After a very successful year in publishing their booklet (available at Whittlesey Library)
on the location, history and building of The Whittlesey Mud Walls – The group now look ahead for education of all about these unique landmarks.
I am addressing the concerns and issues that have yet again reared up on social media – Here in Whittlesey, in respect of crime, fear of crime and the reporting of crime.
As I have posted on many occasions – Crime in our area is low to medium in comparison to other nearby areas – We are not crime free and this is constantly pointed out to our Police.
I/we & Whittlesey Town Council receive a comprehensive report every month from our Neighbourhood – Sergeant Lugg with what his team have been prioritising and focusing on, they are involved in many other aspects of Law & Order besides what is in the report.
Want to know what is in it – then join up with NHW by going to OurWatch Website and registering – simple 5 minutes. https://www.ourwatch.org.uk/
Next there has been chatter about forming Street Patrols – well those who would like to do so please be aware and informed :- Want to know more – ;-;-;- Ask Me…..
In Wisbech some 2 years ago local (Wisbech) Councillor Steve Tierney took it upon himself to organise and form a sort of ‘Street Warden Group’
At the outset he did not consult with the Police, and he financed ‘Yellow Reflective Jackets’ Torches etc….
This ‘group’ would the patrol around Wisbech town centre and help/give advice/directions etc to anyone who approached them – all sounds good.
Within a very short time – one Saturday evening the small group of ‘Street Wardens’ were accosted by some drunken louts in the town centre, they called for the Police as they felt threatened, unfortunately the Police could not respond as they had other higher demands at that time. Shortly afterwards the Street Warden Group disbanded.
There is another major issue – ‘Insurance’ – The Street Wardens’ had NO Public Liability Insurance and NO Personal Accident Insurance, so if they or anyone connected with them had an ‘accident’ or was involved in a physical aspect – then they were NOT covered.
An example of how things work being, when-ever events take place in Whittlesey -say
The Straw Bear Festival – the organisers + Stallholders all have to have Public Liability Insurance or they are not allowed to attend – that means everyone.
Neighbourhood Watch is a Nationally recognised group, fully constituted and ‘Fully Insured’ to carry out their work, and fully supported by ALL Police Authorities and Police & Crime Commissioners throughout the UK.
Whipping up emotions on Social Media seems to be the norm these days – but please I don’t like crime either – but we have to work with our Law Enforcement Agencies and not encourage vigilante groups.
JOIN THE UK’S LARGEST VOLUNTARY MOVEMENT https://www.ourwatch.org.uk/
The next meeting of Whittlesey Neighbourhood Watch will be on:-
Thursday 13th November at 7:00pm at Grosvenor House
(Whittlesey Town Council Offices) – side door up the stairs – you are welcome to come along.
Our local Neighbourhood PCSO plans to attend.
It has come to me…!!! that yesterday there were 2 shifting looking individuals asking people various questions, some mainly females felt intimidated by these people.
It popped up on Social Media pretty quickly but nothing was reported to the Police.
I can not emphasis enough – yes by all means let people know on Social Media – BUT please inform the Police – if it is not reported, it is NOT recorded – If there are NO RECORDs of such incidents then the Police are not only unaware – they can not act on the intelligence given by the public.
If you are accosted, feel threatened in any way or intimidated by anyone male or female – I would suggest you call 999 and report it instantly.
Remember No Report = No Record = No Response
Been away for a few days at a nice hotel The Beechwood Hotel in North Walsham with an excellent Nouvelle cuisine menu for Connie & I @ our 42nd Wedding Anniversary.
Nice afternoon Tea (alcohol free).
A trip to the National Trust @ ‘Blickling’ with its Christmas theme.
3 Neighbourhood Police Team, along with Age UK, Fenland District Council + Robin S from Whittlesey NHW attended Whittlesey Library on Monday – only one member of the public with any issues and that was to do with ‘Parking’ – which Robin informs me was resolved.
This Friday between 10 – 12 o’clock at Whittlesey Library
There will be another Police and Community engagement event.
Charlotte Homent The Community Protection Manager from
Cambridgeshire CC.
Nigel Sutton Fraud and Cyber Security Advisor Specialist Crime Team (Serious & Organised, Fraud & Cyber) Intelligence and Specialist Crime Department Cambridgeshire Constabulary.
Plus our NHW Team will be on hand to advise and answer questions about Policing, Crime and Cyber related concerns and issues.
Please come along – if you can not make it – you can send questions to me – see my contact details.
Maybe the majority of our electorate are not that bothered, know or understand the ‘new’ set up of the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority.
It is another layer of local government which Cambs & Peterborough Councils lobbied the government for.
Copyright RMG Photography –
We had an election and Cllr James Palmer (Con) was duly elected under our democratic system. The turnout was very low 32.9% and it went to a second round count.
Elected Mayor Palmer ‘promised’ he would keep costs of this ‘new’ authority in check.
Since the election in May 2017 (less than 2 years) the running costs have escalated from a prediction of less than £1M to now £7M – when questioned Mayor Palmer apologised.
The press are having a field day with Mayor Palmer – but he has thicker skin than a rhino it would appear. His administration has gone through 4 financial directors in less than 18 months, the most recent being ‘sacked’ by Mayor Palmer.
