Ex Morley Petrol Station & Garage – West End/Low Cross/Finkle Lane – All documents including (one) so far objection can be viewed on FDC’s Website by directly following this link (saves searching for it)

Click Here

F/YR18/0015/F | Erection of a convenience store retail unit and 3 x 2-storey 3-bed dwellings and erection of 1.8m (max height) boundary wall, involving the formation of new accesses and the demolition of existing buildings within a Conservation Area | Land North And West Of 3 – 5 Low Cross Whittlesey Cambridgeshire

The store plans to open 7 days a week from 07:00 to 22:00
15 Full time employees
3 X 2 story dwellings
24 Car Parking Spaces
6 Cycle Spaces
2 Disabled Car Parking Spaces

Its been on a ‘funny’ week! – with some usual ‘Fake News’ on local social media sites.

Lets start with the ‘Smelly News’ – yes it is there and people have reported it as far away as Northampton? – (Fake) …. I followed this up in quite detail, and found that only last week – Two Whittlesey Councillors and the Chairman of the Business Forum were given a guided tour of the facility – the ‘Smell’ is being investigated.

After my reporting it here this week, today I have also been given an open invitation to visit the site….Well I can not ask for more  – thank you.
As many of us know – Whittlesey thrives on negativity and I am sure it is not unique.

Lets see what else was discussed in ‘my’ meetings this week.
I can tell you ‘FACT‘ – that infrastructure in our schools is well advanced, with plans for New Road and Sir Harry Smith to the amount of £5 Million over the next few years.

The upgrading enhancements of The ‘Monastery‘ on Market Street is advancing very well and will provide much needed accommodation within the town – yes there are parking concerns. (It is being called a Beautique B&B).

The ‘new’ Vets’ on Church Street again in nearing completion and will have state of the art facilities – They have plenty of parking.

The imminent opening of ‘Subway’ providing jobs hopefully for local people.
Parking right outside.

The planning application for a ‘Co-Op convenience store at the old Morley’s petrol station/garage – Plenty of parking – again hoping for up to 15 jobs being created.

These projects  are inward investment into our town, substantial money – it might not please everyone, but I would rather this happen than see empty shops and derelict land within our town.

Excellent contact with Cllr Chris Bowden about signage along the B1040/North Bank -which I’ll post up later – again thank you.

Finally going back to the Knot Hole at Kings Dyke – when completed it is planned to turn the land back to a Nature Reserve….for the local community.

I call this ALL Good news…. Not FAKE NEWS…found elsewhere…

I use these photo’s regularly to ‘remind’ people of what our Town Square looked like only a few years ago….I and many others are ‘proud’ and ‘passionate’ about our town.
Occasionally spoilt by a few Riff/Raff – but that does not deter the rest of us….
Have a pleasant weekend…

©Roy Gerstner

Some residents can smell it – some can not – however it is there and the Environment Agency has been involved and are investigating – they have visited the site where the ‘smelly’ is originating from.

If any resident does experience a pong or smell coming from the Kings Dyke Knot Hole area can I ask that they still report it to the authorities.

0800 80 70 60

TAKE FIVE TO STOP FRAUD WEEK

22-26 JANUARY 2018

Neighbourhood Watch is proud to be supporting Take Five To Stop Fraud Week. Take Five To Stop Fraud Week is part of the national campaign from Financial Fraud Action UK and the Government, backed by the banking industry coming together to tackle fraud.  The advice being issued this week is really simple but it can stop you becoming a victim of fraud.

1. A genuine bank or organisation will never contact you out of the blue to ask for your PIN, full password or to move money to another account. Only give out your personal or financial details to use a service that you have given your consent to, that you trust and that you are expecting to be contacted by.
2. Don’t be tricked into giving a fraudster access to your personal or financial details. Never automatically click on a link in an unexpected email or text.
3. Always question uninvited approaches in case it’s a scam. Instead, contact the company directly using a known email or phone number.

