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HOW MANY PRESERVED RAILWAYS WILL WEATHER THE FINANCIAL STORM?

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by cct man, Jan 31, 2012.

  1. michaelh

    michaelh Part of the furniture

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    This is a real jealous sour grapes comment. The grants to the WHR were to support economic development in an area of high unemployment.

    I'd much rather my taxes went to support projects like this to take people off benefits and into a job than to support a life on welfare
     
  2. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

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    A remarkably small minded attitude; most people I have spoken to on the matter seem to come up with the 'well done to the WHR' type of response.
     
  3. michaelh

    michaelh Part of the furniture

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    Suspect it's relatively easy to find volunteers to man phones mid-week - even I could do that if I was not gainfully employed by the County Council! However, I suspect it's much more difficult to find volunteers who are competent to bore out cylinders or undertake boiler repairs
     
  4. Christopher125

    Christopher125 Part of the furniture

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    Your correct - i and many others would indeed be surprised that there's any widespread 'resentment', because there's been little if any evidence of it.

    As most people are aware, the FR were in the unusual position to secure such large grants because they had considerable financial backing, especially from a small number of wealthy supporters, that helped the railway get in a position to bid for them and provide the considerable match funding that was neccesary. They were not given 'freely'.

    Chris
     
  5. pete2hogs

    pete2hogs Member

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    It actually has already paid back the grants in terms of business brought to the region. So yes, it is sour grapes. Get out there and make as good a business case and you will get the money.

    You mention 'political' - well, everything to do with government grants of course concerns politics. If you don't do politics maybe thats why your railway hasn't got the grants.
     
  6. Steve1015

    Steve1015 Member

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    I know of one railway that will be off to the small claims court if they dont settle an outstanding bill from 2010. And thats not only their outstanding bill....
     

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