Cllr Roy Gerstner – Community Activist

Click Here For Cambs Firework Safety

Fireworks and the law

It is an offence for anyone under the age of 18 to possess fireworks in public places, and an offence for anyone, other than a firework professional, to possess professional display fireworks.

Police have the power to issue fixed penalty notices to those under the age of 18 caught with fireworks in a public place.

It is illegal to set off fireworks between 11pm and 7am. On November 5th displays can continue until midnight, and on certain occasions, such as New Year’s Eve, Diwali, and Chinese New Year, fireworks can be set off until 1am.

On Friday the Service celebrated eight new recruits completing their initial training, allowing them to now respond to emergencies in their communities and across the county. 

Family and friends joined the new recruits at a pass out ceremony where they demonstrated some of the many skills they have learned during their initial training. 

Group Commander Paul Oliver said: “It’s a privilege to welcome eight new on-call firefighters to the Service. We rely heavily on the commitment of on-call firefighters and the support of their families to provide operational cover with more than half of the county’s fire stations being solely crewed by on-call firefighters.”  

We are currently recruiting on-call firefighters at stations around the county to respond to emergencies around other commitments. If you want to help your local community and become an on-call firefighter visit the careers section on the website. 

The new on-call firefighters will be responding from the following stations:  

Alex Gould – Thorney Fire Station
Anthony Seward – St Ives Fire Station
Dan Randall – Whittlesey Fire Station 
Dan Wilson – St Ives Fire Station
Gio Moscaritolo – Gamlingay Fire Station
Jack Bradbury – Chatteris Fire Station
Keith Peacock-Wratten – Sutton Fire Station
Phil Childs – Kimbolton Fire Station

Police being impersonated in scam calls using ‘spoofed’ phone numbers.

Report Fraud, run by the City of London Police, is urging the public to be sure of who they are talking to following a spike in reports of calls from ‘spoofed’ police force phone numbers.
Analysis of data from Report Fraud, the national cyber crime and fraud reporting service, shows that there has been an increase in reports made where the caller has purported to be from a police force from a variety of areas across the country.
The City of London Police itself, the National Lead Force for fraud, has also taken thousands of crime reports of a similar nature.

But in reality, it is a criminal contacting a member of the public, using a ‘spoofed’ phone number to try and obtain sensitive personal or financial details so that fraud can then go on to be committed. Often, the criminals will claim that the victim will be helping with an investigation by providing the personal or financial information they are asking for.

While a number of calls about this type of fraud has been made to Report Fraud, this is likely to be the tip of the iceberg and a far bigger problem that is not reported, so the full scale is unknown.

Criminals use ‘spoofing’ software to intentionally cover up their real caller ID and instead, mirror the phone number of a legitimate organisation. They do this to make it appear that calls or text messages are coming from a trusted organisation like the police, banks or government agencies.
These scam calls may use AI technology, be automated or from a real person.
Their main goal is to trick you into sharing personal information or to transfer money.

How to protect yourself.

• Remember that genuine service providers, banks and the police will NEVER call asking you to transfer money, share personal financial details or hand over remote control of your computer.
• If you are in any way suspicious, or feel pressured into anything, hang up and take time to check if the call is genuine. Call back on a number you know to be genuine, for example as shown on your utility bills or the back of your card. You can also call 159 to get through to your bank, or 101 for the police.
• Don’t trust the Caller ID display on your phone – it’s not proof of ID,

Report a suspicious phone call

If you’ve lost money or have been hacked as a result of responding to a phishing message or scam call, you should report it to Report Fraud.

In England, Wales or Northern Ireland, visit https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/ or call 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, report to Police Scotland by calling 101.

You should also report suspected scam calls by sending a text to 7726 with the word ‘Call’ and the caller’s number.

If you’ve shared personal information with a suspicious caller

• Learn how to protect yourself if you think you’ve shared personal information.

·  If you’ve visited a website you think is suspicious, you can report a scam website or link to us.

The very successful (volunteers) of the Whittlesey Festival will be holding their AGM.
This is formal notification  that the AGM for Whittlesey Festival will be held on Tuesday 24th November 2026.

It will be held at The Falcon Hotel, to begin at 7.00 pm.  Written reports and the Agenda will be sent out on the 16th November 2026.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Chair:  Jenny Parker has served two of her three year tenure but has decided to stand down at the 2026 AGM.

Carl Flippance is willing to stand in her place.

Vice Chair:  David Bailey will step away from this position and has stated he will become part of the Partner Group.

Jenny Parker is willing to stand in his place.

Treasurer:  Pat Ash is still willing to be re-elected for Treasurer, but does not wish to deter other nominations for this post.

Secretary:  Tina Overton  is willing to stand for re-election

The two vacant seats on the Steering Group are therefore for 

Chair.
Vice Chair.

Should you wish to be nominated for either of the above, please send in your nomination slip (which will be attached to this email), signed by yourself, a Proposer and a Seconder, to be with Tina, the Secretary, no later than the 17th November 2026, to ensure all relevant paperwork is dealt with before the AGM itself.

If you are unable to attend the AGM, please send in your proxy vote, also attached to this email.  This can be brought to the AGM itself, or sent direct to Tina, the Secretary, no later than the 17th November 2026.

If you wish anything to be put onto the Agenda for discussion during the AGM please let Tina, the Secretary know as soon as possible.   There is no AOB at an AGM.   Additional items are however, at the discretion of the Chairwoman.

Whittlesey Festival

Our neighbourhood officers are joining North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust for a free event all around CPR awareness.

Knowing CPR could help save a life, and you don’t need any medical experience to learn these skills.

At the event, you will be able to:

✅Learn how to recognise a cardiac arrest

✅Have a go at chest compressions on a training manikin

✅Learn about automated external defibrillators (AED) and how they can help save lives.

If you are available and this is something you are interested in, then come along:

📍Queensgate Shopping Centre

🕰️From 9am until 5pm

🗓️Wednesday, 21 October

I was unable to attend this years celebration.

The office is closed today Friday.
You can always contact you own councillor.
Details on the Top Toolbar.

Why not subscribe yourself. Click Here To Receive The Fenlander

Don’t miss in this month’s The Fenlander:

• Council opposes Government plan for 26-bed asylum seeker accommodation
• Fenland’s food waste recycling service expands to more homes
• Mould-ridden flats overhauled after council intervention
• Options outlined for future of Manor Leisure Centre, Whittlesey
• New Fenland Culture Fund launching this November!
• Travel Buddies helps Fenland residents travel with greater confidence
• Scheme to help households and pensioners entitled to support 
• Funding available for your green projects – applications closing soon! 
• Fenland set to receive a share of the Government’s new Good Food Neighbourhoods programme
• Motion supporting sports pitch provision in March backed by Council
• New air quality monitor sites in Whittlesey
• Council receives Silver Award under Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme
• Continuation of Wisbech town centre street drinking order
• Families in Wisbech are enjoying a newly transformed play area
• Criminal record and fine for fly-tipper

Community safety messages

Click Here To Receive The Fenlander

I will be attending this meeting.