Cllr Roy Gerstner – Community Activist

Music – On – The – Square
This years event kicked off at around 14:15 this afternoon, it was extremely hot I measured 31:5c on the Market Place, there was around 150 people set up at that time – and the event started with a Minute Silence in respect of the tragedy at Glenfell Tower.
It got too hot for me and I left at 15:00, later on our way out to the Mama Tree we passed the Market Place and the number of people had swelled somewhat.
Hopefully no one needed the St John’s who were in attendance. Good to see the Cycle Racks being well used…

         
On my way back Litter Picking I went as usual into the Manor Field.
Sensible parents kept their children out of the scorching sun – This is an empty play park, on a Sunday afternoon – totally empty.

The for-ever now somewhat embarrassing saga of The Closed Toilet continues.
Yes the sign still informs it closed.
However I am informed that a Whittlesey Councillor recently asked FDC how much revenue had been received since ‘Charging’ came into effect, the figure is somewhere near £250:00 – yes that is £250:00 – so if it is costing ‘Thousands’ in repairs, questions need to be asked – is this a good business case for ‘us’ the Rate payer.
Why not make the Toilets FREE throughout Fenland and mitigate vandals attempting to rob a few 20 pence.

The same questions are regularly asked at Council meetings in respect of the £11,000 a year Whittlesey Council contributes towards CCTV coverage. Reading FDC’s CCTV reports to the Council again one now begins to thinks is this ‘good’ value for money.
On several occasions when CCTV was needed – the camera was pointing the wrong way or the light was poor or it was foggy!

A bumper edition from National NHW – very informative – well worth a read.
8.7 Million ‘citizens’ belong to a NHW ‘scheme’

To read the whole newsletter – Click Here

Here in Whittlesey we will be celebrating our 10th year under the present constitution.
There are members who have been part of a previous scheme for well over 20 years.

Did you know that by joining Neighbourhood Watch at our website http://www.ourwatch.org.uk 

You can receive unique targets information about protecting yourself – from our partner Action Fraud, receive bi-monthly e-newsletters and if you do register our scheme will we’ll  protect you with free, Public Liability Insurance. Register with us now and join our friendly movement –?

This years sponsor – The Co-op are working to make our communities safer.
The Co-op insurance are tasking Flooding and the impact of flooding.
Visit http://www.coop.co.uk/floodplains
The Co-op are offering a 10% discount on NHW members (Please ensure that your area ‘is’ covered by a scheme – if you say it is – and afterwards if you need to claim you find out you are not part of a scheme – could invalidate your policy) –

Contact me Roy Gerstner if you need further information my contact details are on the top tool bar.

∞ Join Whittlesey Neighbourhood Watch –
∞ It is FREE
∞ There are NO on-going costs
∞ You will be part of a well organised group
∞ You will receive crime information via e-cops
∞ You will be eligible to 10% discount from Co-op Insurance

Whittlesey NHW meeting on Thursday 22nd June at 7pm

Whittlesey Town Council Offices – Grosvenor Road (Towards the Coop) – side entrance – up the stairs (There is a Stair lift)

I and many others thank the organisers & WTC supported Mud Wall Group for their inaugural event with a well planned walk of Whittlesey, highlighting the history and where-abouts of this local heritage feature.
       
The Group have identified 25 historic walls within Whittlesey – I think I have found them another hidden one they were not aware of.
In the above document you will learn how the Mud Walls came about…!

        
Congratulations to this ‘small’ dedicated group, who are doing their best to highlight this feature.
The event was well attended by 19 visitors/public along with 12 stewards for this inaugural event.

Whittlesey Town Council sponsored music on the square starts at 2pm BYO chairs etc

Two walks being held – assemble/meet at 09:30 for 10:00 start and 11:30 for 12:00 start at The Buttercross for what I am told will be an interesting and informative guide to our historic Mud Walls.

Wear suitable shoes and bring water as it maybe getting HOT.

The issue of overgrown areas along the towpath along the Bower River was raised at Wednesdays WTC meeting, it would appear that ‘some’ attempt had been made – but had little effect – That was Wednesday – Today Friday I am happy to inform that a ‘slightly’ better job has been carried out.
Individuals, Doggie Walkers and those in Mobility Trucks can now happily go about their business without being scratched or stung.

All Happy for the time being…..

