Cllr Roy Gerstner – Community Activist

Having been to Scotland dozens of times – it always rains irrespective of the time of year and this year no different, although we have had yes 3 days of sun out of 8.
My parents came to ‘Tummel Bridge’ near Pitlochry Perthshire in 1959 by car and caravan, we came back many times during my childhood. My father liked going up the local mountains, and this one ‘Schiehallion’, he and I did twice along with another mountain called ‘Benlawers’
        
Connie & I have visited the famous ‘Queens View’ on many occasions and on a half decent day the view is very nice indeed.
This year as before we stayed in the ‘Macdonald Rannoch’ on a road that’s a dead end with a beautiful Railway Station – ‘Rannoch’ – this year we did take the train (only a few stop) to Fort William & Mallaig – I have to say the 20 minutes crossing the Rannoch Moor is one of the best views of isolation I have seen and place it in my top 10 places ever seen. Nothing to spoil the views….

  
Nice seafood chowder in Mallaig – nice prices too.

So we do hope to return in maybe 2 years time, we’ve tried every month except winter – maybe is doesn’t rain then.
Nice to have been ‘off’ the grid for a number of days, little or no internet access, a dribble of mobile phone signal here and there and back to 4 channels on the TV – not that I saw much of that either. In Pitlochry is my favourite ‘shop’ – Robertsons – a place dear to my heart – Full of Whisky – I got to know the brothers Robertsons many years ago – alas they have departed to the Whiskey Distillery in heaven.

Rannoch Moor.

Lets see what the Lake District has to offer!

I am reliably informed by my correspondent who tried and tested the conveniences – May it now last …
 

I had a very long telephone call from a Councillor last night trying to correct me in some of my reporting on WTC Full Council meetings.
I have never stated that Councillors do nothing.

In fact there are a ‘few’ Councillors who work nearly full time for the benefit of the town and community.
What I did & do report, was that when it comes to ward matters towards the end of the agenda, month after month after month ‘most’ Councillors have NO ward matters to report.
I well know that Councillors are dealing with ward matters – so why don’t they report them and let the rest of the Councillors and members of the public present be aware.

Naturally I am as interested as anyone – if a Councillor has a big campaign on Footpaths or Potholes – then I am able to ask MY Councillor why he/she isn’t doing the same for the Ward that I live in – let me know – let the rest of the Councillors know.
But there is always a ‘sting’ – maybe they are aware of these matters – because it has been discussed at meetings outside of the Town Council meeting?

So no I will back-track on my reports, I report as I hear – If I get things wrong (we are all allowed to make a mistake now and then) I will put it right pronto and if an apology is required (extremely rare) I will do that too.
Town Councillors are NOT paid, however they have stood on a political platform to be elected – once elected – they are accountable to the electorate and under governance of Standards which they have to sign.

I am accountable for what I write here – I am more than happy to enter into a dialogue on any issues I raise on this website.
I am totally open and transparent and do NOT hide behind pseudonyms on social networking sites.
I don’t expect everyone to agree with my views – but I am trying to be fare.
If Councillors want crediting for their hard work – why not set up a website like Cllr Dorling and update us once in a while – I am sure that Their Electorate would be most appreciative – 10 minutes once in a while is all it takes…..

At last weeks Buttercross Auction at the Falcon Hotel…

      
Pirate sold £280:00             Ships Wheel unsold

We/You  had our County Council Elections in May – and look what has happened in 2 months.
YOUR elected County Councillors have voted themselves a ‘vast increase’ in their so-called allowances.
They have an independent pay review committee, who’s members are very eminent, high ranking ex public body members.
The Country Councillors took NO notice what-so-ever of this committees recommendations.
This is NOT democracy at all – some excuse from the leader Cllr Steve Count smirking away on his photograph is a blatant smack in the face to anyone who voted.
I made it known at the CCC elections that I was voting for None of the Candidates.
There is history – about 6 years ago there was a similar foray of issues concerning CC expenses and allowances – but it was shelved just prior to the elections at the time and some other issues of governance.
Whilst I may be a ‘little’ sympathetic to the whole issues surrounding ‘allowances’ does not take away this group reported as having secret meetings to stitch up the vote prior to it being debated – again is an affront to local democracy.

An answer would be that ALL Councillors throughout the whole country be ‘paid’ allowances the same – irrespective of where or how wealthy that Council may be.

Of course ‘whistle-in the-wind’ this will all be forgotten about in days/weeks or months whilst other issues come to the for-front – I for one did not like one bit this ‘Slap-In-The-Face’ against democracy – Shame on all of them – and NO excuses.

