Launched on Thursday 4th of June, a petition has been started titled “Open Letter to the West Somerset Railway PLC, WSRA and WSSRT”.
The main concern behind the petition is the impact of the three main groups decisions and operation on the railway's survival, with these groups being the West Somerset Railway PLC (WSR PLC), West Somerset Railway Association (WSRS) and West Somerset Steam Railway Trust (WSSRT).
Providing many jobs, attracting visitors & tourists, and preserving part of the famous Somerset and Dorset Railway Route, the West Somerset Railway is a key attraction around the West Somerset area.
In recent years though, the railway's fate has been hanging in the balance. Finances have been very tight at times.
A lot of these issues affecting the railway have been put down to the WSR PLC, WSRA and WSSRT arrangement which runs the railway.
Therefore, the petition urges these three organisations to unite to give the WSR the best chance of survival in the short-term and preserve the railway for many decades to come in the long-term.
UPDATE:
The West Somerset Railway has provided RailAdvent with the following statement:
We are aware of this petition, but are not surprised some people are signing it because most of them actually say they wish to support the railway and help it survive because it's now such a vital part of the local life and history of the area.
People rightly find it inconceivable that the railway might disappear thanks to Covid 19, and that explains why the WSR has been able to raise over £170,000 in donations in just three months – the WSR is as much a part of the Somerset countryside now as the rolling Quantock Hills and the cows in the fields. It has to survive.
We don't believe that the initiators of the petition are current volunteers, but are known to be vocal critics of the railway. Sadly, their attempts to damage the WSR's reputation are counter-productive to the good of the railway and don't help it by creating dissent.
The WSR is fighting for its survival right now and is without any income, so it needs money and support not brickbats. But one petition name in particular, George White, is not known to anyone at the railway which seems very odd indeed, so it must be a Nom-de-plume, but why? Why use a false name? It's mischief.
To us, it seems that most if not all of the issues raised in the petition's claimed purpose, have already been dealt with, or were underway, and well before the petition began this week.
All three of the main issues raised by the petitioners are in hand:
- The leasehold issue between the Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust and the West Somerset Plc — which occurred pre Covid 19 — has not been resolved, but an independent review has been completed by the Heritage Railway Association, and which we hope will lead to a conclusion.
- We have also agreed that the WSR ‘Partnership Development Group' will restart soon too, and which had been under discussion internally for some time. So far, this has already included discussions with the two local Councils about their renewed participation, confirmation of the Terms of Reference, and we are now finalising the first meeting.
- (Dealing with Covid 19 has) meant that a dedicated and more joined-up, coordinated approach was needed between the WSR's ‘family members' to safeguard the railway for the future and through unprecedented times. Since the start of the Covid 19 challenge began, the Plc, WSRA and WSSRT have been meeting together regularly via a number of forums to deal with the crisis, and this led to aligned strategies, enhanced communications and working far more closely together. As a result, some significant progress has been made in making the ‘family' work better as a unit. For our volunteers, who give so much back to the railway, it really matters that we do work together.
So, those WSR supporters who have signed the petition are effectively pushing against an open door here, but perhaps they were not aware of the actual situation and what was being done, so we hope they can see that considerable progress has been, and is being, made.
For more information about the petition, please visit the organiser's page by clicking here.
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Perhaps someone could point out to whoever wrote the petition that the WSR is not and never has been part of the Somerset and Dorset railway?
It’s normal to know what you are talking about before putting pen to paper.
To Clive George, if you take time out to compare their incomprehensible ramblings I think you will find that William Chivers is actually Andrew Gwilts alter ego.
There are plenty of Vultures circling over the WSR and it is disgraceful.
The railway pulled itself up by its’ boot straps last year, C19 was the last thing it needed having no reserves to fall back on.
I’ve been an non-partisan volunteer for 24 years but if I am crossed by a Vulture it will find itself properly plucked !
Fingers crossed WSM survive.
Fingers crossed WSM survive.
This Railway is a fantastic line & needs a lot of t. l. c. & should be preserved at all costs as more & more other heritage lines that re sulted many other lines around the sixties that ere decimated under the Beeching programme which was a massive mistake which resulted in the log jam of highways throughout Britain as a result.
To dismiss the Three waring Agencies by replacing them with a single unitary indepedant Board whose sole aim is to retain and run the West Somerset Railway eithin it financial and commercial restaints.
It need to restore its credibility.
Who is William Chivers, who posts bizarrely-worded Messages, littered with Bad Grammar, strange punctuation and random Words starting With capital letters? I have No doubt his Sentiments are heartfelt But his messages are Unintentionally amusing!
I have written to Grant Shapps and the WSR suggesting the government give the railway a grant to run a 3 coach diesel unit between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead to enable hospital staff to get to both Minehead and Musgrove Park Hospitals with bus connections. In the short term this will help during the pandemic after which time a complete review of public transport will take place. Had Somerset County Council followed my request 5 years ago this would have happened sooner but it is now left to the task and finish group being set up by Somerset West & Taunton District Council in cojunction with transport providers
Run a public sevice it needs a regular train service.Take it over and allow the heritage railway to run some sevices
It makes you wonder if there are personal agenda’s going on here. Begs the question how the North Yorkshire Railway, Severn Valley et all are meeting their funding requirements and we are not. Could it be that people including myself are wondering just what is going on.
No I’m not a member atm and would be but the railway does not appear to be even thinking about reopening when most others are. I am however a concerned heritage railway enthusiast and would hate to see the WSM fold.
Again it appears ,I repeat appears because I don’t know , that the three management groups are not singing from the same hymn sheet, which seems to have been the case for a few years now.
I can’t bring myself to sign. I have never had a decent visit to this line. It is just so unfriendly. The ridiculous politics and behaviour of the different competing groups has made the whole thing like a situation comedy from the 1970s and quite frankly, they don’t deserve to survive. I would rather give my money to the wonderful, friendly folk at the East Somerset Railway and the magnificent Swanage Railway. Once a year I travel up for a weekend on the Severn Valley Railway, another organisation that has got it right.
Why? it made profit then a loss and has turned around. Looks like somebodys jealous of success.
There is nothing intrinsically wrong with the way things are now run at the WSR. Last year bears this out as we had a stunning season and made a big profit. Only Covid stopped us this year. Why make waves where there aren’t any! I wont be signing.
Save the West Somerset Railway, That’s What I Also Say.
This part of the West Country (let alone Somerset itself within-between) just wouldn’t ever be the same without it… Together, this Heritage Railway and the Resort of Minehead as well as the other Tourist Destinations all make one of the finest combinations through & through.
I have signed the latest petition (this very petition), with hope of helping to to keep the Wonderfully Enterprising ”West Somerset Railway” forever preserved and up & running too.
So Come On Britain, Let’s Show how much we all care about Railway Transportation Heritage, including this one we (as well as I myself) know… As the Award-Winning and Well-Beloved
West Somerset Railway…
One of the longest and well-skilled Heritage Railways within the UK Preservation Movement and also in the Beautiful British Isles, let alone the World.
Agreed 👍🚂
Somebody who’s not read the articles 🤣 they have turned it around and have put it back on track and are continuing to do so.