Who Do You/I Believe – Kings Dyke Crossing

Posted on August 29, 2018 by Roy Gerstner Admin

Here we go yet again (Not weekly but daily and hourly) – The story in The Peterborough Telegraph™ on Monday 27th August 2018 containing much subjective information and inaccuracies given out by I presume County Council Officials themselves…..
Having read the article it makes me wonder – The ‘mess’ they appear to be getting into.

1/ The Headline – ‘Long-awaited King’s Dyke rail crossing in Whittlesey will be completed on time despite rising costs’
Since when does anyone know when the Crossing will be completed (1972/1982/2016/2017/2018/2020) since no detailed plan has yet been completed, and no final ‘Cost – estimate has been obtained.

2/ Sarah Heywood (Strategic finance manager) told the authority’s Economic & Environmental Committee the estimated completion costs are expected to significantly exceed £16:9m –
Fails to say where the enormous shortfall may come from.. The for-ever bottomless pile of money Cllr James Palmer (Mayor combined authority) may contribute – and no word from Cllr Palmer – maybe he is best holding back until a more ‘accurate’ figure is given.

3/ Construction by Kier will commence as soon as the design phase has been approved, with the road likely to open in Spring 2020
It is my understanding having spoken with both Whittlesey County Councillors, Cllr Boden and Cllr Connor recently that the award the contract to actually build the Bridge/Road has NOT been awarded to anyone yet let alone Kier.

4/ The article states the Land purchase in place.
That maybe correct – but as of yesterday NO contracts had been signed.

It is their understanding that the contract is in (2) phases.
(a) Design and Costing.
(b) Building of the project.
Kier is carrying out the first phase, and once this goes to Cambs CC and to committee, it will decided then whether to let Kier carry on or to put out to tender for others to bid.

Having read this poorly put out press release only confuses the general public even more, add on some social media wind up and what do we end with…..FAKE NEWS.

NO FAKE News Here…..

I may well attend the next committee meeting in Cambridge on 13th September….

You can read the article in The Peterborough Telegraph™ by

Click on this Link

There is also a comment from Ms Jan Leach

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Sad News – Passing Away of Martin Baldrey

Posted on August 28, 2018 by Roy Gerstner Admin

It is quite a shock when having spoken with Martin only a couple of weeks ago, and he looking well and not complaining of anything.
Both he and Jacque have been involved in many community projects over many years, supporting many charities and raising funds for many groups here in Whittlesey.

Originally printed on August 24, 2018 in the Cambs Times.                       

BALDREY Graham Martin (Martin). Passed away unexpectedly on Monday 20th August 2018, aged 71 years. Dearly loved husband of Jacque, loving Dad, Grandad and Brother, also a dear friend to many. Will be sadly missed. Funeral service to be held at Peterborough Crematorium on Wednesday 5th September 2018 at 12 noon followed by a celebration of life at St Mary’s Church, Whittlesey. Family flowers only.
Donations in memory of Martin for Cats Protection. Please wear bright colours.
All enquiries to H. E. Bull and Son Funeral Directors, 61 Inhams Road, Whittlesey, PE7 1TT. Tel 01733 203573

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jacque (The Duck) with Martin having fun at The Mayors fundraising Duck Race

©Pictures Wisbech Standard

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Pity – Not many attending St Andrews Fete

Posted on August 27, 2018 by Roy Gerstner Admin

Opened and attended by the Mayor of Whittlesey, the public were thin on the ground – The Fete in aid of St Andrews Church was this year not as well attended as previously.
No Bar and No Music – but those who did attend enjoyed the event.

 

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Work to start on Ramsey Road – Tomorrow – Tuesday

Posted on August 27, 2018 by Roy Gerstner Admin

Work begins tomorrow – Tuesday for 3 weeks (hopefully) – the work is to be done in two phases, as access is required by businesses –

All plans/diagrams and project work can be viewed on Cambs CC website

https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/travel-roads-and-parking/transport-projects/drought-damaged-road-repair-scheme/

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More Crime & Issues – Last Week

Posted on August 26, 2018 by Roy Gerstner Admin

In the last week, there have been a further (2) distraction burglaries – same modus –
Knocking on doors, selling their labour to cut trees down or do gardening work.
On occasions they will dislodge a tile on a bungalow and then tell the elderly resident that major work is required.
Again can I ask, if you have elderly neighbours that they are made aware of this scam going around the area.

