Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development

Regarding ammunition for objectors I would mention the bush telegraph or chinese whispers. It does much to cause confusion and uncertainty.

 

All three really, as I discovered 11 years ago when a book of drawings was published.

 

I will just say it's been a glorious weekend in North Devon, Friday sat in Old Station Inn pub garden with a pint was wonderful, Saturday was warm and sunny all day and even today has still been dry and mostly sunny but a bit cooler when that sun goes in

Caught up with so many, great to see everyone again, so many wonderful people brought together with the aim of rebuilding the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway. Not only that, but I have had the chance to talk to quite a few locals too!

So, despite the politics etc, it's been a great weekend!

 

Meanwhile, the Trustees are getting in training for the next General Meeting...


Photo courtesy the Ermine Street Guard - who would have arrived earlier had someone not put wheel-clamps on their chariots, so they had to march to Lynton 'cos the railway was shut

 

I would have thought that these two idioms should surely be retired these days? They have a regrettable colonialist quality ... You'll be wanting to scotch rumours and welch on deals next

 

Fantastic walk along the existing and new trackbed above Chelfham on Saturday. What a lovely railway line, climbing steadily high above the valley.





The latest purchase added 800m of new trackbed. EA currently have low funds, so if you want to help boost that, make a donation through the Yeo Valley Trust, which can claim gift aid.

 

Only somebody in Wales would think of it as colonialism. The Welsh seem more insular the the English. I have never thought it as a colonial thing, but maybe I don't live in past - I have too many years behind me.

 

Delightful photos, Breva. Thanks for sharing them. If anybody feels like donating to YVTs general funds, just go to https://yvt.org.uk and click on the donate button top right.

 

I took Meiriongwril's comment to be mischievous tongue-in-cheekery.
I hope I'm not wrong in thinking that.

 

Deleted - sorted!

 

I know nothing about L&B politics and personalities but I have to say that, whatever the rights and wrongs of the current situation, the posts by the likes of Meatman and the Engineer are only likely to put people off supporting ALL groups involved in the L&B project. Give me a good reason to donate to EA or the YVT when the people involved are making such unpleasant personal attacks in public? It's not whether you have a right to speak, of course you do, but that doesn't mean it's a smart thing to do, to an outsider it is completely counter productive.

 

In public ? This is a thread dedicated to the L&B on a web-site for preserved rail enthusiasts; how many members of the public wander on to here ?
If you mean other rail enthusiasts, those that come onto this thread understand the conversations and can make up their own minds how they interpret matters. I know, for instance, that several regular NP posters have, coincidentally, joined the L&B Trust over the past few months. I presume they would not have done so if they had been put off by the comments of critics.
At the moment, EA and YVT seem to be operating independently of the Trust (and one should perhaps ask why ?) so criticism of the one hardly tarnishes the others.
Let everybody have their say, clear the air, meet, plan, reorganise and go forward, together.

 

I'm sure he meant it half-humourously but you are living in the past if you can't recognise the put-down involved.

 

Exmoor Associates (EA), and its newer charity companion Yeo Valley Trust (YVT), own almost 40% of the trackbed between Raleigh Weir (on the outskirts of Barnstaple) and the Wistlandpound Reservoir deviation. They are solely responsible for trackbed and associated land purchases in the southern section of the L&BR. They also own Snapper Halt and Bratton Fleming Station. They have slowly but surely over twenty years accumulated this large proportion of the land needed for future re-instatement. Sometimes it has taken years of contact with landowners, building a rapport and trust. The persons involved keep largely in the background although David Cameron (not that other one!) can be singled out for his determination to acquire Bratton Fleming Station. The point I make is that this 'small band of brothers' has quietly and resolutely achieved huge inroads into building the base for the future L&BR. Perhaps this might answer those who wonder why there is an Exmoor Associates.

EA is always looking for new members. You can join by purchasing one hundred pounds or multiples thereof in share certificates as one-off payments or by standing order monthly payments. See: https://www.exmoor-associates.co.uk/

In the current situation in railway north Devon, this might perhaps be the best way forward for interested persons to help further the eventual aim of a rebuilt L&BR.

 

Hmm, I kinda disagree there, it is viewable by the public, and viewable without joining Nat Pres if I recall before joining myself. I can almost guarantee it reaches a wide audience than many here may realise.
If the thread is visible without joining, search engines will pick it up and it will be in search listings such as Google, Bing, yahoo etc.

 

It will be, and there are good points to be made both ways. However, when a trustee storms out of a meeting after being caught on mic saying “I can’t be bothered with this s**t”, and the apology is for the fact it was caught on mic, perhaps those criticisms are justified.

I’m not involved with EA, though have found some of their people impressive. In particular, what appeals there and was not conspicuously visible from the top table in the Town Hall on Saturday night, was a spirit of inclusion, respect and engagement.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

My most recent description of some of the trustees would probably be well backed up by those who attended the AGM last Saturday night, there were many newer members there who no doubt had their eyes firmly opened at some attitudes from the top table, I was expecting some issues to be bulldozed through as I do know the personality's of a couple of the trustees, what I wasn't expecting was a comment made by one of them who thought he was out of range of a microphone and his response,, actions when a female member ask 'who said that'. Now I'm pretty unshockable but even I was surprised at firstly the comment made and the response to the question, no doubt that won't be put in the minute's of the meeting

 

It was originally set up to do precisely that, to quietly work in the background without hindrance to acquire trackbed as it became available. The ability to negotiate away from the limelight and focus which Woody Bay attracts has without doubt resulted in some fantastic acquisitions over time.
There are a few who portray the rift between the groups and members being bigger than it really is, this last weekend many of us at the L&B mixed and mingled, walked trackbed, visited and caught up with so many from all groups being interested in what's been achieved recently especially the acquisitions of OSHI by Ian and the trackbed by Mike, both the result of long term negotiations largely without hindrance.
The average member is not interested in the politics, they recognise that this is one of the most difficult projects in the heritage world right now, and we know all this will take time to do.
In my view the fighting needs to stop, now not tomorrow, or after this or that... Now.
The meeting was heated, many were becoming frustrated and agitated, including the management teams and those who attended. In reality it belies the togetherness that most members have behind all that.
After speaking with so many this weekend there are some fabulous opportunities which can be followed by all groups without treading on each others toes, there are many who do volunteering for both or all groups, these are the ones I feel sorry for... the successes, albeit not track, which isn't the be all and end all except for perhaps a few, is marred by arguing, politics, and bickering.
With restraint, compromise and a bit more togetherness many would be surprised at how much we could possibly achieve in the next few years, right now all that's happening is damage by that fighting.
Its far beyond time it stopped.

 

Having witnessed the demonstration and the placards waved at the train at Castell Cdwm on the day the WHR reopened (and declined to be interviewed on local television about it), I have some sympathy with the remark.

 

I disagree - this forum is checked by the opposition. This was evident on the RVR thread and this thread.