More figures for April and May from my BT Infinity Broadband connection. All seems to be working well, with a slight drop in May, due I think to some engineering work going on around this location. But still very stable.
Earley Reservoir – Engineering Works Proposals
Thames water is proposing an enlargement of the water storage tank (under the earth mound) at the Earley Reservoir on Elm Lane.
Although Planning permission has yet to be applied for, but it is understood that the plan is to extend the ‘back’ (when looking at the storage tank from Elm Lane) to the boundary line of the White Knights Primary School. It seems an odd shape extension to me! Does this mean that they will also extend to the right-hand side of the tank.
Thames Water are to hold a series of open Public Exhibitions to explain their proposals on:
- Tuesday 15th May at Earley Crescent Resource Centre, Warbler Way, Lower Earley, RG6 4HB – 10am – 6pm
- Friday 18th May at Lodden Valley Leisure Centre, Rushey Way, Lower Earley, RG6 4GD – 2pm – 9pm
- Saturday 26th May at Lodden Valley Leisure Centre, Rushey Way, Lower Earley, RG6 4GD – 2pm – 9pm
Local residents should already be receiving letters about these dates and other information.
Will this be another ‘Sibley Hall’ planning debacle? We will have to see what is said at the meetings and see what Thames Water thinks about local residents reactions to their planned proposals.
In my one conversation with them, they have said they acknowledge that the open space is a very well used area by local residents and they are concerned that it is kept as open and accessible as possible both during the engineering works and afterwards. We will see.
My ISP – Broadband Speed Monthly Figures
The March BT Infinity download figures maintained a steady count of around 29MB.
Keep it going.
Sibly Hall Communications Mast to go ahead
Despite many local objections and a public enquiry (download see report here) ignoring them, a Communications Mast is finally to be erected inside of Redhatch Copse. In fact, according to a letter from Reading University’s Public Relations (there’s a joke) work is due to start this very week!
And so it begins!
My ISP – Broadband Speed Monthly Figures
My BT Infinity broadband figures for February delivered another good month of performance.
BT replaced the Infinity modem as part of their swap out plans, although I had not seen any problems with my original modem – manufacturing fault as far as I could see. Lets hope it continues.
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.
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).
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.
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:
Beasley's Place 