Hi I'm new to the forum, but as a former member of the WRA and someone who likes to keep abreast of whats happening with the railway via the media and former colleagues, I must admit I feel the recent furore over Aysgarth is perhaps only the tip of the iceberg?
From my point of view and in my honest opinion Aysgarth shouldn't have been sold, as I know when I was involved, that was what I and a lot of members aspired to, a train to the falls.
Anyway, rightly or wrongly it is what it is, what my question is, where are all the monies going from these many fund raising schemes.
We've had of late; schemes associated with getting to Aysgarth, shed appeal, track appeals etc etc, all of which have generated a considerable amount of monies.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK;
Has the WRA(T) still got the money or has it handed it over to the WR PLC?
Has it been spent on those appeals it was raised for or has it been "frittered away" on operations keeping the WR running?
Upon another note, I, along with quite a few of my former colleagues are getting most concerned with the way forward of the railway.
Is the present WR PLC board "fit for purpose" given the apparent dire circumstances of the finances of the railway?
In times like this, shouldn't it be a case of "back to basics" and build from the ground up, rather than spending even more money, the railway hasn't got on various "get business quick schemes"?
Lets face it, the WR is never going to be a NYMR, however it has a market of sorts and it should play to its strengths and concentrate on the western end of the line, the much more scenic and vast potential.
That is why selling Aysgarth didn't make economic sense, because as far as I can make out the excess revenue will go on operations, or in other words "propping up" the railway!
I also for what its worth, echo the thoughts of many on here that the price of the sale seems quite low given its location and now it has vacant tenancy?
Why is this as when the railway is screaming out for funds, does it sell its members short?
There would appear, listening to the grass routes "noise", a growing undercurrent of members who think that there's something underneath going on over this sale.
I hope not and the only way faith in both the WR PLC & WRA(T) boards will be some transparency all round, of which there would seem to be pretty little.