with the group as a whole, not everyone agrees with one view I get that but is it just to much to have a bigger and longer railway after all this time.

I do get the fact that we have to wait for certain bits of trackbed to be made available to us and rebuilding this railway is not going to happen overnight. But to declare that Exmoor Associates are nothing more than a fringe group of no relevance, I think that speaks volumes about some peoples attitudes towards the membership as a whole.

Once the management has lost the confidence of the membership (just like Gerald Ratner did) there is simply no where for them to go.

As for finding new Trustees there are ways to do this, but I am not sure if they have been tried or if they would work in such a rural environment.

 

Who said that and when?

 

One very vocal member of this forum tells us that he knows loads about charity law, fundraising, marketing, communications, how the current Trustees have got everything wrong and they all need to resign, now says he will not stand. What's the saying about empty vessels?

 

Exactly - and claims to be 'in the know'. I don't think many would have voted for him if he had stood.

 

I don’t think it follows that even vocal critics HAVE to be either prepared or capable of fixing the issues they identify.

 

Perhaps not, but this individual implied that he knew what was going on behind closed doors and could have done a better job himself.
It is easy to throw accusations at the incumbents without knowing the full story and whilst not stepping up to the plate yourself.