Finn was rather less than impressed by the Kelpies, however: https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=29499.msg354848#msg354848 

 
Thanks Bryony for checking.

Now, does Finn need a ticket and will he be issued a badge/lanyard?
(Just kidding!)

He'll gladly accompany me on Friday. He likes people, and free buffets!

Should there be anyone with allergies then we will of course be more than happy to steer clear. He'll be fine snoozing in the car for the morning session, and I can run him home during lunch if need be.

 

Thank you, Bryony.  I just love this place - answers and things done by friends.  I have been out this evening and - my goodness - what an opposite group in many ways; reminds me how much we have here.

 
The Go-Ahead group have been fantastic in providing us with coaches and drivers for free travel from Swindon to Taunton and from Bournemouth to Taunton.  On this occasion, we are unable to cover the Swindon north Bristol route, however this will be in place for March 7th meeting.

If there are people who should be attending and have so far being unable to because of the transport costs, please encourage them to use the service. Even if they have to download Podcasts and take a picnic it is good to have more people onboard.

Get in touch with us to reserve your space.

secretary@travelwatchsouthwest.org.uk

 
I have asked the question. Some of you may remember me bringing Teasel to events at other venues in Taunton.


ANSWER:   Permission for your dog is granted.  Happy hounds and humans

 

Don't know ... asking. 

 

Are dogs allowed? He is a rail user after all!

And Chris, I think he's okay around cups of coffee so your trousers will be okay.

 

Thank you, ChrisB, for that vote. AGM topics there but irrespective of where the job we have been doing on the "excellence" scale fits, yes, it ought carry on. It fills / fits / tackles some important areas - niches - which are otherwise not or poorly addressed, and does so for the mutual benefit of multiple parties.

 

Indeed, with the advent of GBR in the rail sector, obtaining funding from the TOCs (as now) is likely to dry up, especially if the organisation isn't recognised in the Railway Bill as a consultee/stakeholder. The Bill should be published by the time that the AGM is held, so the meeting can be informed about funding from the rail side of things.

Money ought to still flow from the bus side of transport however, with a favourable wind. TWSW does an excellent job, and ought to continue!

 
For diary - 2 to 3 pm on 5th December 2025 - TWSW AGM ... online ... separate thread to follow, but noting here f.y.i. - standard form is that each year a three directors / a third are up for re-election; personally I probably have 2 years yet to serve as I was formally elected last December.

 
Good to see positive reactions here.  Click on the countdown image to go to the booking page





YES ...

However - I took a phone call yesterday from a long standing attendee, concerned that TWSW's other  activities are not what they were before covid.  Things have changed over the years - next year, TWSW is 25 years old and so much has changed over the years. 

General meetings can be seen as the tip of the iceberg of TWSW - two meetings a year is about the right balance; put it up to quarterly, and it's too much, down to annual and it's too little. But what the user groups see - two general meetings - is only a part of the work and "we" (talking a board member but not with official TWSW authority) have not been as visible and active otherwise as we might have been.  Personally, I would love to have / be giving it more time but don't feel I have delivered as I, and perhaps, my colleagues would have wished; an admission of personal failure, if you like - but identifying the issues is a good step towards dealing with them. 

We live in interesting times. TWSW is run almost entirely by volunteers; we have paid secretarial and admin support which is so appreciated and good, but very much limited in time available due to both funding constraints and our constitution of what we aim at doing.  What resources we have in funding  for the general meetings comes from travel and transport organisations who appreciate the utility of condensing so many user and specialist groups and local authorities into a single talking shop where they can efficiently reach and inform the wider tree, and where they can hear combined inputs from many places.   However, those organisations in the business are ever more required to be efficient / save money and this is an easy one for them to reconsider if they are even still in the business. And if they are not, where does TWSW funding come from?   Topics for the board, and the AGM.  For this week - we would love to see you along and help make it a great meeting.

 
If you can't make it, JayMac, Finn will be very welcome.

 
I may pop along on Friday. I have a ticket but I'm undecided at the moment. It depend on whether Mum will be okay without me for a few hours.

 

I have absolutely nothing against Taunton personally - nor municipally, actually.

What gets me is that I have, several times over the years, been strolling through Taunton in company with grahame, when we've stopped while he takes a photo. I was standing next to him (out of shot, obviously) - but I was standing there at the time.

However, when grahame then posted that image out on the Coffee Shop forum, perhaps two weeks later, I honestly didn't recognise it - much to my embarrassment.

That is the origin of the 'urban myth' that I don't like Taunton: it is actually a lovely town.

CfN.

 
What!?! ‘and the meeting being held in Taunton’. Please don’t shatter my illusions Chris, that one of the things that makes the TWSW meeting so special for you was that it’s held in Taunton!

Totally get the Voyager bit.

 
The first time I met grahame was some 17 years ago, on board a Voyager train from Bristol to Taunton, for me to attend my first TravelWatch SouthWest meeting there. Despite the Voyager, and the meeting being held in Taunton, we've been friends ever since.

These TWSW meetings are great: they offer excellent speakers, lively debate, enjoyable catering and good company - and all free to attendees!

We hope to see you there!

CfN.

 
TravelWatch SouthWest (TWSW) provides a unique opportunity to engage with operators, politicians, and tiers of government and strategy-makers, from national to local bodies, and to network with transport and specialist group across out patch - Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Dorset, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall.

Twice a year, we hold a general meeting, and this message is an invite to sign up and attend - Friday 24th October 2025 (this Friday) at the Firepool Innovation Centre in Taunton, which is just across from the railway station.  The event starts at 11:00 (Coffee from 10:30, timed to allow for good train connctions from across the area) and is free of charge. We (I am on the TWSW board) do need you to sign up ahead of time so that we can cater - yes, there IS such a thing as a free lunch, although we can't stretch to providing free travel to Taunton!




Web site front page - https://travelwatchsouthwest.org
Tickets - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/travelwatch-southwest-autumn-general-meeting-2025-transport-for-growth-tickets-1296764279869

If you are new to TravelWatch, or if you have attended in the past, you will be very welcome on Friday; Graham Parkhurst's keynote sets out how public transport is a driver for growth and enables access, economy, health, and environmental benefits, and the day will go on to introduce you to a whole panel of new faces - the movers and shakers in public tranpsort in these very interesting and changing times.  "Just a minute" brings you a whole series of updates on individual matters and campaigns, and a networking buffet lunch lets you make new connections and helps you plan and co-ordinate forward.  The food is usually pretty good too!




Am I invited? Yes, you are, if you feel this is relevant to you and worth taking the time out to come along.  We welcome people from students through to the retired, and from the tip of Cornwall right up to Bournemouth, Swindon and Cheltenham - beyond if you like; this is all about travel and linking places and not political boundaries.

TravelWatch SouthWest is a membership organisation, with members updated and interacting between these general meetings, and helping to pilot the organisation through the various political, social, economic, organisational and environemental changes that are going on at the moment.  We look to all modes of travel - road and rail (and ferries and flights too), to, from and within the south west of England.  Looking short term and, usefully, medium and long term so that passengers and passenger groups can help influence and partner with the industry and central government for the mutual benefit of all.