Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development

There is irony here, In that, given the sheer complexity of the planning/ S73 issues, the current set of Trustees might, just might have been able to stave off any censure from the floor of the AGM.
However, the apparently unconstitutional exclusion of Anne Belsey from standing as a trustee, plus the shameless manner of announcing her alleged misdemeanours in a newsletter to the entire membership, puts the trustees into another light altogether. (I will exclude Chris Duffell from that generalisation, because, once again, he was omitted from any consultation).
The manner in which this has been handled is frankly shocking.
Multiple requests for information regarding Anne's exclusion have been met either with silence, or replies which place the respondent ultra vires.
Yes, much has been achieved over the last 15 years, or so, but much has been squandered, and to very great expense, the red line debacle alone running into 6 figures, and now we have an AGM, which in all likelihood will be unconstitutional, and has to be re-run, unless the Trust comes to its senses, and postpones it, pending proper adherence to its M&As, but on current form, cannot see that happening.
So perhaps that "Cromwell" moment has been reached. Reform is urgently needed, because the present incumbents really have sat too long for any good they may be doing.

 

Six figures?

 

Yes.

 

Where did you find that figure from?

 

It found me, actually. From more than one source. Consultancy doesn't come cheap. If you have any additional information on the matter, please share it with us.

 

I have repeatedly heard a figure of £150,000. If correct, that's quite a few tickets and pieces of cake to sell.

Naturally, we don't know, because (yet again) these figures haven't been made easily accessible to the Members.

 

It also found me from two independent and highly reputable sources both of whom have been intimately involved with the railway for over 20 years and still are!
You can always ask the Trust Board to confirm/deny the allegation and if it is true, to specify the precise cost. I can't since I am not a member and I shall simply be ignored. If you do approach the Board be prepared for the default response, 'commercially sensitive and confidential blah, blah...' Also bear in mind that the figure won't show in the accounts until 2024.
As a corollary, one of the sources stated that he had heard direct from a Trust Board member that the sum involved was in the top 10 percentile of the six figure sum. If that is the case...

 

Anybody with a membership of Exmoor-NG may wish to read the latest post there by Anne Belsey, putting forward her view of recent events. I won't cross-post it here for now, pending discussion with Anne.

 

I too had heard that figure from at least two sources. I asked Peter Miles about it directly by email, a couple of months ago, and his reply was:

As regards the Red Line corrections. The costs were basically just the planning fee as other items involved were in fact required for other reasons. We were not charged for our planning consultant’s time as far as I am aware.

Stories of the Red Lines costing £ 150,000 are simply nonsense – and the perpetrator has been told that numerous times.​

So there you have it. Reading this again though, I do wonder what else had been wrong that needed to be corrected at the same time.

 

That looks to be a clear statement Biker, as such, perhaps it's time the rumour is laid to rest.

 

>>>>We were not charged for our planning consultant’s time as far as I am aware....

Ah, but a cynic might question whether he asked the right people the right question? Who was it said "my advisors told me that no rules were broken...."

 

I have just read this and am disgusted at Anne's treatment by the cabal currently in charge...

 

...and I find it hard to see what, if anything, would be 'criminal' in nature.

 

Where on earth did you get that figure from?

Edit. Just found it

 

Six figures sounded over the top.

 

I had heard it was just over £100k but that it was buried that deep in other costs it was hard to dig out the actual cost so the 'red lines costing £150k actually could be nonsense' but surely all the works and time allowed towards the red line situation could have had an individual breakdown of costs by those who carried out the work so dig out those receipts ,show the actual costs and end the matter, in fact a full independent financial audit of what every part of the failed planning has really cost should be carried out and presented to all the members

 

Os dach chi’n credu Pedr Milltiroedd, wrth gwrs!

 

And therein lies the problem. If trust in the Trust leadership has dropped to a level where simple factual questions elicit the response of @RailWest and @Meiriongwril , then we have a significant problem.

Add to that the treatment of Anne Belsey, and you wonder what on earth is going on at the Trust level.

 

Ni welaf unrhyw fynyddoedd iâ

 

Thank goodness for Google Translate!