Sibly Hall – Communications Mast Planning Application Public Enquiry Meeting

Just received notification from Wokingham Borough Council of the date for the Public Enquiry concerning the erection of the Communications Mast associated with the Sibly Hall development. The opening public meeting is scheduled for 10am on 6th March 2012 at the Wokingham Borough Council offices in Wokingham.

You can also download a copy of it from here.

Technorati Tags: Sibly Hall,Development,Localism Bill

Reading University in the “Community”

I’ve just received the February issue of the University of Reading’s Community newsletter, where the new Vice-Chancellor, Sir David Bell discusses his role at the University having moved there from the Department of Education.

I was interested in one of Sir David’s quotes…

“I take very seriously our responsibility to be a good neighbour and the need for us to work closely with other local agencies and organisations.”

I don’t think the residents living around the edge of the proposed development of Sibly Hall would think that the University is being a good neighbour, would you?

If you would like to contact the University of Reading’s Community Relations Manager, Ann Westgarth to pass on what you think about them being a good neighbour, you can do that by emailing her at a.westgarth[@]reading.ac.uk ([ ]’s inserted by me to stop spammers using the email address direct from this blog post).

Technorati Tags: Sibly Hall,developmentl,Localism Bill,Planning Applications

United we are & United we should remain.

As the SNP and UK Government sides sat down to talks about Independence for Scotland, I was drawn to this piece in the UK’s Huffington Post.

With it’s short review about some of what has made a United Kingdom of Great Britain successful in the past, it proves again that we are better together than separate. Yes there have been differences between the members of the United Kingdom and I think it right for each region to have more self-governing powers through their own local Assemblies, but as the article suggests, we are stronger together than apart.

It’s unfortunate that Alex Salmond’s agenda appears to be more about kicking the Westminster Government than any overall benefits independence will bring for the Scottish people – despite his well crafted rhetoric. I think it is time that we need to look at the bigger picture in an increasingly uncertain world and without wanting to too sound over the top; as the article puts it…

“We, the British people, are greater than the sum of our parts. Let us fight, wherever we are, for our shared national home.”

Technorati Tags: United Kingdom,Great Britain

Sibly Hall – Earley Town Council (ETC) Meeting Update

Although more information is to come, it would appear that ETC agreed at the meeting last night that if local Earley residents can put forward a case for judicial review of the Sibly Hall planning decision made by Wokingham Council, the ETC Town Clerk will seek legal advice and put the matter to the next ETC Planning Committee on 6th March who would on the basis of the advice received recommend to the full council to proceed or not.

I will post more information as soon as I have it.

In the meantime you can download the Full minutes of the ETC Planning Committee of 10th Jan 2012 here.

Technorati Tags: Sibly Hall,Development,Reading University,Localism Bill

Earley Town Council meeting to discuss Sibley Hall Development

There is a full council meeting of Earley Town Council (ETC) tonight, Wednesday.

The first 20 minutes is reserved for residents to ask questions, make statements about the recent Wokingham Councils decision to grant Outline Planning Permission to Reading University for the Sibly Hall development.

A copy of the ETC meeting minutes will doubtless be sent to WBC, together with any issues raised.  Many local residents may well have something about the decision. ETC appear to have been treated with the same contempt that local residents were over this application. The meeting starts at 7.45 at ETC offices.

Local Press coverage so far includes:

• Get Reading - University of Reading lands Sibly Hall victory
• Get Reading - Appalled and disgusted' by Sibly Hall decision

Technorati Tags: Sibly Hall,Reading University,Development,Local Government,Localism

Sibly Hall Development–Outline Planning Permission granted!

A shock decision tonight (Wednesday 8th Feb.) as Wokingham Council Planning Committee grants outline planning permission to Reading University for their Sibly Hall development plans.

This decision, granted despite much local opposition before and at the meeting and Earley Town Councils rejection of the plan will impact many people in and around Sibly Hall.

I’ll post some more information about the meeting and what this will mean and what any next steps might able to be taken.

Technorati Tags: Development,Sibly Hall,Wokingham Council

Sibly Hall Development - Planning Meeting Wed. 8th Feb. 2012

The Wokingham Council Planning committee meeting date approaches - 7pm on 8th February at Wokingham Council Offices.

If you have not seen them, here are links to a) the Agenda for the forthcoming Planning Meeting - the Sibly Hall Development being the first item on the Agenda and b) a report prepared by Wokingham Council's Head of Development Management.

These two documents should have been on the web as described by the recent letter sent by Wokingham Council, unfortunately the link was incorrect but I managed to get the right link by ringing them for further info.

I also received today a set of documents from the Sibley Hall Action Group email list which they obtained under a Freedom of Information request which contains quite a bit of additional background information. This is also well worth reading as it contains emails & minutes of meetings discussing the Appeal by Reading University and various conversations between Solicitors, Wokingham Council and other interested parties.

These pages have already been included in one of the 40+ objection letters already lodged with Wokingham Council about this planned disastrous development.

Let's hope that Wokingham Planning Committee sees sense and turns down this application and saves us all from the immense ramifications that this development will be foisted on the local community.

See you at the meeting.

UK Broadband Speeds - OFCOM Report

OFCOM have just published their latest report about the state of the UK Broadband Speed. Makes for interesting reading. Still seems that there areas for improvement in delivery and the overall speed achievable in the UK. Full report can be found here.

Sibly Hall Development - Planning Committee Meeting

I received a letter from Wokingham Council last week about the Sibly Hall Development that is causing so much concern for local residents. It would seem from the letter that the planning application may be approved.

I really do think that this would be a disaster for local residents not only with the loss of one of the last remaining open green spaces in Earley, but also from the amount of pressure it will put on local resources and a serious increase in local traffic on what are already overcrowded local roads.

I understand that Reading University needs to move ahead, but building 80 plus houses and swallowing up this green open space is not welcomed by any local residents.

The Governments Localism Act was, amongst other elements supposed to deliver more say to local communities about what happens in their own 'backyard'. From what I have seen during this drawn out planning application phase is a complete disregard for local concerns by Reading University.

At least Earley Town Council has turned down the application. However, they don't have the final say as Wokingham Council planning committee will meet on the 8th February and as can be seen by the letter the application is recommended for approval.

Let's hope that some common sense prevails at that meeting and if as well attended as the Earley Town Council meeting - some 40+ people - Wokingham Planning Committee will understand the level of opposition to this planned housing development.

Information can be found on the letter if you want to attend the meeting and if you want to lobby the members of the Planning Committee prior to the meeting, their names and email addresses can be found here.

See you at the meeting.

My ISP – Broadband Speed Monthly Figures

My BT Infinity broadband connection has really stabilised over the first month of 2012.

BT have sent a letter out all users that they are replacing the Modems in the configuration. Let's hope that nothing happens to the speed after the changeover, except perhaps for even more speed!