HRA COMPLETES REVIEW OF S&D TRUST SAGA
The Heritage Railway Association has completed a review of the ongoing dispute between the West Somerset Railway plc and the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust, although its findings have yet to be published.
The HRA acted as an independent mediator after the plc served notice on the trust in February to quit its Washford site by February 2021 (SR503).
A joint statement from the plc, WSR Association and West Somerset Steam Railway Trust, on June 8, said: “The leasehold issue between the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust and the West Somerset plc has not been resolved, but an independent review has been completed by the HRA, and which we hope will lead to a conclusion.”
A meeting took place between the plc and S&D Trust on June 16, which both parties said was
“frank and constructive” and “confirmed their intent to work collaboratively.”
WSR chairman Jonathan Jones-Pratt has also responded to Steam Railway’s previous report on the dispute in SR506.
Asked whether there are any circumstances under which the S&D Trust would be permitted to remain on the site, he said: “Yes, we’ve always been open about that, and we are in meaningful conversations with the trust.
“It’s been reported that we didn’t speak to them – we did – and if we could work collaboratively, there’s more that can be done to develop that site.”
But, referring to the proposed move of the permanent way yard from Dunster, he said: “We do need Washford – Norton [Fitzwarren] is too far away, and we need it to be around the halfway mark, but Williton [Sherrings Yard] is leased and doesn’t stack up – we have to act in the best interests of the company.”
Regarding the rent, he said: “Others pay more rent [than the S&D Trust] and we’ve only tried to have a common agreement across the table.”
Regarding the allegations of safety issues at Washford, he said: “The issue was with a real ale festival where people were sitting down on the rails in the yard – it is a live railway, and that’s not how you should portray your railway in the public eye.
“ROGS (Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems (Safety) Regulations 2006) does apply to Washford yard – it’s on the safety case which I’ve signed – and the reason the trust weren’t contacted [by the Office of Rail and Road] is because the ORR’s relationship is with the plc.”