Cllr Roy Gerstner – Community Activist

Now in it’s 2nd year, the Whittlesey Business Forum Charity Walk organised in conjunction with ‘The Fens’© magazine saw 133 registered and completed this morning 5 miles walk.
We managed the Watering Station on South Green Coates opposite ‘The Vine’ Pub – our thanks to them for loaning us their facilities. My thanks to fellow helpers Stuart Anderson and Sue Taylor who did a fantastic job on such a hot day.
Sponsoring the 4 watering stations was our Local NISA/Jamie Keshwara.
We had walkers from Malaysia taking part.
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My – my how peoples memories are so short….Now don’t get me wrong Tesco’s™ initiative (as well as other supermarkets) are a great help to Community Groups across the country – but it was only a few years ago here in Whittlesey that the name TESCO™ was a ‘very toxic’ word to say the least..
Embroiled in a planning war with rivals Sainsbury’s here on our doorstep – lots of vehicles with rival Sainsbury’s™ stickers in their rear vehicle windows…..
It now ‘appears’ that TESCO is everyone’s friend – that is if you’re getting their money…..
If your organisation would benefit and you would like more information you are welcome to get in touch with me and I’ll pass the information to you.
(I or none of the groups on which I am a committee member have benefited from
TESCO’s grants)

Dear Roy G….
Submit an application now to Tesco Bags of Help, and you could get a grant of £4,000, £2,000 or £1,000 for your community project.

The Tesco Bags of Help scheme, administrated by Groundwork, is Tesco’s exciting local community grant scheme where the money raised by the sale of carrier bags is being used to fund thousands of local projects in communities right across the UK. Projects that bring benefit to their community will get the green light – these range from improving community buildings and outdoor spaces to buying new equipment, training coaches or volunteers and hosting community events.

I am approaching you as we are currently low for applications in your area* – so if you need a cash injection I recommend applying soon to secure your chances of being shortlisted for the in-store votes at your local Tesco store.
Good luck!

Finally after months and months of waiting and wanting, the ‘Traffic Calming’ cut on Church Street has nearly been repaired after being knocked down last year…
How long will this latest costly repair last…..
 

Some good news to some!
Planning permission has now been granted for the conversion of The Old Police Station – To Whittlesey Town Council Offices.
Instead of paying rent on a building they would never own – for more or less the same payments Whittlesey will have an asset to the town.
Some minor issues need to be addressed, but the new offices will be much better not only for the council(s) its clerk but to the public and community groups.
One really good enhancement will be (2) Electric Vehicle Charging Points, one of the roofs will have solar panels on for a tariff feed-in and the EV Points are subsidised by the Government…. so those with Electric or Hybrid Vehicle will be able to charge up for FREE
Here we go again – today I witness a delivery lorry reversing down High Causeway – to be fair on the very careful driver he took a good 5 minutes reversing to the Heron Shop.
Never-the-less – he was reversing blindly with pedestrians walking very near by.
As I have asked before on many occasions, someone needs to take this issue with some seriousness.

Remember tomorrow – is The Whittlesey Business Forum Charity Walk starting at 09:30 from New Road near the recycling centre.

This morning a fantastic turnout of the Whittlesey New Queen Street Surgery – Patients Participation Group (PPG) 70th anniversary of the NHS in England – a good engagement with many coming to see us – and ALL the Cakes were sold….

