Cllr Roy Gerstner – Community Activist

Tonight my web-blog reached the dizzy number of 1 Million Hits (1,000,000) I do not claim to be a teenage You-Tube® Star, but from the simple beginnings, my audience has steadily increased.

It is the ‘only’ place in the area, that the public can get ‘real’ reports and information, not hearsay and not false news. There are occasions when information that I am given is not true, but this happens all over media, I hope that 99% of the time the Information & News
published here is correct.

Congratulations go to !!!! !!!! a prize will be coming your way.

Today everyone and his dog has had ‘disappointment’ in the news about the ‘Cost & Delay’ to the Kings Dyke Crossing. Only this Wednesday night as reported on my web-blog – County Councillor David Connor had NO update on the project other than as todays statement from CCC that ‘It was still in the design stage’ – this has been the stock answer for months and months and months – remember the project started in 2013.

I having been reporting on the project since it’s latest incarnation (2013), with todays news, I am many others believe not only has Cambs County Council seriously mismanaged the complete project, but it should be time now to hold those responsible to account, whether it be Councillors or those employed to deliver the project.

We have had brave Councillors who promised to deliver the project on time and on budget!!!!!

I for once agree with Metro Mayor James Palmer – someone has to get a serious grip on this, we minions at WTC have very little influence or power unfortunately – but I will continue to Lobby hard on behalf of ALL of Whittlesey.

We started at £13M, then £21M, then £28M, then £31M and now ‘somewhere’ near £40
The longer the delay the more the project will cost.

MP Barclay and Mayor Palmer have the ‘power’ to call the County Council to account.

When the LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership) started to become uncontrolled MP Barclay had a big influence in its closing.

From the purchase of land (which a local Chartered Surveyor advised it should have been compulsory purchased) – Why did not the CC employ a specialist Project Management Company with experience in this type of Build, the company could be held to account and costs.

See Peterborough Telegraph for story

Disclaimer: These observations are not the ‘official’ minutes of the meeting, these are supplied by Whittlesey Town Council, normally (1) month following the meeting and can be viewed on their website.

Prior to the Full Council meeting there were presentations of cheques on behalf of the Mayors Charities.

Young Peoples Counselling Service              The Alzheimer Society

The agenda last nights meeting was published on this web-blog  07th June – see below.
Click Here to see Agenda

10  members of the public present + County Councillor David Connor
Councillors apologies – Cllr Mason, Cllr Munns & Cllr Lang-Whiston

County Cllr David Connor gave updates on :-
Kings Dyke Crossing – There is No Update The County Council along with the Metro-Mayor (Palmer) are still in talks with ‘Kier Construction’™ about the design. Councillors asked whether an official statement could be made as none had been made for a number of months.
Ongoing road repairs, including some pot-holes being completed.
The Kings Delph Porta-Loo Cambs CC will part fund for another 12 months.
Road repairs to Ramsey Road (B1040) will take place 03rd – 30th Aug.

Public Forum –
Concerns about Allotment conditions.
Litter Picks by Whittlesey Street Pride
Issues with road vegetation in Eastrea

Terse summary of other business –

New Council Offices – Builders took control 21st May – Public & Schools are asked to give a ‘Name’ for the refurbished building. Expected completion 20th Aug. Official opening 29th Sept.
Donation of the generator to local football club.
Kings Delph Toilet – I made a case for the KD – Councillors agreed to part fund with FDC & CCC for 12 months.
Environment – Cllr Dorling highlighted concerns for future air quality in our area, No EV points in Fenland (Electric Vehicle charging points), and the lack of Tree Planting, both Cllr Boden and myself spoke about the lack of co-ordinated/joined up approach. I stated that there had been thousands of ‘Free’ trees available and the take up was extremely poor.

Ward Matters – Speeding highlighted along Bellmans Road, Environmental concerns and poor condition of Whittlesea Railway Station and surrounding area.
Grassing cutting over the whole of the Whittlesey area, Parking around Schools.
(Cllr Boden (FDC Leader) stated that the ‘Parking concerns and issues’ were being looked at – but could not make any further statement)

I raised the ‘Caravan’ parked behind the ‘George’ – which FDC Street Scene Officer has been on the case. I also highlight the on-going poor Grass cutting (or lack of) recently (before the poor weather started). Complaint(s) about the state of The Bower pathway and overgrown vegetation (an annual issue).

