Cllr Roy Gerstner – Community Activist

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.

Another ‘regular’ issues brought up at the WTC meeting was that of The Pigeon Pest’ that blights parts of Market Street, especially around the Town Hall/Museum area and opposite above Whittlesey Travel.

Various options are always put forward – but as usual very little action takes place – because no one can decide the best way forward – Are they to be ‘Exterminated’, –
Re Located – or maybe A Bird of Prey maybe the answer – Some people of course are friends of Pigeons and they would object…just look at these photos’ before it was cleaned up, which has to be done regularly.
      
Taken by Whittlesey Town Hall/Museum (Monday & Tuesday this week) RB.

There was NO Police report although Councillor were very complimentary and positive about our PCSO’s

CCTV Report – Click on picture 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 is posted below on 05th January 2018.

1. 6 members on the public attending + Cllrs Steve Tierney and Will Sutton (FDC Deputy Leader)
2. 12 councillors in attendance – apologies from Cllrs Windle, Boden & Curtis
+ Cllr Garratt (No apology).

3. A 10 minute talk by Wisbech/CCC Councillor Steve Tierney about his role as ‘Area Community Champion’ to help and facilitate both Parish/Town Councils and Community Groups. Although no funding at present he hopes there will be in the near furure.

http://www.stevetierney.org/

4. A short talk by Deputy Leader of FDC Cllr Will Sutton – again about engaging with Town Council, questions mainly revolved around ‘Planning’ and FDC’s Website short-comings.

5. I had my usual 10 minutes at the ‘Public Forum’ and gave the Councillors/Public present the update on the ‘Police Review’ which I covered briefly here earlier in the week.
I also covered yesterdays news about the nationwide survey on Nitrogen Dioxide levels, which Mr Peter Baxter has been leading a campaign on and again has been covered on this site on several occasions….
See article Here…  To see what the levels of Nitrogen Dioxide are in your postcode area.
FDC official Mr Steve Bass is to give a presentation to the Council at the March meeting.

I also had a go (again) about the ‘Lack’ of signage and information regarding the closure of both the North Bank Road & B1040 towards Thorney – I get the feeling I am talking to a brick wall – when will something be done….waiting and waiting….

6. Town Council finances are in a good shape – and it is forecasted that there should be a surplus by the end of the financial year – giving the Council some reserves to draw upon if and when needed.

7. Kings Dyke Bridge – Well don’t hold your breath again, Cllr Ralph Butcher informs that there are some further delays, he stated that in his opinion the Bridge will not be completed before the end of 2019  – (that’s a 9 not an 8)
There is ‘some’ short fall in funding (nothing new about this) However no-one has stated How Much – this could be because the ‘detailed’ plans have not yet been completed.

8. Ramsey Road/Church Street – I spoke with Cllrs Whitwell and Boden last Saturday at their surgery at some length – There is supposed to be a 6 page report ‘somewhere’ – although not at tonights meeting. The public meeting was well attended – although my Letter sent to WTC was NOT sent to all councillors and both the above councillors had not sighted it – Looks to me it was selective as to who saw it!.
The Bridge at Briggate has had a surface survey carried out – which brought up no issues…
However WTC/Public concern has now prompted a survey to be carried out from the River itself at a cost of £7,500

Other Business… There is to be a meeting at the Council Offices with the Police & Crime Commissioner and his officials on the 07th February – I think this is a closed meeting and not open to the public – unless otherwise advised.
The next Neighbourhood Plan – Workshop is to be held at The Christian Church Broad Street on 24th February – Time to be advised.
No relevant update on Whittlesey Railway Station.

The Whittlesey Food Aid Group had a very successful Christmas Hamper campaign

Finally, back to the Kings Dyke Bridge – Not only have we ALL been waiting a lifetime for this to happen, the latest initiative has now been ongoing for 4 years and the project has yet to be started! – reminds me of ‘Supermarketgate’ 2 Supermarkets slugging it out – only to be left with neither coming to Whittlesey….

