Friday 17 February 2012

Money and Mobiles


People are already jittery about using the internet for transactions apart from the convenience factor - Could this App pull in more electronic customers?

Some time back I wondered about the use of mobiles for transferring money - Barclays seem to have taken this on now.
The Barclays Pingit system uses a smartphone app to permit person-to-person cash transfers of up to £300.
A BBC article says that "This looks like a big step forwards in the long delayed mobile money revolution. When it comes to turning the phone into a wallet, this country - and much of Europe - is in the slow lane compared to some countries in the developing world."
The Telegraph says that Sean Gilchrist, head of Digital Banking at Barclays,claims the new app features “industry standard encryption”, and can automatically be wiped from a phone if a user tells the bank they have lost their device.

Tuesday 14 February 2012

More development by stealth.

The Bracknell Standard reported on a previous development by stealth.

Yet again an application has gone in for more flats to be built at Christine Ingram  Gardens. 

The last application was for a certificate of Lawful use of flats already constructed within the building.
The opening up of these flats has been refused serveral times on different grounds. To complicate matters, the old barn is being used a business and is also taking up car parking spaces.
The result is an overflow of parking onto Lakeside, and a potential overlooking of properties.
These flats that the developer seeks permission for were included in the building when the place was first constructed. Residents took photographs of the stairways and carpets.

The last bit of the jigsaw was to get the certificate of lawfulness on the ground that these could be rooms in the roof, and then to issue this current planning permission.

There has been huge opposition to this development by residents. The planning committee has turned down applications time and again. Ultimately the legal and monetary resources of the developer may win.
It may be legal but it aint right!

PS 11/00015/FUL - 0 Christine Ingram Gardens, Bracknell, Berkshire
Conversion of roof space of blocks A and B to provide 6no. additional flats (3no. one bedroom flats and 1no. two bedroom flat in Block A,  2no. one bedroom flats in Block B).  Provision of 9 additional car parking spaces and 10 additional cycle spaces and relocation of visitor cycle store.
http://democratic.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=585&MId=4109