A SIMMERING row between the West Somerset Railway Association and some of its members has taken a new twist after four members were ‘expelled’.

Four members of the Reform Group said they received letters expelling them from the WSRA a day after they made a “peace offering” to trustees.

That offer they claim would have seen a balance of old and new trustees on the board of the WSRA, with the new Chairman, Peter Chidzey left in place.

However the new chairman has said that the four had been involved in a "continuing campaign against the Trustees and Association policy, and have elevated the differences within the charity to the point where the Trustees believe they have brought the Association and the Railway into disrepute".

Adding that a "campaign of misinformation and unfounded innuendo" was unacceptable.

Robin White, a member of the "Reform Group", said the four were “stunned” to receive emails terminating their membership.

Ms.White, said: “I have been a life member of the association for 30 years, and was a past chairman."

She claimed: “They have attempted to terminate our membership wholly in breach of the articles of the association, which provide for 28 days’ notice of our alleged offences and the meeting to consider them, and an opportunity for representations to be considered before any decision is taken.

“Their failure to follow the rules means that these decisions are legally ineffective. We are very grateful for the many messages of support the Reform Group have received from members appalled at the trustees’ action.”

The other three members who Ms White claims received dismissal letters were Ken Davidge, Jeff Price, Robin White and Paul Whitehouse.

She added: “The trustees’ actions are becoming more bizarre by the day, and the ‘disconnect’ between them and the members all the more marked.”

On Tuesday of this week, the Reform Group presented signed forms from over 400 members calling on the six present trustees to be removed.

Chairman, Peter Chidzey said: "The Association Trustees have taken the regrettable decision to give notice of termination of the membership of four members for actions "not conducive to the best interests of the charity".

"The four members, Ken Davidge, Jeff Price, Paul Whitehouse and Robin White, have all been involved in the continuing campaign against the Trustees and Association policy, and have elevated the differences within the charity to the point where the Trustees believe they have brought the Association and the Railway into disrepute.

"It should be made perfectly clear that this action has NOT been taken because the individuals concerned disagree with the policies of the Trustees; they are quite entitled to hold opposing views to the Board.

"However, all four have made very public statements regarding the integrity of the Trustees and their intentions and have courted the attentions of the media, whether it be television, newspapers, national railway magazines or Internet forums.

"They have now failed to unseat the sitting Trustees on two separate occasions, costing the charity large amounts of money in advice and postal expenses, and still show no sign of ending their hostility; they are, in fact, threatening to escalate their actions. There has to come a point when this behaviour is no longer considered acceptable in the best interests of the charity, and that point has now been reached."

Association Chairman Peter Chidzey added: "It is deeply disappointing to have to take this course of action. Though it is not unprecedented, it is very unusual to have to follow this route and one we have delayed for perhaps too long in the hope that the situation would ease.

"However, the very public actions of these members in escalating disagreements into a campaign of misinformation and unfounded innuendo has reached a point where I firmly believe the Association is being brought into disrepute."

"There comes a time when we have to remember that we are a heritage railway charity and not a political organisation. We need to focus on our heritage and educational objectives and not on the relentless personality politics in which these members have for too long been indulging."

"The procedure being followed for the removal of members is that laid down in the Articles and the members concerned were advised by recorded delivery post that removal will take place in 28 days' time from the date of the decision, the Board Meeting of Thursday 4th June.

"In this situation, there is the right for members to make representations to the Board during that 28 day period and the four individuals concerned have until Monday 6th July to make any such representations."

We have removed a paragraph from this story (12/6/2015: 10.07am)