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.

Part II from last nights meeting.
Bower River
Councillors were advised that the River bank along the Bower opposite the Manor Field, is eroding and could cause issues with the Toe-Path – the community Payback Team will cut the grass along the pathway.

Village Noticeboards
The council approved spending £412:00 per noticeboard for each of the villages, Coates, Eastrea, Pondersbridge and Turves.
I am not sure of the history behind this decision.
However the council some 6 years ago had no money to replace the vandalised noticeboard in Eastrea and the rotten board in Coates.
As chairman of Whittlesey Street Pride at the time (January 2010). We offered to replace at our cost both noticeboards. The one in Eastrea was made to a very high standard in vandal resistant metalwork and plexiglass, the one in Coates was made by a local tradesman from wood.
As far as I am aware neither have been vandalised in that time. The keyholders names and phone numbers were on display.
The question not asked at last nights Council meeting was ‘why’ they were being replaced and at a cost to the ratepayer of some £1648:00 – are these ‘new’ noticeboards to be of a quality to be ‘Vandal resistant’.

            
Eastrea Old Notice Board     Eastrea New Notice Board            Coates New Notice Board

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.

My observations will come in several parts:

5 Members of the public present, all councillors except Cllr Bristow in attendance.
Following the agenda (See a previous post 03rd November), the subject of  CCTV and Police report was briefly covered.

Policing & CCTV
The Chairman Cllr Miscandlon stated that he had been informed that Whittlesey would be allocated 2 PCSO’s but this had not yet been confirmed.
There has been vandalism carried out at ‘Vinpenta House’ on the corner of High Causeway, this is a Grade II listed building (c1740) and it appears that there has been ‘youths’ gathering and breaking of windows on several occasions.
When reported to the Police – the reply was they were ‘busy’ elsewhere.
When asked whether the CCTV had captured anything, there was no commitment.
There was then a short discussion as the whether CCTV was ‘value’ for money…..

This has been asked on many occasions..?
Read history/heritage of Vinpenta House by Clicking Here

Kings Dyke Crossing.
Next was a presentation by Mr Tim Watkins of Cambs Country Council. I was again somewhat disappointed in that ‘we’ the public and probably most of the Councillors did not actually know ‘who or what’ position Mr Watkins holds – I have since established that he is The Project Manager Major Infrastructure Delivery’
So now we know who he is, he informed the Council that there are hold ups again in getting access for the completion of a Ground Assessment Report, some 50+% has been done, but there is a landowner who is will not allow access at this time.
There are several options available to Cambs CC including challenging the access at a magistrate court and ultimately compulsory purchasing the land.
If the ‘hold up’ becomes an issue, they will ask the 6 contractors who are interested in the development to proceed with only the 50+% of the Ground survey available to them.
Mr Watkins said that the latest delay could result in a further 2 months before the ground works may begin – hopefully sometime in 2017.
A councillor asked which landowner was the cause of the access issues – Mr Watkins was non committal.

                                If you would like to have a stall – £5:00 only, contact Library

What was Nancy Fashions and Fox’s/Joe Joes has been converted into I understand a Music/Record shop.
Wishing them every success.

Today saw some ‘excitement’ within our town centre, a reported affray/attempted theft at one of the Cafés and then later on someone had their handbag stolen whilst in a shop.
It is that time of year when everyone can be distracted quite easily.
Be aware of your surroundings and who is close by you.

There are a lot of criminals who are very mobile and see Whittlesey as an easy target…..
See anything suspicious then please report it….101 none emergency 999 if a crime is being actually committed.

FOWL have a meeting this Tuesday at 7pm at the Library – Rear of building entry door.
Anyone who wishes to help and support our Library are welcome to come along.

FOWL are also having a Christmas Fare on Saturday November 26th 10:00am – 12:00
Stalls @ £5:00 enquiries can be made at the Library.

I am just emailing to let you know about our monthly event called Love Your Home, part of the MMC project. Making Money Count is a £1m Big Lottery funded project providing everyday help with money; increasing confidence in managing your money at home and online.
Our events give people the chance to have a go at crafts, DIY, cooking, up-cycling of furniture and we have raffles and free CCORRN memberships at each event.
http://www.ccorrn.org.uk/ 

The event is free and everyone is welcome – we have a different theme each month and encourage people to give us ideas about what we can make at future events.
Our next event is on the 15^th November at the Queen Mary Centre, Wisbech and its 10:30-13:00.
We have free tea, coffee and biscuits and in November we have free soup and crusty rolls.

