Cllr Roy Gerstner – Community Activist

I estimate some 60+ U3A Members attended at Police Education meeting this afternoon.
Touching briefly on various subjects including Cyber-Crime and People Trafficing.
One member asked what about a Police Station for Whittlesey –

What looked like Fly-Tip may have been a clearout, was removed by 16:00 this afternoon.

I am told that there is a lot of comment on social media, I have brought this and other concerns re buildings in/around town to tonights Full Town Council meeting (Agenda) – I am informed that Cllr Dee Laws will bring us all up to date  and will naturally when I make my normal report on the Council meeting.

Nearly a year in planning – This year’s Whittlesey Extravaganza is very well advanced.

Saturday 11th December – In and around The Market Place.

Thanks to all the committee who have worked very hard to get this years event organised.

This morning – Contractors installing three way temporary traffic lights – Hallcroft Road, Plough Road & A605 – close proximity to West End Stores.
Work hadn’t started but traffic queued back to Sir Harry Smith’s entrance, Cemetery Road & Kellyvision roundabouts grid locked.
Drivers couldn’t see if there is an emergency ie water flooding the road or any gas signs but only the contractors standing around watching the chaos and didn’t appear to have any urgency to start work .. this just added fuel to the fire !
Usual permit for street works – hours of work between 9.30am – 3.00pm/4.00pm, especially along A605.

No one at Whittlesey Town Council had been informed of these works, I can only presume they were of an emergency of some type.
This afternoon around 16:00 the traffic at Kellyvision was normal but I could see ‘Orange Flashing Lights at West End. The issues would be at peak periods.

There has been comments about the ‘new’ Inter-active’ Signage being ‘Blank’ no information – as is usual it is only as good as the people controlling the Inter-Active Signs.

For those of you that use Amazon.co.uk you may already have been informed that as of January 19^th 2022, Amazon will not accept Visa credit cards for payment.

I note with interest, that they advise you to replace the card with either a Debit Card or another credit card issuer.
Please remember, that using a credit card to online shop provides you with more consumer protection than using your debit card.

Using a credit card, you are spending someone else’s money until you pay it back.

Using a debit card, you are spending your own money.

I like to try and predict how the criminals will react to the Amazon announcement, so I would not be surprised and I urge you to be alert to the fact, that criminals will exploit this situation to send phishing communications that appear to come from Amazon, inviting you to click on a link so you can change the card details on your account.

May I suggest, that you access your Amazon account (or any online account) via the genuine website or genuine app, not via a link in a text, email or social media message.

Regards

Mr Nigel Sutton 8517
Fraud and Cyber Security Advisor
Serious & Organised Crime (Intelligence and Specialist Crime Department)

Cambridgeshire Constabulary

Whittlesey’s No Pain No Gain – won the Community Group In the Pride of Fenland Awards this evening.

This meeting was advertised – although only a few (myself and other Councillors) attended this virtual event.
I have to say – What is the point, and somewhat difficult in what this hopes to achieve – that is not already being carried out on several platforms already.