Cllr Roy Gerstner – Community Activist

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

There was only 1 member of the public and 2 Parish/Town Councillors in the Public Area, including myself.
It may well have been a very good day (in some resepcts) for Whittlesey.
WTC & FDC Cllr Kay Mayor was elected as Chair of the Council, with WTC & FDC Cllr Alex Miscandlon elected as Vice Chair.

The new Leader of FDC as predicted on this web-blog on the 19th….will be
WTC/FDC & CCC Chris Boden
Deputy Leader will be March TC & FDC Cllr Jan French

Photo’s FDC & RWT Photography

I did stay for 2½ hours by which time I’d had enough….especially as Martin Curtis mentioned in his public forum talk – they spent 25 minutes ‘debating’ a change of date for a forth-coming meeting – no wonder the ‘Public’ would rather watch paint dry!!!!.

There was some ‘Robust’ questioning by the ‘new’ opposition ‘Independent Group’
(Fenland Didtrict Council) – but that said Leader Cllr Chris Boden gave equally as good a ‘Robust’ answers the the questioning.

At last night’s ‘Scams Awareness’ held at Grosvenor House (Whittlesey Town Council Offices) – Charlotte Homent from Cambs CC gave the 22 attenddees a very good basic insite to a multitude of ‘Scams’ – be it online. doorstep, telephone or distraction.
I hope we all came away with some better understanding of the risks not only to ourselves but to especially our elderly neighbours.

For a vast amount of further information visit Whittlesey Neighbourhood Watch
https://www.whittleseynhw.org.uk/

3 mountains in one day? Sounds like a gruelling task and that is exactly what it was for a group of climbers from Whittlesey. 20 individuals set out to climb Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingelborough, known as the Yorkshire Three Peaks. They form part of the Pennine range and encircle the head of the valley of the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Jason Osborne has been setting challenges in recent years to raise money for the charity Defibrillators For All. Previously Jason has walked from coast to coast, climbed Scafell pike, and Snowdon, but this was the hardest challenge to date.

Defibrillators For All has annual costs of £10,000 per year to maintain the public access defibrillators in Whittlesey, and screen 100 young people each year for undiagnosed heart conditions. Every year Jason invites local people to get involved by either taking part or supporting those that get involved in the challenges.

This year the climbers, aged 18 to 62, spent just under 3 months preparing for the climb. Local people donated funds, water and energy bars to keep the climbers fuelled. Some of the climbers were unable to complete all 3 mountains due to sickness, sprained ankle, blisters and fatigue, But the majority went on to complete all 3 with the last climbers coming in to the finish after 14 hours!

The group raised almost £4,000 to support the charity.

The most commonly heard statement the following day was “never again” as each climber found moving very painful.  But true to form as soon as another adventure was mentioned for next year almost all the climbers wanted to know more!

Deborah Slator from Defibrillators For All said “We are once again very grateful to Jason Osborne and the climbers. Most of the climbers had not attempted anything as strenuous before but were real heroes on the day. The support they gave each other helped them throughout the day. We also had 2 support vehicles at rendezvous points around the course for the climbers. There were lots of blisters, bruises and even some black toenails to go along with their stiff muscles. They really deserved every penny of the sponsor money they raised. Defibrillators For All could not continue to do everything it does without the support of the community, so once again thank you”

Jason Osbourne said “What a great achievement to everyone who took part in this event, it doesn’t matter how much planning you put into something it will only work if people turn up and put 100% effort in to it, which they did. I really enjoyed the day at was a tough event and everyone should be very proud of what they did. When the pain goes away I’m sure they will be ready for something else.

What is now monthly meet ups as the months get closer to Saturday 7th December 2019
For yet another fantastic event for all families.
Fund raising for the event is on-going and many local shops and businesses support and sponsor the event – if you would like further information then contact me.

Here is a date for your diary….
There will be a Extravaganza Quiz to be held on 14th of September at 7:30pm
At St Andrews Hall
Teams of 6
Fish & Chip Supper
Entrance per person £10:00

Cash Prize to the Winning Team
Raffle

More details to follow….

At last night’s Planning Meeting (Whittlesey Town Council).
The new chairman and vice chairman were chosen.
Cllr Alex Miscandlon now becomes chairman and Cllr Alan Bristow becomes vice chairman.