If you could promote the event to anyone you think would enjoy coming we would much appreciate it –I have attached a flyer and included the link to our Facebook page for more info and pictures.
https://www.facebook.com/MakingMoneyCount/

We also have a craft fair on the 15th December (same place and time) and have FREE stall for anyone that wants one – as long as the products being sold have been made or created in some capacity as we want to keep the home-made feel for the event.
love-your-home-a4-flyer-may-to-dec-2016-2

I see that ‘Speeding’ on the North Bank has come back again, this seems to be a regular item on various social media. The times several of us have enlightened the public as to ‘who’ this road belongs too – I’ve lost count. The ‘Policing’ of the whole stretch of road to the Dog-In-The- Doublet bridge is Peterborough Police, Fenland Police will only get involved in the case of emergencies or to support the Peterborough Sector.
If people would as usual do some basic research – they would find out all the history behind ‘accidents/deaths/speeding along this stretch of road.
It was only after the last serious accidents that concerted pressure by several of our councillors at the time along with MP Steve Barclay making representations to Peterborough City Council, that the latest safety measures were put into place.
This actually all happened very quickly including the installation of the safety barriers.
As far as enforcing the speed limit – as again I have reported on so many occasions – there has been a reduction in the number of Speed Camera Vans – and it is a shared resource between 3 counties and can not be everywhere at once.
The answer as happened along the 40 Foot Bank – is ‘Average Speed Camera’s – I do not accept the argument that getting Power is difficult – Yes it would be costly to get the power, that’s completely different –
It depends on the ‘will’ that Peterborough want to give it.
Without another concerted effort and lobbying by both the Public and as many of our Councillors as possible – to Peterborough CC to drive the request onwards for Average Speed Camera’s or – I hope not more deaths.
As the better informed have said – It is not the road – it is the way and speed that drivers using the road are who are responsible – Drive at the speed limit and I doubt if you or I will have a problem.

I have written to Peterborough Police and Peterborough NHW to request more regular speed enforcement be carried out on this stretch of road.

(Photos from Archives ©R.G.)

HMIC (Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary)

AN HMIC report on efficiency, published 03/11/16  has rated the force as ‘requiring improvement’.

The report assesses the efficiency of forces as part of the police effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy programme (PEEL).

Assistant Chief Constable Nav Malik said: “We accept the findings of HMIC’s efficiency report. While we are disappointed with the overall judgment, we recognise the issues raised and are already taking steps to address the findings and improve in the areas identified.

To read the full report from HMIC Click Here (A lot of reading)

To read the full constabulary response Click Here (Takes about 5 minutes to read)

Already a great deal of excuses and rhetoric, ‘if’ of course there are systems already in place to address the HMIC report then that’s good – but can the public can believe it.

The PCC (Police & Crime Commissioner) of course has ‘only’ been in his post for a relative short period – yes I accept as in many of my previous posts that ‘Policing’ is very challenging in these days.
One of my idea’s never looked at is the complete amalgamation of neighbouring forces.
We do not need 43 different Policing areas in England.
We do not need 43 Chief Constables, Assistance Chief Constables and 43 PCC’s – a vast savings if I ever saw one – but the police are very institutionalize.

I am not advocating 1 authority which now exists in Scotland, but I believe a maximum of 10 regions would bring about vast efficiencies and that savings would more than pay for front line policing.

Interesting – Maybe – an update on the kings Dyke Crossing – I hope to attend and will report.
fc-agenda-9th-november-2016

Hover ‘mouse’ at bottom of page to get page 2….

A few days away to celebrate Connie’s birthday – Newmarket where the Queen visited today….Nice Hotel The Bedford Hotel & Spa.. .. around are some beautiful autumn colours and a nice ride out to Thetford Forrest…

This website (I don’t particularly like the phase ‘Blog) has been going for some 6+ years, it is not all about ‘politics’ or accountability, but about everything I find within ‘our’ community. Last Friday over a 24 hour period some ‘3,200’ people visited this website – not all from the UK I might add! – but the majority did come within our area – what a success.
No hearsay, No innuendo, and most importantly No lies – what you see is what you get.
Yesterdays report on the Police Station/PCSO Moll had 1,300 people look at the post.

Thank you for your support…..The Whittlesey monthly magazines are fine for community groups and advertising but the ‘News’ is somewhat out of date and remember they are in it for a business and profit!

As people are aware Faceless Book and Twinter have a great deal of mis-information at times, many trolls and wind-up merchants and most hide behind anonymity, very good for getting ‘real’ messages and news out to a lot of people at one time…..suites some people.

I will promote ‘any’ community group, publish other peoples opinions and support any charitable event – just let me know…..

There are ‘some‘ community groups that do not want me to promote them – that’s fine – just let me know….

I am NOT hiding behind Anonymity….