Appointment to Outside bodies – Councillors were appointed to –
CCTV
Glassmore Bank Wind Farm
Burnthouse Wind Farm
Whittlesey Emergency Food Aid
Community Care Scheme
Rural CAB
Community Rail Partnership
Family & Childrens Centre
Whittlesey-In-Bloom
Mud Walls Group
Must Farm
Christmas Extravaganza
Whittlesey Festival
Allotments Society
Growing Fenland

There were no items of a confidential nature.
The meeting finished after 22:00
The next Full Council meeting is on Wednesday 11th July

I am Roy Gerstner – Whittlesey Town Councillor
for the ward St Mary’s South.
My contact details are on the top toolbar.

If you have issues or concerns outside of my ward area, please contact your own Councillor, details are available on the
Whittlesey Town Council Website. Click Here

E&OE – I very occasionally made an error or mistake, if I am advised  – I am more than happy to make any correction – Thank you.
©Roy Gerstner

I’ve been asked to publish the document regarding ‘Visiting Support Service for Older People’  – As can be seen on Page 2 there are many ways to make direct contact.

Click on picture to enlarge – Click a 2nd time to further enlarge.

During this week members of The Whittlesey New Queen Street Surgery – PPG (Patients Participation Group) will be holding awareness sessions during parts of the day.
They will be in the waiting area and will be able to answer some questions that patients may have.

The PPG is an interface between the Surgery Partners and the Patients/Public – concerns can be raised at their meetings but it is not a forum for personal complains – there is a set criteria available to patients should they have personal issues.

Disclaimer: These observations are not the ‘official’ minutes of the meeting, these are supplied by Whittlesey Town Council, normally (1) month following the meeting and can be viewed on their website.

The agenda for tonight’s meeting was published on this web-blog 04th June – see below.
4 members of the public present.

Not a very long meeting, the main discussions were concerned with applications:-
F/YR19/0382/F – Questions about access, bin collections, fire service access.

F/2000/19/CW – Questions about noise, pollution and whether any consultation had taken place with immediate neighbours.

P56/19 – Enforcement update report on Saxon Pit – The Environment Agency have removed the enforcement notice on the operator.

There is a Full Town Council Meeting this Wednesday evening at 7:30pm at Grosvenor House, Grosvenor Road, Whittlesey (opposite the Bus Stop) – Through side door and up the stairs. There is a 15 minute slot where members of the public can talk.
If there is more than one speaker then the time is split between them.

This morning I had a good one-to-one conversation with Karen Watson from ‘Age UK’ – Karen has been attending Whittlesey Library/Learning Hub since May and below are the dates when she will be at the Library.
One of the key roles provided by Age UK is that they have the resource to visit people in their own homes.
They can support a variety of concerns that come from the ‘over 65’ age group.
I do plan to have further meetings with her.
If you or you know of someone who may need ‘Free’ help and advice please get in touch with them….details again below.
    

(2018 ) Whittlesey Town Council, Whittlesey Neighbourhood Watch and Fenland District Council have joined forces for the initiative, which aims to encourage owners to clean up after their pets in a non-confrontational and friendly way.

More than 50 dogs were registered for the community-led scheme at its launch in the Market Place earlier this month, and even more have signed up since.

Whittlesey is the second Fenland community to adopt the Green Dog Walkers programme, following its launch in Wimblington seven months ago. To date it has been adopted by over 40 councils nationwide, and has proved hugely successful in reducing dog fouling issues.

Dog owners who sign up to the scheme pledge to always pick up after their four-legged friends, carry extra dog waste bags, be happy to provide other dog walkers with waste bags and highlight any problem areas to Fenland District Council.

https://www.fenland.gov.uk/article/13829/Green-Dog-Walkers-scheme-launches-in-Whittlesey

Photo’s © Acknowledgment FDC

Today Sunday was a much better family day, with lots of people making the best of the good weather – yesterday was a wash-out.
A completely ‘Free Event’ as last year, very well organised and plenty of helpers around.
Similar to last year Mike Shearing along with Robert Boddington set up the Whittlesey Mud Wall Group display and models, joined by Alan Lacey  – today I joined them for a couple of hours. There was quite a lot of interest both from known Whittlesey residents and those from further afield.

Click on pictures to enlarge……