James Palmer, mayor of the combined authority, said Mr Fenlon had been dismissed after making “misleading” statements about the funding of major projects at the authority’s overview and scrutiny committee on Monday. Mr Fenlon had cast doubt over whether major projects could be achieved within the authority’s budget.
Mr Palmer said he had to “have faith” in his officers, and said this had not been the case with Mr Fenlon.
When I read the article that Mr Fenton put out, it seemed quiet normal for a financial director to look at the ‘risk factors’ of so many large projects.
As you are aware I attended the meeting of the combined authority in October when the Kings Dyke Bridge funding was being ‘decided’. There was another item on the agenda also to do with infrastructure – Cllr Smith made a very good argument and presentation – was ‘slapped down’ by Mayor Palmer and I could almost sense the fright of the other committee members, Cllr Smiths proposal was unanimously rejected.
Now ‘we’ in Whittlesey – well most that is – think Mayor Palmer is our hero – The authority agreeing to fund all the shortfall £16+Million to build the Kings Dyke Bridge.
That may well be the case – however Mayor Palmer enlists his own committee’s – employs and dismisses people who don’t agree with him and takes little or no notice of his own scrutiny committee – in fact Councillors have been left “gobsmacked” and “disturbed” after the authority’s chief financial officer was dismissed according to the article in the Cambs Times©® this week.
Not finished – sorry – It was also Metro Mayor Palmer who said – that ‘people’ were not interested in the ‘pay-out’ he solely made to his recently departed deputy Martin Whiteley,
paying him off and apparently took £11,000 worth of legal advice – that’s some ‘advice’
Then of course there is the much lauded ‘enhanced lighting’ at Whittlesey Railway Station which received a lot of publicity – I’ll put back the photo of what £18,000 worth of LED lighting is doing – I questioned a Whittlesey councillor who said for me to ask Mayor Palmer about it.
I dare say there is more to come – but it would seem for many (even our hero for KD Bridge) that Mayor Palmer will see his time out and probably have the affront to stand again next time around….
Remember ALL this money that Mayor Palmer has is Tax Payers money – his extortionate running costs is Tax Payers money – the £Millions in running costs – becomes less to actually deliver much needed projects.
Another excellent event supported by Arts Alive at our Library last night saw around 40+ attend a variety of music and instrumental from duet Mambo Jambo who originate from East Yorkshire.
The for-ever on going issues and concerns about ‘Parking’ within our area, has raised it head yet again – This is to be discussed at January’s Business Form Meeting.
See my article below – The Do nothing option is beginning to be difficult to justify –
Do you have the answers – let me know –
Click on the small arrows in the bottom left hand corner to forward/reverse pages.
I do try not to make mistakes in my postings however sometimes I do and will always put things right.
In my article about the AGM of the New Queen Street Surgery, I said that Dr Dan Dhanushan was leaving the surgery – this is not the case.
I also spelt Chairman Mr Bernard Gray-Esson name incorrectly and am putting all this down to becoming old, slightly senile, hard of hearing in my left ear and that I had attended 3 meetings that day and was probably becoming confused – eh sorry folks -and not a drop of alcohol had passed my lips that day……must try harder.
Put me right if I am wrong – please.
Tonight 18 members attended the monthly Whittlesey Business Forum meeting, including Town & District Councillor Cllr Kay Mayor and Jonathan Digby for The Aspire learning Trust which includes Sir harry Smith.
An excellent presentation by guest speaker Natalie Branagan from ‘The Little Marketing Co’ about how she became involved in her business and how she can help and support small businesses with Marketing Tools and Information.
A robust discussion took place around ‘Parking Issues’ in/around our town and I informed the group of how #Fenland# is set up as far as the law goes.
I will post further information about this later on.
The group are planning to have a visit to The House of Commons early next year.
The AGM of the Business Forum will take place on 11th December @ The Falcon Hotel 6:30pm
Another excellent evening to network with other small businesses in our area.
On Friday December 07th @ 10:00am @ Whittlesey Library – Cyber Crime expert from Cambs Police Nigel Sutton will attend, as will be NHW and Safer Fenland Partnership.
Any help or information we can give only too happy to help – please come along if you have any concerns.
There is also an event on December 03rd.
Click on picture to enlarge…..
Last evening was the AGM of New Queen Street Surgery – Patients participation Group.
A very successful year for the group both in engagement with the surgery and patients, but also in raising money for equipment benefiting patients.
Sad new that Dr Gary Howsam will be leaving the surgery in December to take up a new GP role at the ‘Octagon Practice Group’ Dr H has been at the NQS for 11 years and is for the time being still Chairman of the Clincal Commissioning Group for P’boro & Cambs.
Also leaving NQS will Practice Manager Helena Papworth who also will be joining the ‘Octagon Group’
At patient level, it is hoped we shall see little or no effect, as the surgery is planning ahead for these changes.
Dr H was presented with a small gift from the group for his support since the PPGs inception.
At the meeting, Martin & Sandra Green presented a cheque to the PPG from monies they had raised selling cycle parts.
Mayor Julie Windle have a short speech recognising the valuable work the PPG is carrying out.
Information: There are still this years FLU Vaccine available – please phone surgery for an appointment – do it before they run out.
The present committee chaired by Bernard Gray-Esson were re-elected en-bloc.
The date of the next meeting will be:Monday 07th January 2019