I am beginning to think! – someone is ‘pulling a fast one’ – why – well at Wednesdays Town Council meeting I was shown a copy of an e-mail written by the head of environmental services at FDC informing the Councillor that The Toilet which has been out of operation for over 12 weeks had been fixed – I reported this with great happiness on Thursday morning…..
Lo and behold – on my checking it out today Friday at around 15:00 – what did I find – as Victor Meldrew would say – I don’t belieeve it – … The Toilet still had a sign ‘Closed’

What ‘we’ do have this week is some rubbish welding of sorts – a security bar with lock’ covering the key slot – I can a put money on that it won’t take a ‘brain surgeon to work out how to break in – misfits with a little time on their hands and bit of YouTube will soon work out how to by-pass the security – still my hopes have been dashed – the Councillor who was also happy that The Toilet had been fixed – has been either misinformed or someone at FDC has given out something not quite correct…..
We wait and see what next week brings – of course there is the WTC sponsored Music Festival – Good for Wetherspoons to have such good facilities.
Watch this space

Environment & CCTV reports.

   
Click on pictures to enlarge

Disclaimer: These observations are not the ‘official’ minutes of the meeting, these are supplied by Whittlesey Town Council, normally (1) month following the meeting and can be viewed on their website.

The agenda for this meeting was posted on this website 10th June 2017
Present were myself and 3 other regular members of the public.

All Councillors were present with the exception of Cllr Martin Curtis.

The Police, CCTV And Street Officers reports….the last two will be posted separately.
I have not as yet sighted the Police report, however Cllr Mrs Mayor had a meeting with Neighbourhood Sergeant Lugg with various concerns involving anti-social behaviour.
Irrespective of National major concerns, our local Policing are stretched and every call has to be prioritised.
At the Pubic forum, I informed Councillors of ‘RIPA’ – Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (2000) which sets out what agencies, councils and others can and can not carry out – which also includes CCTV. I also supported WTC comments of the excellent work that FDC’s Rapid Response team carry out.
Mr Bernard Gray-Esson highlighted the lack of prosecutions in respect of Fly-Tipping and Littering.

Please see part (2) ‘Environment Report – FDC’s Street Scene Officers will now be joined with Peterborough’s private company called ‘Kingdom’ for enforcement purposes.

There was an excellent presentation by FDC’s conservation officer Katie McAndrew she is carrying out a review and management plan for Whittlesey.
There will be no overall expansion of the conservation areas.

A605 – It was reported that WTC Councillors had meetings with PCC in respect of the A605 junctions at Park Farm/Cardia – PCC has this bottleneck quite high on its priority list.

Kings Dyke Crossing – Chairman Cllr Butcher informed that the ‘Land Issues’ had been resolved although not as yet formally signed. The successful bidder has yet to be announced and this has caused another delay – it is hoped that the contract will be signed in August (This Year) and that ‘hopefully the project will be completed by the end of 2018

Must Farm – 3 Councillors representing Whittlesey have had meetings with Peterborough CC and Forterra – owners of the land.
The councillors came away with some positive remarks, trying to have Whittlesey correctly identified as the area and for some of the artefacts to remain locally.
Some ‘plan’ to invest £7 Millions for Peterborough Museum and £4 Million for Flag Fen was mentioned!

Neighbourhood Plan – Is progressing per schedule and there is to be a ‘Workshop’ on 11th September.

Community Rail Partnership – There will be a meeting on September 11th at 6pm at Fenland Hall. I was at one time included in the updates to the CRP and have attended many meetings, however like others I am ‘off’ the mailing list and therefor not always aware when these meetings take place.

Footnote – Hurrah Hurrah – I am informed that the ‘Out of Use Toilet’ is now back in use. So now we have ALL toilets fit for purpose – until the next time some Low Life decides to vandalise or set fire to them again.

Click on Picture to enlarge

New members (anyone) are invited to come along to the next Neighbourhood Watch meeting being held on:

Thursday 22nd June 2017 @ 7pm

Whittlesey Town Council Offices – Grosvenor Road (Near Co-Op) side door up the stairs.

On the agenda will be information about:
Doorstep Selling
Keeping Safe Online
Crime Stats for Whittlesey and any trends
Local PCSO in attendance

Why not come along – No Fees/Joining costs – Make your area/Street/Neighbourhood a Safer Place – Join with your Neighbours.

Make Whittlesey & our Villages safer areas for ALL to Work, Live and Play in.