Cllr Roy Gerstner – Community Activist

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….

The main contacts have been about ‘Planning’ in/around Whittlesey – last week saw the ‘Old Nursery’ site on Eastrea Road being granted planning permission.
This site has been earmarked for many years and has had previous outline permissions in the past, the developer never went through with the build, this maybe called ‘Land Banking’ which many builders and developers do – waiting for prices to rise.
Lets hope – this latest planning permission comes to actually building houses.
That said here is another 100+ development, more people, more children, more traffic and from what I can see – little consideration to the ‘magic word’ ‘Infrastructure’ – another development at the ‘Old Nursery’ site on Peterborough Road, is equally as concerning – note I am NOT saying controversial – which it is not – concern is the term I am using.
As I have posted before Whittlesey has well over 1,200 houses already earmarked for future development – and more could possibly come on top of that.
There is of course – The Whittlesey Neighbourhood Plan’ which is moving steadily forwards. Those who went to the consultation meetings are perhaps aware of what the aims are – more ‘say’ for how and where building takes place is one of the main objectives.
If you have ‘concerns’ why not raise them with your elected councillor, why not attend a planning meeting, why not take part in the Neighbourhood Plan – these are all avenues for the public to have their say….Your Call…..