Cllr Roy Gerstner – Community Activist

Considering the amount of ‘debate’ about Whittlesea Railway Station/Trains etc is going on elsewhere!!!
– only myself and Cllr Alan Bristow were present from Whittlesey at last nights meeting of the Community Rail Partnership.
I have attended most of these meetings for well over 5 years and unfortunately not a lot of progress has been made
(until now that is)
The ready good news is – that after a sustained campaign by many, new LED lighting is to be installed in the near future.

The second piece of good news, being that the funding for ‘Option 1’ – Station Platform and Footbridge has been secured via the Combined Authority for £9:2 Million (Includes both Manea and Whittlesey)

Third piece of good news – the Birmingham to Norwich route is to remain for the time being, this is good news for those who use this train for Stanstead Airport.

Both Cllr Bristow and myself were vocal in regards to the forever poor state of the Railway Station and the surrounding area’s – not a pretty site and not very welcoming to would be tourists.
The none engagement of Network Rail is always a challenge and has been since the beginings….

Oh – why do we have to change a corporate identity from Hereward Community Rail Partership – to a new – what-ever-the name maybe…..new logo, new letterheads, new i.d.
and it all costs someone (you and I) money.

Next planned public meeting 06th March 2019

Hopefully by that time someone at the meeting will be able to explain what things like ‘Grip 4’ not only means but can explain its context in simple terms – we simple people can understand.

Will we have the LED lighting in place by them – we shall wait and see.

Coming tomorrow (Wednesday) – tonights meeting at Fenland Hall March where a total of…6 – that’s read 6 members of the public attended the meeting.
Some good new and some not so good news…..

Nice to talk with Fenlands contractors (The real workers) ISS who are now at long last on top of most grass cutting in/around our area, explained all the issues and difficulties they had at the beginning of the year (a long time ago).
Many know the ongoing issues of playing football and cricket at the Manor Field and it is certainly a rough terrain to say the least – challenging…still the grass looks OK now….

Annual General Meeting of The Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group @ The Fleet Centre Fletton Peterborough last night (18th)
Only 20 attendees, of which maybe only 2 or 3 was members of the public.
The CCG covers 960,000 people so I would say very sparsely attended.
Maybe no one is interested in how this £1.2 Billion monolith is run or governed.
Most people are only interested in being able to access a doctor with a timely appointment.
I did attend, and you are welcome to read all 115 pages of Annual report and accounts! – I can supply the document.
So lets get to the main points:-
Dr Gary Howsen is the Chairman of the group (Whittlesey/New Queen Street Surgery Doctor), remains in position, there have been 6 predecessors!
Jan Thomas is the new Chief Officer
New Financial Officers
It would appear the time span of senior personnel is pretty short.
A good delivery by Dr Howsen kept it short to the point and understandable.
There are still serious concerns/issues about ‘overspend’ the ‘target’ being £35 – £45 Million (Budget being £1:2 Billion).
The CCG employs 300 personnel to manage this vast budget.
The CCG is rated as #14 out of 200 CCG’s in ‘Cancer Care’ – one very good result.

There are very big challenges for the CCG to deliver and getting to grips with the for-ever overspend (as many other do as well).
As patients, Dr Howsan said this was his first priority, but at the same time trying to help patients – help themselves if possible.
Many other topics were covered and I have done articles in the past – about how the NHS can save money, example being ‘pain-killers’ Paracetamol’ – 99p over the counter, but for a GP to issue a prescription, the chemist to dispense it cost well over £40 (Dr Howsan).

Any further information please contact me….

After more years than I can remember, there maybe just some light at the end of the never ending tunnel…..

A scoping exercise which cost nearly £400K into our local railway stations and trains running through them.

Tomorrow evening 19th @ Fenland Hall there will be a Full Partnership meeting.

I will be attending and hopefully come back with some good news – who knows….

My thanks to Pauline Readhead from Eastrea, who loaned me the document.
A bit of a challenge to get it formatted for web use but hopefully all is OK.

There is of course other documents including the recent Jacob & Jack Harris – History of SHS

Click on the bottom Left corner to forward arrow the pages.

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group is one of the largest CCGs in England (by patient population), with 100 GP practices as members, which cover all GP practices in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, as well as three practices in North Hertfordshire (Royston) and two in Northamptonshire (Oundle and Wansford). We are responsible for planning and buying local NHS services, such as the care you receive at hospital and in the community, as well as ensuring they deliver the best possible care and treatment for patients.