History – NQS….
1920’s Dr Alex Robertson & Dr Willie Miekle – 58 High Causeway
1930’s Dr Waddelow
1940’s Dr Jim Popplewell (Retired early 1960’s)
1956    Dr Ian Mowat (Retired 1982) Shared the Jenner Health Centre until the early 1980
1960’s Dr Phill Parnaby and Dr Tom Pulvertaft (1974)
1972    Dr Mauveen Munk (Retired 1983)
1976    Dr Malcolm Salder (Retired 2008)
1977    Dr Chris Scarisbrick (Retired 2009)
1982    Dr Richard Scott (retired 2013) Moved to 9-11 Queen Street
1980’/90’s Dr Kate Eadie, Dr Lorraine Scrivener, Dr Mei Ling Denney, Dr Rina Dillan
1996    Dr Paula Spellar
2001    Dr Manu Maddula
2003   Dr Catherine Parnell
2006   Dr Ajay Patel
2008   Dr Dan Dhanushan
2009   Dr Gary Howsam
2016   Dr Katie Scott

Thanks to ‘The Fens’ Magazine…

A great number of people asking me – what the latest is on the KD Crossing after reading comments on Facebook™ – I don’t know where the writer/poster is getting their information from however when asked – he said it was confidential, if that is so, by posting the information is breaking the confidentially laws and rules and is open to legal proceedings.

My research today 10:00 speaking with County Councillor David Connor – when questioned about the ‘quotes’ on FB answered the following:-
1/ He is unaware of any funding being dropped – he said that the process for producing phase I of a detailed plan is going ahead and when this is completed – a detailed costing can be carried out.
2/ There is still some paperwork to be signed from the Landowners.

RG/ It is well acknowledged that the original costing done in 2013 (£13+ Million) has gone up significantly – the last estimate was (£19+ Million) and that was last year – so I would think there will be a substantial increase in that.
RG/ When I have asked County Councillors about the shortfall in funding , their answer at that time – was that Cambs CC would have to make good any shortfall in funding even if that requires borrowing the money…..

RG/ The original (£13= Million) allocated from the Local Enterprise Program was to be transferred over the Mayor of the combined authority for Peterboro/Cambs and as far as I am aware this money was to be ‘ring-fenced’ and could not be used for any other projects.
So I am not saying the FB writer is wrong – I and the others are asking where and who is he getting the information from – and if it is ‘confidential’ – why make a posting of it!!!!

RG/ At last months (June) WTC meeting – Mr Peter Baxter gave a presentation on the reasoning why ‘he’ thought the Kings Dyke Bridge should NOT be built – his argument centred around whether or if ‘An Environmental Impact Assessment’ had been carried out and if not could lead to serious delays in getting the Bridge built including the possibility of a Judicial review

(A JR is a type of court proceeding in which a judge reviews the lawfulness of a decision or action made by a public body. In other words,  judicial reviews are a challenge to the way in which a decision has been made, rather than the rights and wrongs of the conclusion reached.)

If the above were to be proven then that would have a significant time bearing on the project.

I and most of Whittlesey want to see this Bridge built – agreed the time slip is somewhat very concerning to say the least – I am on the case and will report only from reliable sources.
I have run this web-blog for nearly 10 years and my readers know by now I do not post ‘hear-say’ or Fake News…..

With Peter Baxter campaigning in Whittlesey for better monitoring of the A605 – London and other cities which we know have ‘bigger issues’ with pollution – should not stop the rest of us wanting a better quality of air where we live.

Every child in London is breathing toxic air, mainly caused by road vehicles. To help tackle this, the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is coming to central London in the same area as the Congestion Charge zone.

It will operate 24 hours a day, every day of the year, from 8 April 2019.
Vehicles will need to meet the new stronger emission standards, or pay the daily ULEZ charge.

Vehicles registered for the Blue Badge Congestion Charge Discount will not receive a discount from the ULEZ. If the vehicle is driven within the zone and does not meet the ULEZ standards, the ULEZ charge will be payable from 8 April 2019.

From 25 October 2021 the central London ULEZ area will be expanded to the inner London area bounded by the North and South Circular roads.

This is part of the commitment by the Mayor, Sadiq Khan, and TfL to help Londoners breathe cleaner air

Around 50+ already signed up – with many more registering on the morning – why not join a ‘nice’ family walk this Sunday –

Just because it’s hot – This ‘Parker’ is under the shade and couldn’t care about pedestrians, push chairs, sight impaired or mobility buggies….