Another nice photo from a correspondent – click on picture to enlarge.
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As part of TfL’s and the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan’s commitment to make travel accessible to everyone, there are now 74 step-free stations across our Tube network. Buckhurst Hill station is now fully step-free from street to platform following the installation of a ramp at the station and the opening of additional entrances. Portable ramps that can be positioned by station staff are also available making it step-free from platform to train. Our £200m investment in delivering step-free access will mean that by 2022, over 100 Tube stations will be step-free. This is the first of five stations on the eastern section of the Central line that will be made step-free, with other stations including Debden, Snaresbrook, South Woodford and Newbury Park. To find out more about accessible travel, visit tfl.gov.uk/transport-accessibility |
Another controversial planning application being submitted to Fenland District Council
Another list of ‘issues’ that this application brings.
It is unfortunate that Government(s) past and present make it very easy to get planning granted due to the ever increasing demand on housing stock.
This application at the ‘Old’ Westhaven Nursery (Peterborough Road A605) site brings several issues.
Traffic for instance again having to come out on the A605 nearby the ‘impending’ Kings Dyke Bridge.
Below is a letter from Phillip Parker Associates – who administer the Kings Dyke Nature Reserve. This is the 2nd time valid planning objections are being made – and I am asking like many – is anyone looking or listening to the publics concerns regarding this application.
Many members who commented on the Westhaven Nursery development will have received notification from Fenland District Council that further information has been submitted by the developers. The following is a summary of our comments on this information (to be made tomorrow). We would urge all members who originally commented to write again making their concerns known. The deadline for comments is Friday 18th May.
WESTHAVEN NURSERY
F/YR18/0128/RM
F/YR17/3124/COND
Summary of comments on the latest submission with respect to the above development:
1. BUFFER ZONE – No changes have been made to the buffer zone as shown on the original layout plans (only 10m on the northern boundary). In accordance with comments and objections previously made by Natural England, The Wildlife Trust, Buglife, the Local Authority Ecologist and Philip Parker Associates (on behalf of the reserve), this is considered unacceptable to protect both the interests of Kings Dyke Nature Reserve and locally protected species. There is little detail provided on how the buffer zone will be managed and funded in the long term. The development still includes land for proposed additional houses above the current permssion which could easily be re-allocated into an increased buffer zone.
2. PROTECTIVE FENCING – Condition 17 asks for a scheme for fencing and boundary treatment to protect the reserve and vulnerable species from cat predation and people disturbance. The condition requires that this buffer is retained in-perpetuity. The proposed fence design is a wooden fence with a mesh overhang. The life expectancy of a timber fence is typically 15 years but clearly can be more or less than this depending on how it is looked after. It would therefore be very easy to damage and breach particularly if included as part of the garden fencing. There are no details as to how this fence is to be checked and maintained. Clearly the design of fence does not fulfil the requirements of the condition.
3. GREAT CRESTED NEWTS – No information has been provided on how the great crested newt population will be mitigated under the necessary EPS licence other than noting trapping for 70 days. Limited information is given on receptor sites for the newts to be translocated. The Local Planning Authority has to be satisfied that an EPS licence will be granted (R. (Morge) v Hampshire CC [2011]. Currently, there is insufficient detail submitted to enable them to do this.
4. POLLUTION – Still no information has been provided as to how the water resources of the nature reserve will be monitored and protected from pollution that might emanate from the proposed development site through their proposed drainage infiltration system.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me on the number below.
Regards
Phil Parker
admin@philipparkerassociates.co.uk
This afternoon ‘Min Mean’ and her team were tidying up their Planter Project at the end of High Causeway as part of the U3A group which sponsors and looks after this planter – well done ladies….
An incredible vista of flowering weeds (Alamy) along the Bower Towpath – Ok nice at present but will be causing problems before too long.
Nice to see this year 1 Duck with its 4 Duckings…
An update on Connie’s Charity Walk – this Sunday 5 Kms (not miles as before) – Supporting :-
Sue Ryder provides hospice and neurological care for people facing a frightening, life-changing diagnosis.
We do whatever we can to be a safety net for our patients and their loved ones at the most difficult time of their lives. We see the person not the condition.
Charity Registration No. 1052076
So far she has collected locally £101 in Cash and has also raised £110:00 on the JustGiving website – She is hoping to raise £250:00 so nearly there – Come on Whittlesey – spare a £Fiver or two for this good cause.
Please make a donation https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/connie-gerstner
For those who maybe not be watching the Royal Wedding or Football this Saturday,
Whittlesey Rotary Charity Beer Festival
Falcon Hotel, Whittlesey, PE7 1BH
7-11, Friday, 12-11 Saturday, 12-4 Sunday Local beers and ciders.
Supporting the Young Peoples Counselling Service, MIND and local charities.
Business And Community Fayre
The date has been set for the above at the Manor leisure centre Whittlesey it is may the 20th a Sunday courtesy of Fenland district council.
This links with the bus fest and the rotary beer festival.
Stalls of all sorts of business will be on display offering services, retailing, craft stalls and food outlets.
There will be displays for the children and a great family day is promised.
http://www.whittleseybusiness.co.uk
The vehicles will be used to operate the network of ‘Free’ Bus Services which consist of Four routes to:
Peterborough
Ramsey
Thorney
March (via) Turves
This is a great day out for all from enthusiasts to families.
See Web-Page for more information and details:
http://www.easternbusgroup.co.uk/busfest.html
The New Queen Street Surgery Patients Participation Group are doing very well, set up to act as an ‘interface’ between Doctors/Surgery and its Patients, I am one of the original founders of the group.
