HRAcalledinto mediateoverWashfordstation'feud'
THEfirst stepsto potentially resolvingthe fall-out between the WestSomersetRailway pie (WSR)and the Somerset& DorsetRailwayTrust(S&DRT) havebeentaken during a teleconferencemeeting, facilitated by the Heritage RailwayAssociation(HRA). A war of wordseruptedbackin Februarywhen the WSRgavethe
S&DRTlegalnoticethat itsSO-year leasefor the useof the Washford stationsitewill beterminatedon February10,2021.
Theterminationof the joint agreementdid not directlyaffect the S&DRT''7sF'2-8-0No.53808 asthis is coveredby a separate agreementb, ut unsurprisingly the locomotivehasfound itself caughtup in the controversy.
Asa consequenceit was requestedthe HRAstepin to mediate,leadingto a constructive onlinemeetingbetweenthe two organisations.
Ajoint statementissuedby the WSRand S&DRTsaida"frank and constructivereviewof each party'sobjectivesincluded confirmationof a needto urgentlydiscussthe long-term future of No.53808,and reflects the WSR'sdesirefor its long-term future on the railway''. A follow-up meetingon site hassubsequentlybeenarranged, at which it is intendedthat all optionsfor the futureofWashford and the'7F'will be exploredand developed. Bothpartiesconfirmedtheir intentionto work collaboratively.