Cllr Alan Bristow                      Cllr Alex Miscandlon

8 members of the public in attendance –
Mr Brent Walker (Postland Developments) gave an update on their ‘Coates Minuet Village’ between Coates and Eastrea.
some changes in the large house on the front were being proposed.

Photo’s WTC – RWT Photography.

During the public forum Mr Langley of Eastrea gave concerns around Planning Application F/YR/0357/O – Mr Langley has been running his agricultural business for many years and was concerned about the proposed building next door to him.

The other planning application that caused most debate (mostly from myself) was that of the proposed erection 9 flats and 2 retails units around ‘Grosvenor House’ (present Council Building) (F/YR19/0286/F) Some very valid concerns about :
Delivery Access
Parking Concerns
Lighting Concerns
Access Requirements
Public safety

Ref appeal APP/EPR/550 East Midlands Waste @ Saxon Pit.
A letter was read out from Cllr Chris Boden, highlighting some updates from the Environment Agency.
I spoke at some length and detail on not just the current concerns but historical events.
A letter has been received from the Environment Agency to MP Steve Barclay detailing some of the latest developments surrounding the Saxon Pit.

At present the EA have withdrawn the enforcement notice, the decision has been made so that they can work with the operator to resolve issues without the need for an appeal hearing at this stage.

Declaration of interest: I am Roy Gerstner Councillor for St Marys Ward South of Whittlesey Town Council. I sit on the planning committee of the Council.
Whittlesey Town Council act as consultee’s only on planning applications.
Fenland District Council – Planning Committee are the decision makers on most applications.
Cambridgeshire County Council make planning decisions on some applications.

At last night’s Finance & Policy Committee Meeting (Whittlesey Town Council).
The new chairman and vice chairman were chosen.
Cllr Chris Boden now becomes chairman and Cllr David Davies becomes vice chairman.
Afterwards the meeting mainly concentrated on procedures regarding reporting of council finances, how/when predications can be implemented.
There was some robust discussion around introducing a new system, which may involve new or modified software and/or training required – costs!

Photo’s WTC – RWT Photography.

I would like you and your families to be aware of an international Organised Crime Group using the PayPal name to facilitate fraud.
It happens as follows:
The victim advertises electrical goods for sale on a legitimate online market place.

The victim will receive contact from an interested buyer and a sale is agreed.

The victim will later receive an email (service@paypal.com) which appears on face value, to be from PayPal. The email will state that the goods need to be sent with a tracking reference prior to payment being made through PayPal.
The victim believing this is a true instruction from PayPal, then sends the goods.

No payment is ever sent or received.

Criminals can spoof an email address and telephone number, that means criminals can make their communication look like it has been sent by a known or trusted sender.

If in doubt, contact the sender via a telephone but don’t reply to the original email.

PayPal will never request that goods are sent out prior to payment being received.

NEVER SEND GOODS UNTIL PAYMENT HAS BEEN RECEIVED.
ONLY USE A TRUSTED MAINSTREAM ONLINE PAYMENT SERVICE LIKE PAYPAL.
USE A CREDIT CARD FOR ONLINE PURCHASES RATHER THAN A DEBIT CARD.

For further advice on protecting yourself and family from fraud and cyber crime, please visit www.cyberaware.gov.uk
or contact Nigel Sutton at: CyberProtectCambs@cambs.pnn.police.uk

What more can we ask for…. There was a record number of classic buses – A fair number and flow of public – Not as many as I thought would attend the event.
Very popular – The ‘free’ rides which seemed pretty full most of the day.

Connie and friends, some from Whittlesey today completed their ‘Walk-To Remember’
In fine weather several hundred others from the area joined in.
We are pleased to announce that she has raised £426:00 this year (Last year £301:00) so has done very well and wishes to say a BIG THANK YOU to the 25 supporters who paid Cash and the 11 sponsors who visited ‘Just Giving Page’
A wonderful organisation – who are there when families are in most need of support.

Has ‘He’ or ‘She’ already been chosen !!! – How about a guessing game !!! – A Whittlesey Councillor !!! – How about these pictures.
On the agenda – ‘click’ on the bottom left corner to advance/reverse page.

FDC - Agenda frontsheet 23rd-May-2019 16.00 Council