Cllr Roy Gerstner – Community Activist

Saturday 20:00 There is at present NO Flood Warning in effect for B1040 or North Bank.
This may well change and if I receive any information will update.

Friday 20:00 There is at present NO Flood warning in effect for B1040 or North Bank,
This may well change and if I receive any information will update.

MP Steve Barclay (MP for NE Cambs) is in Whittlesey this morning, he will be at the Market Place from about 10am.

The Labour party candidate for the seat is barrister Diane Boyd.
The Green candidate is Ruth Johnson, while Rupert Moss-Eccardt will be standing for the Liberal Democrats.
If any of these candidates are coming to Whittlesey please inform me.

My attention has just been drawn to a potential scam telephone call that appeared to use the 01945 (Wisbech) code. 

Elderly gentlemen receives a telephone call. The caller appeared to be using the telephone number 01945 585993. The caller was an Asian female with a strong accent. The nature of the call appeared to be centred on some kind of IT fault (no further details) A family member present at the time took control of the conversation and when they told the caller that they were having difficulty understanding them, the Asian caller then left the conversation and was replaced by a male voice who quickly ended the call. (No further detail about the Asian accent) 

On balance, this appears to be a scam call in which the local code of 01945 was being used.

I personally called the 01945 number and the line indicates it is disconnected. Remember, scammers can make it appear they are calling from any number they wish, but actually underneath the 01945 number I suspect the number is very different and may have originated from the internet.

For further information about scam telephone calls and actions you can take, please visit the resources area in the website for the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Against Scams Partnership; https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/community-protection/against-scams-partnership/

You may also consider taking some online training provided by National Trading Standards as part of their initiative called Friends Against Scams.

I would also advise subscribing for a regular newsletter provided by Action Fraud; www.actionfraud.police.uk
Many thanks

Nigel Sutton
Fraud and Cyber Security Advisor
Cambridgeshire Police

Due to the General Election and Purdah (see post below) Cambs County Council will not be issuing any updates on the Kings Dyke Bridge Crossing until after 12th December.

I understand there are some writing to the Chief Executive of Peterborough City Council about the ongoing issues with the B1040 & North Bank – excellent – the more people who write/email the better.
You will have seen my recent previous postings – we need as much support as possible.
Below are yesterday’s ‘drone’ captures – the ‘water levels’ were high the previous day.
Thanks to RS…..

Whittlesey 191119 – RS – B1040

As we are now running up to a General Election – I do not normally involve a great deal on this Web-Blog about National Politics.
Councillors like any member of the public can canvas and promote Candidates & Policical Parties.
However I and all Councillors + Councils have to abide by
Purdah:-

What you shouldn’t do

• Produce publicity on matters which are politically controversial
• Make references to individual politicians or groups in press releases
• Arrange proactive media or events involving candidates
• Issue photographs which include candidates
• Supply council photographs or other materials to councillors or political group staff unless you have verified that they will not be used for campaigning purposes
• Continue hosting third party blogs or e-communications
• Help with national political visits, as this would involve using public money to support a particular candidate or party.
  These should be organised by political parties with no cost or resource implications for the council.

  What you’re allowed to do

  • Continue to discharge normal council business – including determining planning applications, even if they are controversial.
  • Publish factual information to counteract misleading, controversial or extreme – for example, racist/sexist information. An example might be a media story which is critical of the council, such as a media enquiry claiming that the salaries of all the council’s senior managers have increased by five per cent. If this is not true, a response such as ‘none of the council’s senior management team have received any increase in salary in the last 12 months’ is acceptable. It is perfectly right and proper that the council responds, as long as it is factual.
  • Use relevant lead officers rather than members for reactive media releases.
  • Use a politician who is involved in an election when the council is required to respond in particular circumstances, such as in an emergency situation or where there is a genuine need for a member-level response to an important event beyond the council’s control. Normally this would be the civic mayor – as opposed to the elected mayor in those areas with elected mayors – or chairman, that is, someone holding a politically neutral role. If the issue is so serious, it is worth considering asking the council’s group leaders to agree to a response which would involve all of them.
  • If you are in any doubt, seek advice from your returning officer and/or monitoring officer, legal or communications colleagues.

  Ultimately, you must always be guided by the principle of fairness. It is crucial that any decision you take would be seen as fair and reasonably the public and those standing for office.

This is a message from the Environment Agency.

Flood Warning no longer in force: North Bank Road alongside the River Nene, east of Peterborough and west of Dog-in-a-Doublet Sluice.

The situation is improving and no further flooding is expected in this area.Flood Warnings and Alerts may still be in force for surrounding areas.

Levels in the River Nene are beginning to fall following rainfall last week. No further impacts from tide lock where combined high tide and river levels are expected.
Levels are forecast to continue to fall and the river levels and height of the high tides are no longer likely to lead to localised flooding at North Bank Road.
The Local Authority will open the North Bank Road and remove diversionary routes when it is safe to do so and further updates will be available through local media.

This is a message from the Environment Agency.

Flood Warning no longer in force: B1040 Thorney to Whittlesey Road to the South of the River Nene.

The situation is improving and no further flooding is expected in this area.

Flood Warnings and Alerts may still be in force for surrounding areas.
The Whittlesey Wash flood storage reservoir continues to be operated to protect nearby communities from flooding but we no longer expect any flooding of the B1040 road. Diversionary routes will no longer be required. 

I understand – that there were 9 companies expressing an interest in the Kings Dyke Bridge Crossing, this figure has has now become 6 after Cambs CC ‘Test’ was carried out.
The 6 companies will now be invited to submit a full tender.
Naturally if/when I get any updates – you will see it here.