Cllr Roy Gerstner – Community Activist

Roll of Honour – Whittlesey  and Village War Memorials with history – can be found at :-

Whittlesey     http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Cambridgeshire/Whittlesey.html

Coates             http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Cambridgeshire/Coates.html

Eastrea            http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Cambridgeshire/Eastrea.html

Turves              http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Cambridgeshire/Turves.html          

This Wednesday 14th November

Now in its 22nd year Rotary Whittlesey’s event for raising funding for Life Education Sessions at Local Schools – which includes Whittlesey area schools.
Organiser Stephen Hodson is retiring from his organising role after 22 years and everyone at the event showed their appreciation.
We go for the fun of it, not being ‘premier’ division quizzers we came in our usual place, just below the top half.

Again The Letter B team were the winners.

Another excellent display of WW1 history at our Library.

WHITTLESEY PATROLS

PCSO 7172 has been on patrol in the area today. During these patrols we have assisted with calls for service for reports of nuisance vehicles. A reassurance visit was carried out at a local business which has been victim to recent thefts, a patrol plan is in place and these patrols will continue.
We will be holding a Community Engagement in Whittlesey Library on Friday between 14:00 – 15:00 if you would like to come and discuss any local issues with us.
Whittlesey Library & Learning Centre.

A very well attended meeting tonight at the Manor Leisure Centre, saw around 45 attendee’s representing some 25 community groups.
Isabel Edgington gave a presentation on how the funding works and how to make applications.
After the meeting there was an opportunity to network with other local groups.

Town Cllr Alan Bristow who sits on the Glassmoor Wind Turbine funding committee was in attendance as was WTC Cllr Ray Whitwell.

As my loyal avid readers know I do not do rumour! – however I make an exception.
There appears to be an accusation that ‘I’ may be part and party of – that Town Councillor Martin Curtis has decided not to stand (at this moment in time) as a candidate in next May’s elections. I categorically state that this is not the case – I am not party to MC’s decision – I have had no communication with Cllr Curtis.
Cllr Curtis gave his reasons not to stand in his e-mail to the NECCA group.

It may have even be taken that ‘I’ was the source of several e-mails that was sent to the editor of the Cambs Times™ John Elworthy – Not the case – I have had NO contact with Mr Elworthy or the Cambs Times™ for several years.

So the ‘sources’ maybe within their own group, and again my information is that once again the senior conservative councillors are pointing the finger at the wrong person(s).

When ever I meet with councillors, here or elsewhere I always state that if I ask questions that are of a sensitive or confidential nature then by all means tell me ‘its none of my business’
I accept and respect this dialogue arrangement.

Public know my passion is for Whittlesey – Its Villages – Fair Play – and A Vision for the future’

So there you have it – NOT Guilty – and neither are the prime suspect(s)

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

4 members of WTC Planning Committee in attendance – 3 sent apologies.

As the only member of the public attending this month’s planning meeting at Whittlesey Town Council – which is pretty usual – no one who may be interested in becoming a Councillor in next May’s local elections – to see ‘how’ local council debate and decide what is put in front of them!

At the public forum – which any member of the public have 15 minutes (in total) to speak to the committee – in this case about ‘Planning’
I asked about Section 106 monies due from Larkfleet Homes on their major building site on Eastrea Road – I had done so 3 times before, and Cllr Mrs Mayor took up the case for me then informed me last month that monies due were still outstanding and overdue, as I asked where it stood now, I saw a nodding head, which I took as this money has now been paid.

Recently several developers have managed to opt out of their original agreements, various reasons, one being ‘unable to afford’ – due to market forces etc.
On the agenda yesterday was F/TY18/0496/PLOBBA – where the now developer ‘Axiom Homes’™ – they have took over the development (Westhaven Nursery Peterboro Road) and want to change/eliminate the previous section S106 contributions.
Their reasoning being that the land will take much greater clearance than they had realised!
They are building many more social/affordable housing and therefor mitigate their requirements for S106 contributions.
So WTC planning committee had to vote to accept the revised application.
This is another example of planning anomaly which we the residents and ratepayer looses out, where this would have been contributions for pre-school & secondary fenland rail contribution, libraries, life long learning county waste and public open spaces.

Surely when there is a legal binding agreement between the planning authority and the developer – this should remain, even when the project is then sold on.
Alas this is not the case.

Under S106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as amended, contributions can be sought from developers towards the costs of providing community and social infrastructure, the need for which has arisen as a result of a new development taking place. This funding is commonly known as ‘Section 106‘.

After several months of hard work by the Museum Volunteers, they have put together a small room full of World War One artefacts.
The ‘Poppy Wreath’ for example contains 244 Poppy Petals – One for each of those who died either in action or from wounds they received during WW1 – Each one with the name of the deceased. Much research has been carried out – and the 244 include those from Coastes, Eastrea, Pondersbridge and Turves.

Whittlesey Museum Website – Click Here

Whittlesey War Memorial history and original dedication leaflet 25th February 1923
Act of Remembrance will be held at Turves, Coates and Eastrea on Sunday morning.
Act of Remembrance will be held at Whittlesey War Memorial at 11:00am

The remembrance parade will leave the Ivy Leaf Club/Car Park @ 2pm
Act of remembrance at the War Memorial 2:30pm
Followed by Church Service at St Marys.

Further to my post about ‘The Painted Room of Whittlesey’ – of course we have fairly unique historical Mud Walls – of which there is a fantastic booklet which has been printed this year – surveying all the surviving walls in Whittlesey (+1 in Eastrea).
Today at the Town Hall 8 members of the group had their monthly meeting.
The next steps being taking the information out to educate children locally about this piece of history. The booklet is ‘free’ and available at Whittlesey Library/Learning Centre.

A wonderful night is to be expected as always – raising money for local charity to help Children –

The David Hill Charity Quiz
includes :-
A Hot Sausage Supper…..

Stephen Hodson has organised this event for many years.

I’ve been a supporter of this event for many years and my thanks to fellow quizzers in joining me in our team again this year – We go for the fun….fun…fun
Applications now closed

Photo’s © Whittlesey Rotary