Tuesday 18th September will be the AGM of the CCG.
All our surgeries come under the Cambs & P’boro CCG – with a budget of over £900M/Year.

Yes this is very important to listen to what is in store for our future health services.
I did register and will be attending.

Official news to me – Cllr Steve Garratt is retiring from his Councillor role, I have known for a while, but he has now told me personally.
Although Cllr Garratt’s attendance has been somewhat poor over the past 12/18 months, he remains focused with ‘Music on The Square’ and I can confirm that the events will take place again next year 2019.

Steve informed me that he has been a Councillor for some 24 years and has seen Whittlesey gets some good projects achieved – for example the refurbishment of The Manor Leisure Centre.
Steve said after 24 years – he wants his life back.

Along with Steve there will be at least 4 other Whittlesey Town Councillors not standing at next May’s local elections…..so plenty of opportunities for the Social Networking Keyboard Warriors who have all the answers in putting things right – lets wait and see who will put up or shut up!

All fun at our Fun Fair this afternoon with a steady number of youngsters enjoying themselves.

Reverend Nigel informs me that my article about
Tic-Toc The Clock has stopped…. is due to a ‘Pigeon’ problem….
The feathers misfits have got into some of the workings of the Clock.
Also whilst the Steeple Jacks were up the spire they happened to find more expensive work that needs doing….

Our newest shop opening was doing very brisk business this morning I am told, with customers grabbing the latest offers, still I saw that toothpaste was all of 1p cheaper at Savers…..
However by the time I passed by in the afternoon, the alarm was going at full decibels – it would appear no one knew how to reset it….
There are bargains to be had I am told, which for us customers is good for competition.
I dare say this will be at our other retailers cost.

Just look what is coming in the near future – A fantastic piece of nostalgic history loaned to me by Pauline R….

The official opening of ‘The Sir Harry Smith Secondary School Whittlesey’

Peterborough Green Energy Company – Fengate / Storeys Bar Road

Proposed Highway & Site Access Works for Peterborough Green Energy Project
(Including partial realignment of Storey’s Bar Road). This application is linked to, and to be read in conjunction with, details submitted under 18/01259/DISCHG.
The proposals also relate to details approved previously under consents
reference: 14/02058/NONMAT & 11/00067/NONMAT

14/02058/NONMAT | Non-material amendment to planning permission 08/01081/ELE Construction and operation of an energy from waste and biomass fuelled generating station – Create dual access. Widen bridge over padholm drain. Replace roundabout with priority junction. Realignment of storey bar road between the two dual access points. Road layout with site adjustments to coordinate with amended access arrangements, location of gatehouse and entrance to car park area of research and development centre | Land Off Storeys Bar Road Storeys Bar Road Fengate Peterborough

The latest documents can be read on Peterborough City Council Website
https://www.peterborough.gov.uk/council/planning-and-development/planning-and-building/search-applications/
search 08/01081/ELE

If/when this project gets off the ground it will have effects on transport getting into Peterborough along the Bank Road/Storey Bar Road.
FYI – on the original application FDC had no objections.

Every year many individuals and groups set up coffee mornings to raise funds for ‘MacMillan Cancer Support’ – another fantastic effort by all involved – and it makes a BIG difference to anyone who has been affected by cancer.

Council Chairman brews up for cancer charity

Councillor Kay Mayor is inviting residents to her coffee morning on Thursday, September 27, as part of Macmillan Cancer Support’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning event.

Free tea and coffee will be served at Fenland Hall in County Road, March, from 10am to 11.30am, with delicious cakes and sausage rolls on sale in aid of the cause, and a raffle.

Cllr Mayor said: “I hope as many people as possible come and join me and help make a big difference to cancer patients and their families.

“All money raised will go towards funding more Macmillan nurses and health professionals, who do so much fantastic work to provide vital relief and support.”

Local people can also support the fundraiser by donating raffle prizes or making a donation on the day. Raffle prizes can be donated in advance of the event at Fenland Hall reception.

Anyone who cannot attend the coffee morning but would like to make a donation can post it to the Chairman’s Secretary, Fenland District Council, Fenland Hall, County Road, March, Cambridgeshire, PE15 8NQ (please make cheques payable to Macmillan Cancer Support).