Cllr Roy Gerstner – Community Activist

Firstly the facts :- Whittlesey Town Council has NOT put up their share of Council Tax/Precept for at least 7 years, I have fully supported this.

Whittlesey Town Council supports more events for our town than any other within Fenland.
The debate happening now is the costs of ‘Hanging Baskets’ around the town, this the Council have paid for, as long as I can remember.
This year the costs have risen considerably (it does go out to tender) and I’m not putting the figures here today – other than more than £10,000 – this year being a commemoration of the 80th anniversaries of VE & VJ.
Just in yesterday the local Boxing Club is struggling for a venue and finances.
Year on year all events cost more…..

So the debate could be do ‘we’ as a Council carry on forever supporting/part sponsoring the multitude of events and organisations who come to us every year.
At some stage the only way to support will be to increase ‘our’ Council Tax.

Already asked – sponsorship, well some take little or no notice, but ALL the Gateway StreetPride projects are sponsored by local businesses and has been so for many years.
‘In-Bloom’ another fanitastic small group of volunteers plant up the Town and Bus Shelter area.

The debate has only just begun, but I dare say many will have their views – perhaps some idea’s or suggestions to help our town look vibrant and welcoming.

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The petition can be found here:
www.change.org/p/reclaim-and-restore-the-historical-the-three-horseshoes-as-a-community-hub

Our just giving page is here:
www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/3horseshoeshub

From Street Pride Secretary – Peter Davies.

It is with regret that I have to inform you of the passing this morning of Fred Mills, past Chairman of Street Pride 2015 – 2023. Eight years of fun, and joy with you in command.
Fred was always there, helping out not only at the litter picks, but also he arranged all of the outside presence at the Extravaganza, The Summer Festival and the Big Bash. He organised the tables, prizes plus the banners.

He and Rose would sit there all day selling raffle tickets at the Big Bash for the Tesco’s cake, which he had also arranged.
He was ever present at the social events, being there, selling Street Pride to would be members.
Fred you will be missed and now may you rest in peace, without the pain that you have had to endure these past months.

Hundreds if not Thousands of local residents were taught by John, including myself who already had a South Aftrican Licence – and Connie, we both were luckily enough to pass first time.

Condolences.
Stannard June and John (Leslie) From Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire and more recently, Weeting, Norfolk.
June and John, aged 89 and 91 years respectively.
After 70 years of marriage, both passed away peacefully on February 28th, 2025.
Dearly loved parents of Sandra and Denise, beloved grandparents of Cerys and Eleanor and in-laws to Trevor and Dave.
They will be deeply missed by all who knew them.
A joint funeral service will take place on Monday March 31st at 12pm, in St Edmunds Chapel, West Suffolk Crematorium

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We all are concerned of the future of this Green open space, after years of regular vandalism and for-ever trolled about the lack of equipement and upkeep.

The Recreation Ground is ‘owned’ by Fenland District Council, and it’s my undersatnding it was ‘gifted’ by a Mr. Bundy.
Cllr Nawaz has lead a campaign to secure its furure, but he is not alone in that ‘We’ all want to keep it and see what can be achieved in the longer term.

©FC
Lease with peppercorn rent best safeguard for Whittlesey town park

Councillors are looking to safeguard the long-term future of a town recreation ground to prevent it from being sold-off for housing.

Whittlesey Town Council discussed the options for the Station Road rec at its meeting on Thursday.

Read article Click Here….

©CCC

Presented at last weeks WTC meeting, remember when the Lincs Co-Op first made plans to build a small form supermarket – there was a lot of opposition including some Councillors. Planning permission was granted by FDC and now there’s some community money to be had – well some have had a change of tune.

Whether the supermarket is viable is not for us to decide but down to market forces.
Today Morrisons have announced closure of a number of convienient stores.

The Lincolnshire Co-Op, as with many others including our own NISALocal have made very charitable grants and donations to many local groups and causes over a number of years.

The RBL are holding a “Indoor Street Party” at Childers on the 9^th May – more when I have details.

Saturday 29 March 2025  – Members will be taking part in the Great Tommy Sleep Out at Decoy Lakes.

Thursday 08 May 2025     – The Branch will be holding a short ceremony at the War Memorial VE Day Parade.

At yesterdays FDC Cabinet Meeting….

I have been asked about this on a number of occasions, and when I investigated was told by FDC officers there wasn’t the ‘footfall’ to justify the expense, only last year I was asked by The Friends of The Manor to look into it again and I got rough costings of around £400K but didn’t realy have a gateway to fund this project.

I am pleased that there has been a change of ‘tune’, and come about by a capital funding program known as ‘Inspire Fenland’ I understand that Cllr Elizabeth Sennitt-Clough (a Park Running) has been lobbying for this project.

Below is an extract from yesterdays cabinet meeting, traditional tarmacadam path, bound by concrete edging is the answer in this location and will last many years.

I am hoping that the estimate costing of £300K is realistic and deliverable.

Naturally it will be an excellent asset to the Manor Field, including Park Runners, Dog Walkers and those with Mobility Scooters.
Also suggested more robust picnic tables and benches.