I have been alerted by a Cambs NHW Coordinator about an unpleasant and threatening phone call she received this morning which caused her considerable concern.   The hoax caller was a woman, well-spoken using clear native English and the call logged as tel no. 02032 398292.   This tel number is listed on-line amongst many others as a “HMRC malicious hoax no”.
To view go to https://www.phonecall-info.co.uk/number/02032398292 .

The call our NHW Coordinator received was similar to the typically reported calls listed there e.g. ” I received this call telling me that it was from the H.M.R.C. and that an injunction had been taken out against me and that I had to call this number and that this was my final chance.   Failure to do this could result in a prison sentence”

I’m pleased to say that our NHW Coordinator took the right action by not responding and promptly cancelled the call. I have advised our Coordinator to report the details to Action Fraud by using the shortcut link listed at the bottom of each page on our Cambs NHW Web-Site www.cambsnhw.org.uk .

Please alert your NHW Scheme Members as appropriate.   You will never receive a genuine telephone call of this nature from HMRC.
Best Wishes Vic Nickson
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Nice One – Maybe – Too Late…..

Posted on August 26, 2018 by Roy Gerstner Admin

So – there must be an election in the not too distant future (May 2019) – Well councillors in the Stonald Ward have put out a newsletter – the first one for some considerable time, after the last local elections, there was one or two councillors who posted an update on the ‘newish’ Whittlesey TC Website… alas it didn’t last very long.
Even Cllr Martin Curtis who ran a very active website/blog for a number of years – stopped and fizzed out, only to be found on ‘Social Media’ – desperate for some ex councillor – Gary Swan has become so bored I understand he posts on the March Social Media.
It is a great pity that our councillors can not find the odd 5 or 10 minutes once in a while to update their electorate, some FDC councillors do and I return to Conservative Councillor – Peterborough Cllr Chris Harper who keeps his area/electorate very well informed of what’s happening in Park Farm/Cardia area.

Many including myself are not ‘comfortable’ on social media – the reasons are well known.
Abuse, Trolling, Threats, and Innuendo to name a few.

So I well expect some of our other councillors will be following with a news update in the run up to next years elections – sorry ladies and gents you should be doing this on  much more regular basis….
A great deal of Whittlesey and surrounding area are relying on me to give very regular updates.
Which I am more than happy to provide….

I am Roy Gerstner, known as a community activist.
I lobby and ask questions.
I attend meetings all over the area, whether it be:
Council, Planning, Health, Education, Policing, Criminal Justice,
Library Services or Environmental Issues….just to name a few.

I go to these meetings to hear at first hand what is happening and what concerns and issues are being raised – I report on these meetings as I see and hear what is said. I will support good things for our town/villages, but will fight for fair play.

I have run this web/blog for nearly 8 years…… quite an achievement even though I say myself. I receive no payments from anyone and claim no expenses from anyone.
I pay for the hosting of this site myself.
I am Independent of all political groups and have never subscribed or made payments to any political organisation.

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White Van Man – Issues @ Recycling Centre

Posted on August 26, 2018 by Roy Gerstner Admin

Let me remind those with ‘short’ memories – it is only a few years ago, that some councillors were recommending the closure of our ‘recycling centre’ to save money.
A very vocal and concerted effort by myself and others made our views known, fortunately there was a election looming and the subject disappeared ….
The recycling centre on New Road is a facility provided by Cambs CC and run by a private company. It is for households to take domestic rubbish and garden waste + recycling materials. It is not for general business waste – you need to buy a licence for this.

So here below is the criteria for White Van Man…. simples…


Click on picture to enlarge….

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Trends this week…..

Posted on August 25, 2018 by Roy Gerstner Admin

Lets get some good news out of the way – finally (I hope) – Ramsey Road will be resurfaced and ‘some’ of the dangerous humps and bumps sorted out near ‘Here comes Harris’ –
The road has always suffered from subsidence due to drying out of the soil….. there are materials which other countries use ‘RoadCem’ -…….-……..-……        Watch Video
That can sort out issues like we are having, this has been put to Cambs Highways – who as per usual are not prepared to even have a trial of this material….
The work is now due to start next week (03/09/18) after some nearly 2 years of delays……!

After nearly 12 months of campaigning and complaining – our Zebra Crossings are due a lick of paint – now all is not as simple as that – Cambs Highways need to send men to measure up the Zebra – and then calculate how much paint will be needed – well I never –

Nice ‘jollies’ for those @ Highways considering they do most other jobs/work by desk top calculations….
I would have thought Zebra’s were a standard size?
Still after all my lobbying I should not be complaining – lets see what sort of job they do.