Remember Waiting, waiting, and more waiting.

I am Roy Gerstner – I am not a Councillor and am solely responsible for this Website – I am accountable for what I write.
I am NOT a keyboard/social media warrior.

I am more than happy to support any community group with publicity and I support ‘many’ local groups financially – ask!

I am more than happy to correct anything that is not factually correct.

Need a Job – It is now official – Subway are coming to Whittlesey at the old Norwich & Peterborough Building Society – recruitment online it says….

Takes less than 2 minutes….

My condolences to Davids family, he past away earlier this week after a short illness.
David was 83 and would have had his birthday in March.
A well known ‘local’ family business –
I remember as a boy in Coates – David delivering Meat and other groceries on his ‘Butchers Bike’ around Coates and Eastrea during the mid – 1950’s.

His father ‘Wilf Freeman owned the Butchers shop in Coates (Now the Chinese Takeaway),
He butchered his own stock and farmed local land. He also owned a number of properties in the area.
David rejuvenated the family Butchers in High Causeway with his two daughters.
Always please to say hello – he worked behind the scenes in the shop and still produced his own sausages.
Sadly to be missed – Goodbye David RIP

Just as I have done several enquiries about the Cardea/Pondersbridge traffic issues, this afternoon coming back along the A605 – who did I spy – none other than about 8 yellow reflective jackets – standing/pointing and one even had a tape measure….
Could this be the beginnings of something we’ve been waiting for – as said before – don’t hold your breath….just a coincidence !!!

Click on pictures to enlarge…

As promised below I have had further contact with Cllr Bisby, who informs me there are no ‘plans’ as such and he indicated the there could be :

Some widening of the road and putting in a lane to turn right towards Pondersbridge.

How this might be achieved I do not know and like many eagerly await some detailed plans.

I was aware that Peterborough City Council had made commitments to ‘sort’ these junctions / round-abouts out – however on speaking with Cllr Ray Bisby who is the Councillor for Stanground South and lives in the Cardea area, he was extremely enthusiastic about the ‘plans’ to sort out the ‘mess’ that we have had to endure since, the Park Farm round-about, Cardea round-abouts being built.
The Cardea turning was supposed to relieve the traffic issues within Stanground – but in fact has made the situation even worse – coupled with the traffic wishing to turn right towards Pondersbridge.
Although we never had time to get any details I hope that I may get the opportunity to do so and get a bit more detailed information.
The last I heard externally was that ‘When’ the Kings Dyke Bridge work takes place, Peterborough will carry out the so called improvements to those round-abouts/junctions.

No ‘real’ news on when the KD Bridge works are to begin – maybe some news at tomorrows WTC meeting – I hope to attend.

I suppose I should be very grateful to see – (1) – One sign informing drivers that The North Bank Road is ‘CLOSED’

Coming from Thorney to the Dog-In-A-Doublet there are (3) sets of signs informing drivers of the Road Closure.
Still that would have been the Peterborough Gang and not our Cambs Highways Gang….
I should be thankful – I am –

Further to my previous post, there was a very big turn out of Senior Police Offices and Officers from the Police & Crime Commissioners Office in attendance – including the ‘new’ Deputy PCC Cllr Ray Bisby (I had a good conversation with him – more later)

Superintendent Laura Hunt gave a very detailed explanation in how/what’s happening in regards to the ‘Policing Review’ – which will be completed by April 2018

Briefly:
Cambs Policing will be split into (2) areas as (6) areas before – this will be a Northern area and a Southern area. This had had a big effect on the reduction of senior officers.
Whittlesey (Fenland) will now become part of the Northern area – based out of Peterborough – still keeping at present March and Wisbech Police Stations.

Cambs Police ‘quote’ Still has a strong commitment to Neighbourhood Policing.