   

With the resignation of current leader of the group and of Fenland District Council – John Clark, there will now be a closed election for a new leader of the group and probably leader of the Council on Thursday 8th February –

There is as usual positioning and ‘jockeying around’ but I am reliably informed that Cllr Chris Seaton is favourite at this moment in time, there appears to be one or two other hopefuls but we shall wait and see who is the eventual winner.
Cllr Seaton was elected in 2007 and was promoted under leader Alan Melton in 2010.
He is elected for the ward of Roman Bank Wisbech

He holds several positions and is currently the portfolio holder for finance
Odds on favourite – maybe – who knows –

Photo FDC©

David was a Coates resident for over 83 years, local butcher and businessman.
Passed away peacefully at home on 9th January 2018, aged 83 years.Devoted Husband of Peggy.
Loving father to Kim and Tania and Father in Law to David.
Also a much loved Grandad to Lian and Darren and Great Grandad to Phoebe (Squidge).
Funeral service to take place on Wednesday 31st January 2018. 12.30pm at Holy Trinity Church, Coates;
followed by committal at Fenland Crematorium.Family flowers only please.
Donations, if desired, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the Peterborough Ambulance Service at the service.
Enquiries may be made to H.E Bull and Son Funeral Directors, 61 Inhams Road, Whittlesey, Peterborough. Telephone 01733 203573
Published in Peterborough Telegraph©

I am humbled to have been a member of the ‘New’ Business Forum since its re-launch.
I am not a businessman and own no businesses, however I and a couple of other community group leaders were invited to take part and I’ve been there ever since and pay personally for my own membership.

Now in its 3rd year the Group has around 50 members and meets monthly (except August).
At last evenings meeting, Mr. Stephen Hodson who was one of the instigators of the ‘New Forum’ stood down as chairman and a new committee was elected.
Chair Mr Joe Jennings
Vice Chair Deborah Slater
Secretary Catherine Healey
Treasurer Eamonn Dorling

A full agenda took place with many items and events coming for this coming year.

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Click on pictures to enlarge.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the WBF they have their own dedicated website @ http://www.whittleseybusiness.co.uk/

Coming tomorrow -Thursday 25th – The latest on who maybe will be the leader of the Conservative Group and probably of Fenland District Council – and it is NOT a Whittlesey Councillor !!!!!

Good information from the PCC – Click on link below.

http://www.cambridgeshire-pcc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/News-from-the-Police-and-Crime-Commissioner-January-2018.pdf

I have an update (24th/2100z) It ‘appears’ the ‘Smelly’ is coming from the Recycling Company at the Kings Dyke Knot Hole. This was originally set up the Thory Brothers,
they have sold it to another Whittlesey businessman Mr S Riley under the company name
East Midlands Recycling. The FDC Environmental Officer has been to visit last week I understand. I can only ask – if you still experiencing this ‘Smell’ to keep on reporting it.
FDC’s phone # is 01354 654321

At the March(28th) meeting of the Whittlesey Business Forum – East Midlands Recycling will be giving a talk/presentation.

Residents are reporting and getting annoyed about a ‘smell’ around the Low Cross/Park Lane area. If you have experienced this issue please report it 0800 80 70 60 this is the number for the environment agency.

Please note my terminology…you know what I mean – I am not wholly against rises in Council Taxes but I think it rather ‘smug’ of Cambs CC Leader Steve Count in announcing a 2.99% increase in our ‘Rates’ especially when He and his fellow councillors voted to give themselves a basic pay rise of more than £2,000, dismissing an independent report which advised significantly lower.

But following a vote at a full council meeting (July 18th 2017) a 30% increase to £10,315 was agreed, bringing it in line with the national average for two-tier authorities.

A number of special responsibility allowances were also substantially increased, in excess of the recommendations by the council’s Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP), but also in line with the national average.

The chart above explains all….

I am sorry Mr Count am I being somewhat ‘dim’ here, you’re quite happy to go against the Independent report but then raise our precept to almost the limit the government will allow before a referendum is triggered.

I have covered #Councillors Allowances & Expenses# many times, and I am ‘sympathetic’ too there being a fair system for all…
We now have a separate precept/budget for Adult social care, Fire Service, Policing, Water & Waste water and who know’s what else – yes we now see what each service costs and the increases they ask for – but year on year ‘we’ pay more and more…to the extent Mr Count reasoning of taking The proverbial…you know what.

ps I have no choice other that pay up – that’s the system – that’s what we call democracy and that’s the way we live in a free and open democracy like it or lump it.