Now we come to the almost ‘weekly’ hearsay (which I do not subscribe) – I was informed that there were more on-going issues regarding the Kings Dyke Bridge Crossing.
I also have the ‘latest’ and only issue of The Stonald Ward Matters that councillors have delivered to that area (more later) – which brings their ward residents more or less up to date of what’s happening at the negotiation table –
I agree there can not be a running commentary on day-to-day events surrounding this project – however after some 5 – yes 5 years of protracted negotiations there should have been better communication for ALL concerned instead of ‘hearsay/social fake news’.
Others (including councillors) have told me – the whole project should have been handled differently.
As my updates (on a regular basis) confirm – there will be a statement towards the end of September from Cambs CC – When a much better idea of the ‘Costs’ of the project may well be know – (My guess is it will make eyes water -)

Ken C

Good to see ‘my’ and our good friend Kenny Carrington back at work after a protracted time off work due to an illness – Kenny and ‘his’ workers at The Community Payback Team’ do fantastic work in/around our area…. Nice to have a good talk and catch up with him today….
Government ‘politics’ have not always worked well – and hiving off parts of the probation services has not worked well in some areas. Kenny informs me that our area is doing fairly well….
That said of 30 ‘customers who was supposed to turn up to do their ‘Payback’ – only 8 arrived – the others knowing there is not much redress if they do not turn up….

 

 

 

 

Don’t forget St Andrews Fete on Bank Holiday Monday – hopefully the weather will hold up..

A nice few days away last week for Connie and I @ Hintlesham Hall in Suffolk.

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Scams (2) … Students beware

Posted on August 17, 2018 by Roy Gerstner Admin
Fraudsters are contacting overseas students and visitors who are in the UK via their mobile phone or social network account and purporting to represent UK or foreign law enforcement.

After fraudsters have claimed to work with their respective embassy or government, they tell the victim that there is evidence in the form of forged documentation or parcels which implicate them in a crime such as money laundering, fraud or immigration offences.

After demanding further personal details from the victim such as their name, current address and copies of personal documentation, they threaten the victim by suggesting a warrant exists for their arrest which will result in their deportation and imprisonment unless they transfer a payment to them in order to cancel the arrest or pay a fine. Once the money is transferred, all contact between the victim and the fraudster is severed.


What You Need To Do:

  • Police will never ask you to withdraw to transfer money so “it can be checked”, neither would they demand money to in order to cancel an arrest.
  • Do not be tricked into giving a fraudster access to your personal or financial details no matter who they say they are; protect your information and have the confidence to question and refuse unusual requests.
  • If you have made a payment to someone claiming to be the police or government department, and you think you might be a victim of fraud, you can report it to Action Fraud any time of the day or night using our online fraud reporting tool. You can also get advice about fraud or cyber-crime by calling 0300 123 2040.
  • If you are a student you can ask your Student Union or University for advice, help and support.
Message Sent By
Action Fraud (Action Fraud, Administrator, National)
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Latest Scams …

Posted on August 17, 2018 by Roy Gerstner Admin

Confirm your Apple id !                               AppleID
Dear Client,

We have faced some problems with your account Apple, please confirm your billing details, If you ignored this email your account will be Officially Permanently disabled the next 48 hours.. .

Please click or copy this link to confirm your billing details.

Link Removed – Not from Apple

Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts.
Sincerely,
Apple ID.

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Trending This Week…

Posted on August 17, 2018 by Roy Gerstner Admin

Well I notice that ‘most’ of our councillors and officials are enjoying a deserved holiday during August, however I also note that after several attempts to highlight the state of our Zebra Crossings in town at Town Council meetings – Nothing (I would have been surprised otherwise) that ‘Nothing’ has transpired – no paint has yet arrived….
Likewise the resurfacing of Ramsey Road, which now is well over 15 months overdue, and every time the subject is raised we get the same answers – I know that Councillors are asking and making representation, but I always go back to our ‘Old’ Ex Leader of FDC – Alan Melton who often quoted –
Who is working for Who Here….

