Swing for Bluebell

Last year Bluebell received £1000 from this event but this year we hope for a larger donation as we are the sole beneficiaries and hopefully the weather will be better. Do go and support our neighbour in supporting us and have fun at the same time.




Management claim they had not realised that Saint Hill had already produced this poster until it appeared in the local press in the week commencing 15 June although they were notified of the event by e-mail on 3 June. The problem is that to much is taken on by too few among our esteemed management team.

West Hoathly Station Site

In an effort to raise funds towards the cost of reaching East Grinstead the Bluebell Railway PLC have submitted plans to Mid Sussex District Council for a station building and "railway" cottages at Sharpthore on the site of the former West Hoathly station.

The application is due for consideration by MSDC's North Area Planning Committee at The Ark Turners Hill staring at 7pm on May 28th. So far MSDC have received 18 letters of objection and one letter in support. If you live in West Hoathly or know residents who would be supportive of the railway please ensure they attend the meeting.

The planning application and objections can be viewed at

http://62.189.207.187/pap_msdclive/framepage.asp?appnumber=09/00718/FUL&dc2=

It's a numbers game, if supporters out number objectors the committee will take cognisance of that fact.

It is a pity that this application was not mention in Blue News, but then I cannot find any mention of it at BRPS trustees meetings of late. Maybe its a case of the Bluebell PLC ploughing its own furrow.

Fortunately West Hoathly Parish Council at their meeting on Monday 19th may received a presentation from Chris White. Now Chris comes over very well at such meetings and despite some objectors being present West Hoathly Parish Council have sent a letter in support of thee Bluebell's application to MSDC, who's officers have now recommended that Bluebell's application be approved. However this does not mean its all over, so please attend on May 28th if you can.

POST SCRIPT The Bluebell's planning application was approved. All Bluebell now needs is to find a developer to build it.


Bluebell still needs to be proactive within its local community, as KWVR does.

My paper to the trustees considered to be inappropriate at this time did set out why the Bluebell needs to be more closely identified with the communities it serves. Read it for yourself here.

Steamed Up 2

Our first blog Steamed Up (see older blogs below) and Russell Pearce response here and in Bluebell News has now been followed up by a memorandum dated 18 January entitled Bluebell Governance. I have asked our chairman to place it on the agenda for the next trustee's meeting (30 Jan). Owning to the long agenda at 30 Jan meeting this matter has been deferred to the meeting on 20th March. Read the paper for yourself here.


The paper was presented to the Trustees who"considered Mr Coward’s proposals but felt that we had too much to do at the moment to start changing the structure of the railway. When the two major capital expenditure projects were out of the way, then we could revisit these proposals." They missed my point that we need to consider future governance now not after completing the extension and Woodpax projects as such consideration will of necessity take time to complete and debate. Still its no more that one could expect.

Tenner for the Tip and More

The “Tenner for the Tip” scheme seems to be going well but how about extending it to “Sponsor a ….” This could be a (digger) bucket load, a ton, a lorry load, a foot/yard/metre of tip depending on your means. It could even go down to a pound or a kilo to attract the children.

I get the feeling from Bluebell people and colleagues on Network Rail that there is a real “buzz” now that people can see digging and track laying (At East Grinstead) happening. Let’s hope that this “Bluebell-with-it’s-tail-up”, as Mike Sharland used to say, will carry us through.

Dave Middleton

Electric Traction for Bluebell

In bright winter sun and with a large crowd to watch at East Grinstead station VEP unit 3417 arrived on Bluebell track shunted into place by 73109. This was not the first ED to run on Bluebell track for 73136 is on a 10 week contract to run the spoil trains.

I am sure this is not the last time electric traction will run on our metals.

Hopefully this will generate excellent publicity for the extension .

Share Issue RIP

The much trumpeted Bluebell share issue, which we waited for for seven years finally closed on 31 December having raised over £600,000. Basically it was late and mishandled by management and as a result other fund raising opportunities were missed and the consequence is Bluebell still needs £4.4m to reach East Grinstead.

We now need to get on with serious fund raising. My experience is that little and often is the best method. However we do have time constraints so we need to exploit every possible way of prising money out of folk.

Tim Baker's buy a sleeper idea which if I recall he suggested some three years ago, but was told it would interfere with then the imminent share issue, needs to be launched. We have lots of grand parents visit the railway who will impulse buy a certificate stating their grandchild bought a sleeper on the Bluebell Railway.

We need to exploit to the hilt 50 years of BRPS this year and 50 years of Bluebell operations next year .

Crusty old life members like me might give up our membership cars for a medallion as used to be issued to officers of railway companies for a consideration say £200. I know when I worked at the Transport my bosses used to love to show their medallion at ticket barriers.

In the good old Bash days we organised strollathons (a fun walk with modest prizes) that would raise significant funds. We would milk the vent with free refreshments and a raffle.

All members should be encouraged to raise funds by any legal means.

I'd be delighted to post fund raising suggestions here.

Be Nice To Your Shareholders

A recent applicant for the share issue received in exchange for his donation a letter dated October 2008 addressed Dear Shareholder which listed the benefits he would receive in exchange for his donation and informed him that some £400,000 had been raised so far and that he was encouraged to buy shares. Oh and by the way it was hoped the share certificate would be with him by Christmas. If this reads like it is a little amateurish , it is. The applicant also purchase shares in the Spanish bank Santander. They replied with a personalised letter correctly dated and full information and of course the share certificate.

Sorry Bluebell, you have to improve your act. The letter that goes out to those investing in our future does not even say thank you.

UPDATE
UP to 31 December this same letter was going out dated October and stating that certificates would be with the purchaser by Christmas ( ie 2009).