The better use of the ‘new’ Cambs Police Website – example being the reporting of most crimes – she was questioned about where and who looks at these web based reporting and said that every reported crime will be seen by the ‘Intelligence Unit’ and acted upon.
Public will receive an acknowledgement but will not normally be contacted afterwards unless they are witnesses.

The force was ‘looking’ at training some Police vetted NHW leaders in assisting with Victims support in regards to Domestic Burglary – something we have done in the past,
this could release PCSO time – no decision has been made, the offer was on the table, funding, training and resources were all available and it is now for the Executive to decide whether they wish to take up the offer.

Several other subjects covered as per the agenda.

A bit of confusion! – never! –

A correspondent quotes me as saying that the proposed increase could lead to 55 ‘new’ Police Officers – sorry not me –

The Police & Crime Commissioner Jason Ablewhite is stating these figures – NOT Me…..

At last nights executive meeting, at Police HQ in Hinchingbrooke
Charles Kitchin  Director of Public Engagement and Communication sat next to me.

He informed me that since the consultation process opened last Friday, there were well over 2,000 replies and showed me that over 70% were in favour of an increase of around £1 per month on the Police precept.

Later in the meeting I questioned Superintendent Laura Hunt – how did the constabulary plan to recruit (1) 50+ Police Officers promised from savings and reduction in PCSO’s and now the very imminent possibility of 55 Police Officers from an increase in the Precept….
She said it would be very challenging !!!! – the possibility of 105 (new) officers sounds fantastic – but how many officers has the force lost to early retirement, or natural movements…. A lot of senior posts have gone and I will cover this in my next post.

Maybe – just – maybe – we will see Police Officers in Whittlesey in some form of Neighbourhood Policing – don’t hold your breath….

Your opportunity to have Your say on proposals below…

Police and Crime Commissioner, Jason Ablewhite is asking home owners how much they are willing to support policing as part of their council tax for 2018/19.

In order to gather views, the Commissioner is running a short survey. Complete the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/W3CD8P3

Police and Crime Commissioner, Jason Ablewhite says:

“One of my duties as Police and Crime Commissioner is to ensure that Cambridgeshire Constabulary has the resources it needs to keep people safe. The Constabulary is already a very efficient force with savings of £17.2 million made over the last five years to meet budget reductions. This has been achieved in a number of ways including reducing back office staff and collaborating with other forces, other emergency services and partner organisations.

“A recent review of local policing has also found savings to fund an extra 50 front line officers however we still need to do more to respond to an increase in demand, increase our ability to investigate crimes and deter people from criminality.

“As we look forward and plan our budget for 2018/19, it is important for me to understand your views on how much you are willing to pay towards policing the county. Changes in crime types and an overall increase in calls for service means that more officers are needed to keep people safe.

“If each household (in a Band D property) paid just one extra pound each month, it would make a big difference, equating to an additional 55 Police Officers.

“I would like to thank you in advance and look forward to hearing your views.”

A link to the survey can be found here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/W3CD8P3. Your views will then inform the Commissioner’s final decision on how much to raise the policing part of the council tax.

The survey ends Monday 29^th January 2018.

Please note – copies of the survey are also available with an Easy Read description
Precept Survey – Easy Read

Views can also be given by telephone: 0300 333 3456 or by email:
cambs-pcc@cambs.pnn.police.uk.

If emailing or telephoning, please state whether you agree with:

• Option 1: you agree to an increase by £1 per month (an increase of 55 Police Officers)
• Option 2: you agree to an increase by 33p per month (maintain planned numbers with no additional increase)
• Option 3: no increase (reduce officer numbers of find equivalent savings)

Thank you

Tomorrow Monday 08th I will be attending a meeting at Hinchingbrooke Police HQ and an important part on the agenda is an update from Superintendent Laura Hunt on the ‘Policing Review’ coming to Cambs Police.
Naturally anything that is important I’ll report/post –