Bedlam again on Thursday ay Market Street/Station Road whilst temporary traffic lights were being installed.
Today for only a short time – the removal of scaffolding around the Old Building opposite the town hall – Some call it the Monastery – however at this weeks Whittlesey Society meeting – the Chairman quoted that there is no such records of a monastery in Whittlesey.
Still nice to see the renovations after many months of work – again not quite complete as there has now been found a ‘painting’ on one of the interior mud walls….

 

 

Theft from our shops is a common occurrence (shrinkage in the trade) and local supermarket KESHCO is no exception – it happens several times a week.
Owner JK has very good CCTV and has caught many light fingered customers.
In the end ‘we’ the honest law abiding public end up paying as the price of goods has to reflect -Shrinkage’
A year or so, I witnessed a low life with a purpose built trench coat that had pockets inside to store (6) bottles of spirits. When I gave him ‘a look’ he very aggressively asked me what I was starring at! – He was caught before leaving….

Time for a Holiday….

 

 

 

 

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Some more History – ‘Ostlers – Whittlesey’

Posted on August 16, 2018 by Roy Gerstner Admin

Bellow a talk given by now retired David Ostler – about their business…

We know how our business A C Ostler, finished but where did it start and what happened in the middle?  For that we go back 68 years to 1950.

My father was then manager of Timothy White and Taylors, in Market Place (as it was then known), in Peterborough. He always wanted to have his own business and a hardware shop in Westgate came up for sale which he took over. Selling domestic hardware, gardening, DIY, fireworks etc. On the counter were displayed brands from the past such as Izal toilet rolls, Fab, Rinso, Lifebuoy soap. Prior to Bonfire Night its was even permitted to display fireworks loose on the counter top

During the 60’s Peterborough Chamber Trade had an exhibition on the embankment, I remember we were promoting a new product – “Fairy Liquid”! The  public thought the idea of a liquid to wash up with rather strange – “ how could this be better?” How times have changed, now we use dishwashers!

I came into the business in 1962 at the age of 15, straight from school. This was the expectation in family businesses then. With better education opportunities, our children wanted to pursue their own careers, which we encouraged.

Purchase Tax was replaced by VAT on similar items in the early 1970’s. This changed the collection of such taxes from the wholesaler to the retailer.

Paraffin heaters were a very popular form of heating in some homes. This meant we had a large paraffin tank at the back of the shop and customers would bring a can regularly to be refilled.

In 1968 we opened a shop in Lawson Avenue, Stanground.  The rent for the shop in Westgate had gone from £7 to £10 a week a big increase, so we closed Westgate to focus on Stanground. To emphasise the price the cost of a night out was about £1 and you could purchase a house for £1000.

My Father died in 1971 and my brother John joined the business. My parents had owned a large property, after the death of my father my mother decided to move to a smaller property. This left us needing more space to store items. Therefore, in 1973 we opened a shop in Oundle Road, which had storage. During our time here we opened a toy wholesale section, as WH Smith closed this part of their business, leaving the area with no toy wholesaler. We sold mainly pocket money lines to sub post offices, corner shops etc. Including, selling 1,000 fancy hats to the Leadmills, a night club in Sheffield. We sold toys for Christmas parties for companies such as London Brick Company, the sugar beet factory. Frequently wrapping up to 400 presents for them.

In 1982 we opened in Werrington District Centre which was our largest shop (1,800 sq ft) My brother John ran this shop. We soon closed the Oundle road store.

In 1988 Arthur Neal retired and we took over the premises and moved to Whittlesey for the first time.
We outgrew the Broad Street store by 1997 and so moved into our final store in Market Street. We were able to increase our range of stock to include such items as; paint, wallpaper, timber, tools, garden furniture and fireworks, alongside cookware and domestic hardware. (The first ever risk assessment we had to complete was for fireworks!)

In the years following 1997 we closed our Werrington shop (the Development corporation had doubled the rent). The Lawson Avenue shop followed in 2010. My brother was of retirement age and this enabled him to work part-time.
During the time we have been in business we have supplied goods to Peterborough City Council and many schools, mainly Home Economics Departments across Peterborough and surounding area.

Prior to council wheelie bins on one occasion we provided 150 dustbins to schools in Peterborough! In addition, we supplied children’s homes, care homes and the hospital nursing home and doctor’s flats.

This brief history of our business ends with the closure remaining store here in Whittlesey. Together with younger members of our families pursuing careers in other fields, the changing face of the High street and shopping habits  and difficulty finding an appropriate buyer, the shop closed in September 2017 as retirement beckoned for me as well as my brother.

David Ostler

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