Cllr Roy Gerstner – Community Activist

There will be less posting activity for the next few weeks, as I have my very nice relations whom I have known for more than 40 years visiting us from Malaysia.

There will be some updates perhaps on a weekly basis – shall see how good internet connections are……

Neighbourhood Watch is the largest volunteer group in the UK – we promote safer neighbourhoods by keeping eyes and ears open to our community.
In Whittlesey we have some 30 active schemes in operation and 10 less active….
Why not come and see what we are discussing at this months meeting.
NHW Agenda June 2018

This afternoon I read on The Cambs Times™ leading story..
Fenland Council pledges action following complaints of poorly maintained Parks and Open Spaces.
You may have read my article(s) about this subject a few weeks ago. It would appear the message has got through the great corridors of Fenland Hall.
To be fair (As I am) – There has been some input from our Councillors and CCC David Connor. But it is also people like myself who ‘lobby’ and write to the corridors of power – that maybe – just maybe something gets done.
It’s no good winging and whining on anti-social media – people in authority get turned off by this persistent moan.
However the success of FDC & it’s contractor is only part of the story – has our grass cutting and clear up improved – not yet as I see it….maybe after a few more cuts when-ever that happens.
Read the whole story Click Here – Cambs Times

This afternoon saw 10 of ‘us’ involved in various ‘volunteering’ roles going along to our Library/Hub for a coffee/tea & cake…for a brief discussion on ‘Volunteering’.
We know it is more or less the same group of people involved throughout our area who give up their time freely for various groups and organisations.
Nice to see March Councillor Mrs Jan French join us in Whittlesey – thank you.
The library and ‘The Friends’ are hoping to put some more events on during the autumn, with funding and support from The ‘Arts Council’ – see my previous recent posts.

Now for the bad news….Last Saturday afternoon saw a serious altercation between an elderly gentleman and a motorist driving on High Causeway, the gentleman pointed out to the foul mouthed motorist that the ‘Road’ was a pedestrian area and no motorised vehicles should be there. The incident almost became physically and left the OAP in some distress.
I have reported the incident to our Police, but without more information there is not a lot that can be done.
No one either ‘wants’ or is ‘prepared’ to take ownership of ‘Policing’ this piece of road, we have raised this issue time and time again, over many years.
I am sorry to say that until ‘another’ (serious) accident occurs, I doubt very much anything will be done. That said – as above – If enough people make their views known to either your Council, Councillors and the Police – maybe something will be done….eventually.

No notice on the WTC Website, which happens sometimes and is somewhat annoying as the public are relying on a reliable source of ‘official information’
I copied this off the noticeboard outside the Council Offices this afternoon.
Quality not very good -sorry best I could do…

Click on Picture to Enlarge.

You will have seen from my previous post – I was joined by ‘Pearl’ (Burdock) – who as an octogenarian is very alert and spritely – she is also involved in many community groups.
She has just released her latest booklet of stories and poems.
Cost £5:00 of which she will donate £3:50 to Whittlesey Charities.

Contact ‘Pearl’ by e-mailing her – pearlmburdock@hotmail.co.uk

Mrs Pearl Burdock & myself had another excellent morning session at the Patients Group awareness week – promoting the New Queen Street Surgery PPG.
We had quite a few questions that patients asked and fortunately we knew most of the answers. Another member signed up today makes our tally 4 over the 2 mornings, better than I expected.
Another piece of information that patients are not very aware of is the ‘Opting IN or OUT’ of their medical history to outside of the surgery – for example if you need to see a doctor whilst of holiday in the UK or at an A&E in another city.
This is the form you need to fill in which is available at the Surgery.

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

As previously posted, besides having a ‘direct line’ to the Surgery Management the PPG has raised funds for various small enhancements at the Surgery – The present campaign to supply a 24 hour Blood Pressure Monitoring Machine.

Cooled Fresh Water Machine – NQS PPG

You can listen to the feature – Mud Walls of Whittlesey on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire –
The Sue Marchant Show which started at 15:00 today Monday – You will need :-
BBC iPlayer Radio (App for android) and select your local radio station.
Excellent interviews given by the Mud Wall Committee and then a walking tour of some of the remaining walls around Whittlesey.
The Mud Wall Group meet at Whittlesey Museum on the 1st Wednesday of the Month @ 10:30am

I took the first ‘slot’ of manning the PPG (Patients Participation Group) table this morning and talked to many patients passing through.
Information about On-Line Booking of ‘appointments’, prescriptions and information’ via the Surgeries Website. I heard as ‘we’ do, patients frustrations on having to wait for appointments and the surgery management are very aware of the situation.
Do you know – that you can now have access to your medical records, both in electronic or paper format – this will be provided for free – you have to fill in a form, available online or from the surgery.
I did ‘sign’ up 2 new recruits to the Group and revived 1 ex member….not a bad start.

The PPG Noticeboard adjacent to ‘Boots’          Todays PPG Awareness Noticeboard