Hi there

We are up to 200 supporters of the whistle board campaign and it is still increasing - thanks for all your support and keep on sharing the link as we need as much support as possible. As you know tonight is the meeting with Network Rail and we encourage you all to attend. Below is the agenda we will be following:

Venue: Salvation Army Hall, Sturges Road, Wokingham

Attending: Local Residents

- Philip Lawman (PL) – Chair (Resident Gipsy Lane)

- Tony Spring (TS) –  Speaker (Resident Carey Road)

- Roger Gook (RG) –  Speaker (Resident Gipsy Lane)

- Mark Steers (MS) – Speaker(Resident Gipsy Lane)

Network Rail - TBA

Agenda

1. Introductions 
- PL
2. Outline the position – Network Rail
3. Understand the rational – PL
4. Risk Assessment - RG
5. Impact
assessment - TS
6. Open questions to the floor – PL
7. Summary – MS
8. Close
 

Notes to residents attending the meeting:

 1. Attendees - In addition to local residents, we should have representatives from Wokingham Council, The Chairperson and other committee members of the Greater Langborough Residents Association (GLRA) and the press.
 

2. Objectives –
 

a. Obtain agreement from Network Rail (NR) to remove the whistle boards and reduce the speed of the trains to what they were before however, if this does not happen we want the following agreement:
 

i. Whistle boards to be suspended until this consultation process is concluded
ii. We have an agreed NR senior contact point for liaison
iii. NR to confirm who the decision maker is
iiii. Agreement on the way forward with a date for next face to face meeting.
 3. Questions –
a. The speakers have been gathering questions from a wide range of residents to ensure as many views as possible are aired.
 

b. It is appreciated that everyone’s questions are equally important however, to ensure we get through the agenda it would be greatly appreciated if attendees could hold additional questions until the meeting is open to the floor during agenda item 6.
 

c. We have a wide range of questions from local residents in the question bank. To manage these, questions have been have been split into three broad categories. Each category has been assigned to a speaker.
 i. Understanding the rationale – A series of questions will be asked to understand what has driven the decision to implement these procedures now. Why have NR taken this action when it seems that all options have not been thoroughly explored.
ii. Risk Assessment – Understanding what risk assessment has taken place by NR since 2013. What alternatives options have been exhausted with a rational as to why they have been rejected. What guarantees are there that the boards combined with increased speed do not create a greater threat (including those with sensory impairments).
iii. Impact Assessment – Understanding what environmental impact assessment has been carried out and the findings. What NR believes is a proportionate impact and whether NR have any idea as to the extent of the issue they have caused.
 

4. Questions – A range of questions have been sent to NR as agreed outlined below. This is by no means an exhaustive list.
 

a. Why have the whistle boards been installed and why was there no consultation with local residents?
b. What regulations must the train drivers now adhere to?
c. in advance of the meeting, can you provide us with a copy of the:
i. risk assessment which identified the need for whistle boards to be installed?
ii. impact assessment on local residents 
iii. what other options were considered and why were they ruled out?
iiii. who is guaranteeing that Knoll Farm will be accessed by the new housing development?
 

5. Action taken so far – A wide range of people have been active since the full extent of this issue has become apparent, including:
a. Our MP – John Redwood has been actively engaged in supporting our view that the imposition of whistle boards is disproportionate in the effect on a wide range of local residents. He has written to the CEO of NR. We are awaiting a response. In addition he is blogging and tweeting the issue.
b. Complaints – a range of complaints have been submitted to NR and the local authority.
c. Information – A number of Freedom of Information requests have been made from NR regarding a range of subjects including risk and impact assessments.
d. Research – A number of environmental impact assessment and legal documents have been researched including World Health Organisation (impact of noise on health), Human Rights Act (duty corporate bodies have on noise and proportionate impact on society) and similar cases involving whistle boards.
e. Decibel readings – A series of (non-scientific) dB reading have been taken indoors for line side homes.
f. Petition – a petition with over 180 signatories has been established.
g. BBC South today have interviewed and filmed relevant residents about the impact of the new NR procedures and hopefully this will be aired on Monday 3rd December
 

We welcome everyone to attend and make your feelings very apparent to Network Rail.

 Thanks Anita