The leader Steve Count would have received a rise from £21,000 to £25,000 under the independent pay review – instead he voted himself a rise to £31,745

Try arguing this with Nurses who have had a 1% pay rise year-on-year for the last 4 years.
Sorry County Councillors – responsibility – there is no comparison between what you do and what a Nurse does.
No wonder the majority of people think Politicians are Fat Cats.

Jesting only, yes I do manage some quality time off now and then, so this is what I have been up too in the last couple of weeks…

Amongst the memorabilia (Junk to some) hanging on my garage wall is a 1960’s replica Ship Wheel, which needed a lot of TLC to get it back to the condition above (Done by me)
Beside the Wheel are 10 tonne shackles – used on ships to secure heavy items.

Below the Ships Wheel is our 2012 Queens Jubilee Bench (Oak) which I planned to donate at the time to a Whittlesey Group/Church – However when Connie saw it she decided she wanted it – This also has had some TLC and all looks good now.

Before anyone asks the answer is NO – I am not doing anyones project similar to the above.

WHITTLESEY & DISTRICT BUSINESS FORUM

Falcon Hotel, London Street, Whittlesey, Peterborough, PE7 1BH.

General meeting Wednesday: 19^th July, 2017.

At Falcon Hotel 6.00 for 6.30pm

A busy agenda which includes

Guest Speaker; Martin Hughes from Barker Storey Matthews on Business Rating Matters.

Guest Speaker Cllr Dee Laws – Engagement with the Whittlesey Neighbourhood Plan and public meeting.

Some ‘Spam’ is just so obvious, but someone here in Whittlesey did click on the attachment with the below and caught a very nasty virus.

1/ Not expecting anything from the originator – guitar-academy from Russia!
2/ Not addressed to a named customer
3/ Double coma – I am sure UPS know their grammar

From – support@guitar-academy.ru

Dear Customer,
We can not deliver your parcel arrived at July 09.
Postal label is enclosed to this e-mail. Please check the attachment!
Yours faithfully, ,
UPS Support Manager.

After reporting yet again, that I had been shown an e-mail via Cllr Ralph Butcher that the defunct – out of order – out of action (4½ months) Toilet was to be fixed at long last – well you guessed it and I won’t take bets… It is still closed.
But wait (Sunday @ 13:00) I am reliably informed that (1) one of the other usable toilets is playing up big time with some sort of ‘Electrical malfunction’ it works sometimes and not at others. I could make some further comment but believe its a waste of my and your time.
By the way one of the ‘excuses’ I was told that the toilet had not been repaired was:
They (FDC) had received no complaints about it, so it now looks like if the slightest thing goes wrong we (The public/ratepayer) have to initiate a ‘complaint’ first before anything might be done….What a stupid idea if I ever heard one.
Still if that’s what they want YOU know what to do 01354 654321 is the general nwumber
Still we shall see what next week brings.

Just been to have a look, as they are setting up, however, a miserable drizzle has just started…maybe blow away later, a few people got ‘prime seating’ but they are in competition with Mens Final @ Wimbledon and the British F1 GP @ Silverstone.
I’m out to late lunch at my favourite ‘Mama Tree’ @ Guyhirn.

Next Event……

This morning went out for a Mega Litter Pick on my Mobility Scooter, I covered 8 miles along Thorney Road, the whole of North Bank and the Cycle Route 63/Kings Dyke back to Whittlesey 3 hours! – Now I was somewhat limited as to what I could collect – so before anyone tells me I missed some!!! – Yes I left considerably a lot more than I could collect.
I finished up with (2) extremely heavy full bags which all I can carry. I must say I don’t think I’ll be doing North Bank again, I was a hindrance to the traffic and found their speed somewhat intimidating.
     
By the time I got back to Whittlesey it started to drizzle, I did call in at the very busy ‘Hermitage’ Bric & Brac lots of stalls.
I was hoping to go to the Coates Village Fete – but didn’t trust the weather but anyway I hope all went well for them, as this is the first year that they have secured the Village Green again after a few years absence – due to H&S and Insurance concerns/costs.
Upsetting to see what appeared to be a ‘young’ Muntjac deer recently road killed along Peterborough Road.
Muntjac were brought from China to Woburn Park in Bedfordshire in the early 20th century. They are now widespread and increasing in number and range. Deliberate releases and escapes from Woburn, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire led to the establishment of feral populations.
Some claim Asian Muntjac has been named Britain’s most dangerous and destructive deer.

Tomorrow Sunday is ‘Music On The Square’ see previous post.

Next week will see my special 10 year anniversary of ‘Litter Picking’ have I seen any difference – YES – more to come.