We get to hear directly from the management – their issues and challenges that they have in an ever expanding population, we in turn inform the surgery of not only our concerns, but feedback we get from the patients at large.
The PPG is NOT a forum for complaints – there is a set mechanism in place for patients who wish to complain.
There was 15 attendees at this evenings meting a good turnout.
The group have raised awareness of the Surgery and has also raised money to buy various items for the benefit of the patients, the most recent was a cooled fresh water machine.
One item always brought up is that of getting appointments….this is nothing new and the surgery/doctors and management are very aware of this concern.
Did you know that 15% of appointments – patients do not turn up, that equates to several slots that could be used by other patients – every working day…..
You will be able to meet some of the PPG at their ‘Awareness Week’ 4th to 9th June –
They will also be at the surgery on Saturday 7th July during the NHS 70th anniversary Year.
More news in a few days….
Sorry to report the demise of the Jenner Health Centre PPG – I don’t know the details but what I do know is that their patients no longer have any avenue or representation to either their Doctors or Management in the same way that they had previously.
Well yet again another very busy week, my Sister-In-Law and her youngest (daughter) arrived last Monday – we went to pick them up at Gatwick (Bank Holiday) luckily we had gone the night before. My S-In-L has been twice before and her (3) sons have finished Uni here in the UK – and on completion I said – Not a lot to do here in Whittlesey – I’ll buy you a Rail Ticket around Europe 30 days / 28 Countries see what you can do…. 
Well with only a couple of hick-ups (Stolen tickets and Pick-Pockets) they got on OK.
So when it came to the niece (Yi-Lin) I said No way on your own – so she has brought Mother along – who loves to travel.
My fault – on arriving home after our Christmas Cruise(Bronchial Pneumonia) – I had left it to the last minute to order the tickets….No 2nd Class left – I had made the promise to sponsor the journey…..so I had to make good my promise – So 2 x 1st Class tickets round trip 30 days / 28 Countries had to be bought (Ouch £££) – anyway a trip of a lifetime planned.
We took them back to London Thursday night to catch the Eurostar out of St Pancras on Friday morning…..
All off safe and sound…This evening en-route Berlin.
Parking issues again at the head of debate not only in Whittlesey, but most other Market towns around Peterborough have raised the same issues.
Our Church Street/Ramsey Road ‘issues’ continue – that said, the vehicle which is parking at present on the ‘double yellows’ has a ‘Disabled Badge’ displayed and therefor is NOT illegally parked. I wonder though how many with ‘Disabled Badges’ have actually read all the rules/regulations on accepting their cards.
All 34 pages to read – I doubt very much – I have read the document and I do abide by ALL the rules contained there-in.
More ‘Slippage’ – What am I talking about – well the for-every delay in Resurfacing of Ramsey Road – lets see now – was it sometime last year it was going to be done!!!! – then it was January, then March and now I hear that it ‘should’ be done in July (This Year)
Tomorrow night (2) meetings to attend – I can’t be in (2) places at once so probably will attend the New Queen Street Surgery – Patients Participation Group Meeting.
Building up for the Business Forum Fayre and BusFest next Sunday – All free to go along.
Sister-In-Law visiting us in Whittlesey 2009 came all the way from Kuala Lumpur to help collect rubbish and litter around Whittlesey – What has changed I wonder !!!!
Koo MF Koo Connie
Below are reports from FDC – CCTV, Environment and Street Scene Reports, of note are the amount of Fly-tipping in Fenland (Whittlesey low) and enforcement notices handed out.
Click on Pictures to enlarge….
Whittlesey NHW comes under the umbrella of Fenland Policing, under the (new) Policing areas, Fenland is part of the Northern area (Peterborough).
Whittlesey NHW are a stand-alone, separate group, but as Peterborough are our ‘Neighbours’ – and what goes on there has a direct impact on us in Whittlesey.
Unfortunately some of guest speakers could not attend.
Deputy Police & Crime Commissioner Cllr Ray Bisby (Who I met a couple of weeks ago), gave the audience of around 50 an update and future plans the PCC hopes to put in place.
The main thrust being more ‘Police’ availability and assets joined with other ‘Blue Light’ services. As I hope everyone is now aware, the office of the PCC does not and cannot dictate operational side of policing.
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Ray emphasised that ‘moral’ within the Cambs Policing was very good.
Supt Martin Brunning gave a very good talk on ‘Public Protection’ one example being how ‘exploitation’ on young people – carrying and delivering drugs by train – coming to Peterborough to deliver and sell their goods.
He stated that under the ‘new’ policing model – more police were available for front line duties and quotes that 6 weeks ago – Peterborough would have had 24 uniformed officers on shift, today 32 were on shift.
On his remit, priorities – were Domestic abuse, Child abuse and exploitation and Criminal exploitation (Drug Mules as an example)
He stated that of the 30th April – There was a ‘New Dawn’ for Cambs Policing and asked the group to review results in 6 months time.
Peterborough NHW had 27 new schemes running during 2017-18
Excellent demonstration by Cardea First Responders
If you would like to be a ‘Better Neighbour’ why not join the largest voluntary organisation in England – Neighbourhood Watch – help to keep you, your neighbours and street safer.
Visit Whittlesey NHW Website @ https://www.whittleseynhw.org.uk/
A vast amount of information (local) – with regular updates.
If you would like further details or information:
Contact : Robin Sutton e-mail – Click Here
