Cllr Roy Gerstner – Community Activist

Almost daily, maybe lives in the field behind our bungalow…..becoming quite a regular visitor, looking in better condition than a few weeks ago.

More Muzic Radio, invited ALL Whittlesey Councillors to take part in a Radio Talk Show.
Three …. of ‘us’ have have decided to give it a go…..
First up is Cllr Barry Wainwright…

Dear Councillors,
We hope you’re all well.

 As a member of Whittlesey Town Council, we’d love to invite you to tune in to Town Talk Live this Sunday morning at 11am.

Our new monthly programme is all about giving local residents a chance to share their thoughts and discuss the issues that matter most to the Whittlesey community. It’s also a great way to hear directly from those you represent in a relaxed and open setting.

This Sunday’s show features Barry Wainwright, who will be joining us for a live conversation, with listeners contributing through calls and emails.

We hope you’ll be able to listen in from home and be part of the conversation.

Programme details:
• When: Sunday at 11am
• Where: Live on More Muzic Radio
• Format: Live discussion with audience participation

We’d be delighted if you could join us as a listener, and of course, you’d be very welcome to take part in a future programme too.

Warm wishes,
James Huggins
Producer, Town Talk Live

Many will see me out and about most ‘Sunny Days’ litterpicking and talking with people.

I am proud and honoured to have been a member of the Whittlesey Street Pride Group, for some 16 years now….I don’t go out in the winter months, but make up for it now.

30 members turned up today and collected around 30 bags of litter and rubbish from around our town.
Nice to see some teenagers doing voluntary work for their Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

With the prospect of the redevelopment of the ‘old’ cinema site, the unit(s) within the Emporium will be on the move.

©Radio Fenland

Hello Neighbours,
We have another bumper crop of interesting news from the network to share this month. We are cramming so much in, I’m genuinely considering going to a fortnightly format. I wonder if shorter newsletters every other week, might be easier to read. If you have strong views either to keep this monthly, or to move to fortnightly updates, please let me know in this very basic straw poll.

Highlights this month include

• The police have new powers to tackle antisocial behaviour

• New guidance advises using passkeys rather than passwords online

• Get a sneak peek of the Neighbourhood Watch podcast – coming soon! 

• NW updates from Blackpool and Suffolk

• Learn how community grants are being used in Nuneaton 

• Catch up on our knife crime webinar

  Crime and Policing Bill receives Royal Assent, giving police new powers

  The Crime and Policing Act has over 70 measures including tougher police powers to crackdown on antisocial behaviour and retail crime by introducing Respect Orders so police can ban repeat offenders from town centres and other locations. Other measures include new legislation on the sale of knives and introducing an offence for assaulting a retail worker with a possible sentence of six months in prison.
  Find out more on our website.

  National Cyber Security Centre: leave passwords in the past 

  Overhauling decades of security practice, the National Cyber Security Centre, a part of GCHQ, has taken the decision to no longer recommend individuals use passwords where passkeys are available because passwords lack the relative resilience to modern cyber threats. We’re working with experts on updating our guidance at Neighbourhood Watch but you can find out more from NCSC here.

  Get a sneak peek at the Neighbourhood Watch podcast

  We’ve finished recording the first four episodes of the Neighbourhood Watch podcast, hosted by BBC Radio 4’s Alfie Moore. It’s shaping up to be a fascinating series, talking to a range of celebrities about the communities they grew up in and their experiences of crime. Get a sneak peek of Andy Bush talking about how his parents were scammed online, here.

  Fundraise while you shop online

  Did you know that when you buy things online, you could be raising free donations for Neighbourhood Watch Network? 8,000 retailers, including eBay, Argos, John Lewis & Partners, ASOS, Booking.com and M&S, are ready to donate, and it won’t cost you a penny! Each time you shop online, visit the easyfundraising site first, to find the retailer you want. After you’ve checked out, they will donate to Neighbourhood Watch Network at no extra cost to you. Go to Easyfundraising and join for free.

  Neighbourhood Watch Community Grant update

  Nuneaton Neighbourhood Watch helped raise funds for bleed kits so they could be placed around the area to help someone in need. Chris Ellis, who lost his son Tom in a knife attack in 2024, presented bleed kits to the local community in a bid to save others’ lives. Brian Stansfield from Neighbourhood Watch said the kits will be given to local businesses and schools. He added: “We all know the terrible incident that happened in Nuneaton town centre and are making it our mission to prevent further needless loss of life.” Read the BBC news story here.

  Neighbourhood Watch Lottery update 

  Last month one of our lucky NW lottery players won £224.16, congratulations! The lottery generates a steady source of income for us to deliver national projects, support our volunteers and make more of an impact. You too can support Neighbourhood Watch and be in with a chance to win up to £25,000 a week. Play One Lottery here

  Tougher measures targeting antisocial behaviour become law

  The Crime and Policing Act has now received Royal Assent. This means that people who wreak havoc on local communities face tough new restrictions under new laws. New measures include Respect Orders that will let police and councils crack down on persistent adult offenders.  Police are also being handed tougher powers to seize vehicles linked to anti-social behaviour. Find out more.

  Neighbourhood Watch Week

  Is just a month away, and we’ll be offering Communi-Tea event packs in our shop soon. We got the whole team involved in packing, look at this teamwork! Each pack will include event posters, invitations, balloons, stickers, leaflets and tea. They will be available in the Neighbourhood Watch shop soon, watch out for updates in your inbox.

  

  And that is all for this month. If you’d prefer to have an online version of the newsletter to print, you can find that here. As ever, I love to know what you think, what could be better. It’s always so helpful to have feedback.