Cllr Roy Gerstner – Community Activist

Tomorrow is a very important day for Whittlesey. The Johnsons Aggregates Planning Application CCC/21/024 is being heard and discused at Cambridgeshire County Council Planning Committee. This 2 years of planning has resulted in ‘Officers’ recommending approval of the application.
Over the past 2 years I and a small number of concerned residents have tried to keep as many informed as possible. The more recent SaxonGate Residents Group have made a big leap in resident communications.

I will be attending the meeting to put forward Whittlesey Town Councils objections and concerns, Mr. Stephen Hodson will respresent the SaxonGate Group.
We have only 5 minutes each to put our case.
Cambs County Councillor Chris Boden will also speak on our case.

You can watch the proceedings on the Councils Youtube account from 10:00am

(https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/council/meetings-and-decisions/council-meetings-live-web-stream) through which you are able to view and listen to the debate.
You can also follow along on Twitter with the hashtag #CCCmtgs

This years Mayors Charity Duck Race was another outstanding event, about 150/200 adults and children – the usual number turned out for a ‘Sell Out’ event – All Tickets Sold.

I know it was a number 800+ – one of the last ones sold today which was the winner.
Sunshine – an hour of fun….Nice.
Thanks to our local St Johns Ambulance Team who supported the event.

I was hoping to update on Tuesday after Easter, however JE @ The Cambs Times© has broke the story this afternoon – you can read it Here

Cambs CC Planning Committee meet this Wednesday 20th April @ 10:00
Besides myself (Whittlesey Town Council), others registered to speak are, a representative from The Saxongate Group, a respresentative from Kings Delph, County Councillor Chris Boden and the applicants. We are only allowed 5 minutes each.
The full documents and assocated proposed resitrictions can be read on Cambs CC Planning Portal  by Clicking Here – Go to Item 4 on the Agenda.

Cambridgeshire CC Planning Officers are recommending to the Planning Committee that the application be ‘approved’

Cllr Kay Mayor and myself had a good morning outside of Blunts Lane Co-Op this morning promoting this Mondays ‘Mayors Charity Duck Race’ at The Bower for 2pm
We had very good sales of the ‘Tickets’ @ £1 each – there are a few left to be sold at the event. Come along and have some FUN.

JB looking a bit lost…..

Cambridgeshire Police Fraud & Cyber Alert – £150 Energy Bill Rebate Scam

National media reports state that fraudsters are cold-calling people and posing as government representatives and then requesting bank details to receive the government’s £150 energy rebate. Currently, I am unaware of any such reports within Cambridgeshire.

The one-off rebate is available to most properties in bands A-D, around four-fifths of homes in England.

Key message.

All households which pay council tax by direct debit will receive the rebate directly into their bank account, while others will be sent a letter with details of how to claim.

Please DO NOT give out any of your bank details in response to a cold call including telephone, text, email, or Social Media platforms.

If you want genuine information and guidance on the rebate, visit the official government website www.gov.uk

For the media article about the scam visit New scam warning as cold-callers pretend to offer £150 energy bill rebate | UK News | Sky News

If you suspect you are a victim of a scam, contact your bank first and then report to Action Fraud.
Regards
Nigel
Mr Nigel Sutton 8517
Fraud and Cyber Security Advisor
Serious & Organised Crime (Intelligence and Specialist Crime Department)

Cambridgeshire Constabulary

Hinchingbrooke Park,
Huntingdon, PE29 6NP

    
Nene Millennium Bridge.               Bower River

Service on Whittlesey Market Place 10:00am this morning.

Planning approval for the residential development Eastrea Road by Barrrat/David Wilson Homes – permission was issued this afternoon, this includes road network for both the ALDI store and the BDWH development.

|Some maybe shopping at ALDI before Christmas|

We has seen reports of a trader cold-calling who has been pressurising some residents into having their roofs pressure-washed. Rogue traders know no boundaries, of course, so this could be happening in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough too.

Residents have subsequently been informed by the trader that the roofing battens are rotten and will need to be replaced urgently.

At two properties, the roof covering was completely stripped, at considerable cost to the residents, even though they believed that it was only going to be pressure-washed.

Pressure-washing a roof may not always be advisable or even required and residents should consider seeking independent expert advice before agreeing to such work.

Our advice to residents is to always be on their guard if they receive an unexpected visit from a trader and do not agree to any work or enter into a contract for goods or services immediately after an unsolicited visit.

Always take some time to consider your options and consider obtaining a number of quotes from reputable local traders, before making a decision.

Traders who have been vetted and approved can be found through, for example, our CAPASP Partners  Safe Local Trades | Find recommended and approved traders in Peterborough and surrounding areas or  Buy With Confidence – Trading Standards Approved .

If you  would like to report a cold-calling incident or a suspicious trader you have witnessed calling at homes nearby, contact the Police on 101 and  Contact the consumer helpline – Citizens Advice .  If you feel threatened, or it is an emergency, always dial 999.