Cllr Roy Gerstner – Community Activist

I have on a number of occasions reported to FDC the poor state of cleansing on our ‘ancient monument’ The Buttercross.
I have been told on all these occasions that it is ‘Jet Washed’ every week.
Today – I took photographs of the flooring and have asked again it be addressed.

If it is !!! Jet Washed every week, then maybe it needs doing more frequently…

As for broken glass, take-away packaging and paperwaste – the Street Cleaners do a very good job every morning clearing up = Other Peoples Rubbish =

Last week – the prospective candidate for Police & Crime Commissioner, Mr Darryl Preston spent a bit of time at the Market Square and I reported my short conversation with him.

This week it was (present) Metro Mayor of The Combined Authority Mr James Palmer.
He is campaigning to be re-elected.
There are two other candidates who have yet to ‘arrive’ in Whittlesey.
I met James Palmer 4  years ago when he was electioneering to become the first Mayor of the Comined Authority.
I questioned and he answered about the overall running costs of the CA, to which he replied that the remit has expanded greatly from the original job description.

I questioned and he answered about moving from Alconbury to new offices, to which he replied that the Alconbury site was wasted space and too large and he would save £750K.
I was supportive of the initiative he took to take control of financing the bulk of the Kings Dyke Crossing, the £1 million Whittlesey has received for a Heritage Centre, Heritage Walk and the 11+ years we have waiting for ‘interactive signage’ for the B1040.

Mayor Palmer was taken for a walk along ‘Inhams Road’ where he witnessed the issues of HGV’s…..He went for walk around talking to the Market Stall Holders.

Several other Councillors and two Candidates for Whittlesey also attended.

My correspondent reports…..
I observed the on line debate with around 100 others.

My impression, was that Dr Nik Johnson (Labour) equipped himself well rising from a pre event ‘vote’ of 32% to post event of 61%,
The Lib Dem (Aidan Van de Weyer) speaking to the point that I can only recall his gaffs and many of the things that are not going so well in South Cambs his vote went from 18% to 12%..
James Palmer was the most eloquent but does not consider the environment to be a matter he is concerned about (my opinion). His pre event 3% rose to 9%. I appreciate that the environmental audience was probably out gunned by political activists, but it was a shame that there is not a Green Candidate at all!

Pre circulated questions were addressed adequately but I feel the only one that did some research was the Labour Candidate Nik Johnson, and whilst he is a well trained politician, he earned the result in my opinion.

The Election for Mayor of the Combined Authority takes place on May 06th….

As part of the devolution deal, the responsibilities of the combined authority will include the following:

• A £600 million budget for local economic growth (£20 million over 30 years)
• A £170 million budget for housing, including affordable and council housing, with £70 million specifically for housing in Cambridge
• Transport infrastructure improvement and maintenance
• Provision of skills training and apprenticeships
• Integration of local health and social care resources
• Integration of local employment services, and design of a National Work and Health Programme alongside the Department for Work and Pensions

Click on picture to enlarge….

Another site cleared and a vast improvement.

Last night saw 4 Whittlesey Councillors (including myself) invited by Cambs CC to explore whether a new group could be formed to support both the community, young people and other groups within the Whittlesey Area.
Several idea’s were looked at, more research is needed and contacts with the 60+ or so exsisting groups needs to be explored.

Barrett Homes Group – David Wilson Homes Development full planning application (housing development to the rear of the potential supermarket site) submitted to
Fenland District Council planning department on Friday 12^th April 2021, this includes the highway infrastructure up to CCC standards for both ALDI and David Wilson Homes development.

ALDI have a pre-application meeting arranged on Tuesday 27^th April 2021 with Fenland District Council planning team.
The below flyer/information sheet I understand is being sent to 3,000 residents….

There is an element that ‘think’ that restrictions have been partly lifted, that life goes on as though nothing has or is still happening – then look at the stats….Fenland & Peterborough are still in the higher infection area’s of the country…..