Author: Mike

The Sibley Hall Action Group has issued a new newsletter with further information about the Planning Application for the Radio Communication that could be placed in the Ancient Woodland adjacent to the current Sibly Hall if passed.

The two links in this letter are:

– Potential impact images of the proposed mast.

– Potential health risks of radio comms. masts. 

More info on the the recent Planning Application information can be found here and on the whole Sibly Hall development plan in a previous post, here.

Let’s see what happens at the Planning Meeting, 7:30 pm Earley Town Council offices, Radstock Lane, Tuesday 4th Jan. 2011 – tomorrow!

I have been now been running on the newly installed BT Infinity Broadband connection since early December.

As can be seen from the graph I have seen a steady climb up towards 18MB download whilst the upload has been pretty constant since around the 5th December.

I have not noticed a great deal of fall off in the evening when more people are online.

Two things I have noticed (which is an obvious result of the upgrade) is a better ‘picture’ when watching anything on BBC iPlayer on our (network connected) HDTV and the ability to run more data over the ‘link’. It arrived at the right time as I have had to move some quite large image data files around and the faster upload speed certainly helped.

The router (which now has a separate external modem) has reset it self a few times, I assume for updates? However it is not affected the speed.

It will be interesting to see if the speed climbs any higher in January 2011 or as BT add more users to the fibre loop, if it stays the same.

Events are moving onto another stage in ongoing saga of the redevelopment of Sibly Hall.

Earley Town Council have issued a letter (dated 24th December 2010 – received 29th December 2010) for all residents around Sibly Hall about their next Planning Meeting (4th January 2011) where they will consider the planning application for the proposed 30 Metre Telecoms mast that will be erected to replace the current aerials that are on the roof of Sibly Hall is demolished.

The Earley Town Council letter refers readers to the Wokingham Borough  Council Planning department where the original Planning Application Forms were lodged back in early November 2010.

I must admit I forgot to add links in one of my previous posts about the planning applications forms when they became available on the Wokingham.

I did have a look for them after receiving this letter and after three attempts I found them. Lots of them!

The Sibly Hall Action Group have issued a Letter To Residents South of Sibley Hall which they asked me to post here that offers guidance as to what residents can do next along with a link to the Wokingham Planning Offices web site which will allow residents to view the various planning forms. Please double-click on image on the left to see full size letter.

I have also added a list at the end of this blog that provides links to all of the the various forms that were submitted by the University, Developer and other parties to the Wokingham Planning Office.

There is a lot of reading here, (make a cup of tea before you sit down to read them) including comments submitted as being statements made by residents at the open-air meeting & the road-side protest about their feelings towards the development.

I suspect that the meeting at Earley Town Council offices will be a well-attended meeting.

Sibly Hall – Radio Comms. Mast Planning Application Forms(Copyright is acknowledged where relevant)

1-Application Form

2a-Covering Letter

2b-Planning Application Telecommunications Mast Application-14156

3-Head Of Terms For Relocation Of Mast

5-Location Plan Map

6-Visual Impact Assessment Proposed Telecom Mast

7-Mast Panoramic Photos-Included In_Item6

8-Mast Photos Reverse Location-Included In_Item6

9-ARBORICULTURAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

10-CONSULTATION PLAN

11-DESIGN & ACCESS STATEMENT

12-Ecological Report

13-Existing Tree Survey

14a-2G_Signal Coverage Analysis Map

14b-3G_Signal Coverage Analysis Map

14c-Signal Coverage Analysis Maps-1

14d-GSM Association_Mobiles Comms & Health Info

15-SITE_ELEVATIONS_PLANS

16-Statement of Community Engagement

17-Site Specific Supplementary Information

With Royal Assent being given, repealing the Identity Cards Act 2006. We say a farewell to what was set to be the biggest intrusion into our lives for many years, as well as being a shocking waste of public money.

Check out the statement on the Identity & Passport Office for more details and what you have to do if you already have one of the New ID Cards.

However, we should still not feel that this one ‘gain’ offsets the rest of the states ‘Big-Brother’ apparatus that continues to monitor our daily movements.

The UK is still the biggest user of CCTV in public places that are used to track us for manner of things from dropping cigarettes/litter (a good thing perhaps) to checking that we have the right to park in a particular place.

However, there are other positive uses. For example, some of the ‘32’ CCTV cameras on the Clifton Suspension Bridge may help in the capture of the killer of Joanna Yeates. I hope it does

For me, it’s not so  much about the number of CCTV cameras, it is about who uses them and how ‘we’ control the data collected on them and how the ‘watchers’ are made to answer in public about their use of our CCTV images.

Perhaps this could be one of the new Public Petitions recently discussed by the Coalition?

Time for another report on the Broadband Speed! Had a good month with an average 6.7MB download and .95MB Upload. So all stable for November.

But what more news! Had some phone calls from BT offering a move the recently rolled out BT Infinity! Various discussions about prices, but ended up with a good deal that won’t cost me any more than I pay now and that’s a good deal!

Anyway, it was installed/upgraded today and initial speeds have jumped to 13.6 MB download and 7.72MB Upload. Apparently this takes a while to stabilise, but the lines tests indicate a possibility of around 22MB download!

Reading University has been accused of hiding behind secrecy over the impending redevelopment of the Sibly Hall, saying that disclosure of information under Freedom of Information requests would prevent it fetching the best price for the land.

See the full story here.

As IKEA prepares plans for a store at Pincents Hill Retail Park – see previous post, councillors warn of potential impact on local traffic. See more here.

Moving on with my BT upgrade for my Broadband speed. Since the ‘’free upgrade to their ‘up to 10MB’ option, my speed is finally stabilizing at an average speed of 6.9Mb Download and .95Mb Upload. Here are the graphs for the month of September and October.

  

Will upload the November graph in December, which is showing a slow rise back up to 7.0MB!

Great news for all us IKEA’Phobes!! Not so great for the proposed location! One thing that has always amazed me about local planners is their sheer misunderstanding of how real life works.

You only have to look around Reading (see bottom of post for other examples) to see how congested they have made various shopping areas around Reading and now it looks like they’re going to do it again with the IKEA development in Pincents Lane, Tilehurst.

 

 

 

 

 

 

With one roundabout controlling traffic towards, Sainsbury’s, DunElm, Porsche, McDonalds and a number of other places, we’re now going to see thousand of us try to get past the same roundabout as we struggle to leave with our Billy Book Cases and POÄNG chairs (very comfortable by the way).

Surely a development of this magnitude whilst long overdue on this of London deserves a better location with better access. Or, perhaps its just a way the planners have of limiting our access to these ‘new’ facilities!

Some other self generated Reading bottle necks include:

• The recently installed Shinfield Traffic Lights – Now to be ‘adjusted’

• The entrance to the Reading Gate Retail Park – Only one in/out roundabout

• The entrance to the Brunel Retail Park – Only one in/out roundabout

Will the same thing happen for the proposed Reading University Science park just over the M4 with a new roundabout proposed to go between the Black Boy pub and the M4? How will they fit that in!

It seems to me that ‘Planners’ do not answer to anyone of authority and they continue to be able to introduce more and more congestion into our already overcrowded roads without any consequence to their actions.

It seems that we might just have found a refuge for Human Kind.

Astronomers have discovered an Earth ‘like’ planet that show signs that it could support Human Life – just the right distance from its Sun, atmosphere that is potentially breathable by Humans etc. etc.

Only one issue, its 20 light years away!!! Oh well I suppose its safe from our oblivious desire to destroy what left of this planet!!