WSR rejects Bailey proposal
THE WEST Somerset Railway plc board has halted work on establishing a new charity-led organisation.
Last year, a report produced by John Bailey on behalf of the Heritage Railway Association, and in the wake of a troubled period for the WSR, recommended the formation of “a new incorporated charity with an operating company as a controlled subsidiary”. At the time, the WSR plc “warmly welcomed” the proposal and agreed to start consultations about implementing it.
Several reasons have been cited for side-lining the proposals, including a heavy commitment to resuming post-Covid operations, continuing “financial operational challenges”, and doubts that “the suggested Bailey reforms will
I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THEIR DECISION
Steve Edge, WSR volunteer
necessarily deliver the anticipated range of benefits required to justify the scale and scope of organisational change”.
However, antipathy from shareholders has also steered the decision. Only 391 out of 8,311 shareholders – just 4.7% – responded to a questionnaire on the reforms. “The response rate was too low to justify taking further action on the proposals at the present time,” it said.
“We realise and recognise that some of those who have worked on this initial feasibility investigation will be disappointed by our decision, but we believe that this is the time when all the members of the railway family really need to work together and focus on getting our wonderful railway back in action first and foremost,” commented WSR plc chairman Jonathan Jones-Pratt.
“I am very disappointed with their decision,” said Steve Edge, a long-term WSR volunteer and supporter. “It would all seem to be a dead parrot.”