Cllr Roy Gerstner – Community Activist

Tonight Wednesday 20th September 2017
Whittlesey Business Forum meets at:
The Falcon Hotel – @ 6pm.

At tonights meeting….
Why not come along and network with other businesses within our town.

• Welcome and Apologies
  Minutes of the previous general meeting on 19^th July, 2017
  Matters Arising
  Members introduction
  Membership & Treasurer’s Report
  Guest Speaker; Gary Johannes of Inspired to Change – Questions
  Fenland District Business Awards
  Charity Walk – cheque presentations
  Trade & Community Fayre – Review
  Christmas Party. Friday 15^th December at Falcon Hotel
  Whittlesey Festival Report
  Social Media update
  Bridge update
   Railway Station
  Christmas Extravaganza
  Next Meeting 18^th October 2017
  Any other business

Flu Clinics this & next Saturday 23rd & 30th September 08:30 – 11:00
(Corrected Times – thanks R.D)

Seasonal flu is a highly infectious illness caused by a flu virus.

The virus infects your lungs and upper airways, causing a sudden high temperature and general aches and pains.

You could also lose your appetite, feel nauseous and have a dry cough. Symptoms can last for up to a week.

We offer ‘at risk’ groups the flu vaccine at a certain time each year to protect you against the flu virus.

You may be invited for a flu jab if you are:

• over 65 years of age
• pregnant
• or have:
  • a serious heart or chest complaint, including asthma
  • serious kidney disease
  • diabetes
  • lowered immunity due to disease or treatment such as steroid medication or cancer treatment
  • if you have ever had a stroke

Unfortunately, nasal spray vaccinations will NOT be available at flu clinics this year.  We will contact those eligible once our delivery arrives to arrange an appointment.  We apologise for any inconvenience caused.  Thank you.

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 presentation from Mr William Boardman from GCE was postponed due to him having personal commitments, not sure ‘what’ the change of ‘use’ of land next to AB Texel on Eastrea Road is about and will have to wait until the next meeting.
Ref F/YR14/0706 there was some discussion on supporting this application (St Mary’s Church Hall development) as it is very much keeping with the present and adjoining properties, however there has been some disagreement in Section S106 monies which help pay and offset costs say to education or transport, when this application came to FDC they refused it.
Of the other applications : The loss of the Cash Machine (ATM) from NatWest  was of concern, however there is not a lot that can be done about it, and there are at least 5 other Cash Machine (ATM’s) in town.

Date of next meeting : 04th October 2017

Invitation for you to come along on Saturday 30th September 2017 from 10.30-12.30 to Eastrea Village Hall to enjoy a coffee, tea, cake and even a sausage roll or two.

The government has down graded the threat to ‘Severe’ – see previous post on ‘Threat Levels’

What the threat levels mean

Threat levels are designed to give a broad indication of the likelihood of a terrorist attack.

• LOW means an attack is unlikely.

• MODERATE means an attack is possible, but not likely
• SUBSTANTIAL means an attack is a strong possibility
• SEVERE means an attack is highly likely
• CRITICAL means an attack is expected imminently

  The current threat level for international terrorism in the UK is CRITICAL.

It was another busy week again for me, Monday – Community Rail Partnership Meeting, Tuesday I was at Police HQ in Hinchingbrooke, Wednesday – WTC Planning Meeting,
Thursday at Peterborough Prison and a day off on Friday!
The ‘Fair’ arrives again in our town again this week-end.
The permission to hold a Fair in the town, goes back to King John era.

This coming Monday there will be a Planning Meeting of WTC held at Grosvenor House Offices.
Here is the Agenda with a couple of notes/Comments….

Re Application F/YR14/0706 this is a request for an update – the application is still pending (St Mary’s Church Hall) – on which development is planned – however there are concerns about viability of Section S106 payments.
Re application F/YR17/0544 This is purely about layout of the development (150 houses off Snowly Park)
Re application F/YR17/0795 Removal of Cash Machine (Nat West)

I would sincerely hope by now after many years doing this web site/Blog, that those who view it know I Do NOT do rumours.
Last week-end I was informed on 3 occasions that the land intended for the ‘Sainsbury’s Supermarket’ was now in the planning stages of becoming houses.
(No planning application has been seen as yet).

The 3 informants are regular drinkers at various public houses in town, and I can categorically say they are at present – very miss-informed.
Having contacted the person who has the planning permission, he told me – that he is still planning to deliver the Whittlesey scheme.
That’s how it stands today 15th September 2017

The ‘sign’ says – Country Park Coming Soon – it does not specify ‘How soon’ is/was.

The next Whittlesey & District Neighbourhood Watch
meeting will be held on : Friday 22nd September at 7pm

Whittlesey Town Council Offices – Grosvenor Road – Side entrance – Up the stairs (Stair lift if required)

All welcome – Help reduce crime in your street.

Over the past few weeks across Cambridgeshire and surrounding forces there has been an increase in the reports of Distraction Burglary and Rogue trading offences. The older members of our community and vulnerable are the main targets.  Fenland has only had a couple of reported cases, with this in mind it is the ideal time to remind the community that these offences although few and far between do happen! Please could I ask you to remind your older family members to follow the below simple rules. Could I also ask that you keep an eye out for your older and vulnerable neighbours and to report anything that you feel is suspicious.
Simple tips:- NOT SURE DON’T OPEN THE DOOR! If you feel you MUST open door, always put your chain on Remember simple rule…. STOP, CHAIN, CHECK!
Also ensure rear/side doors are locked before opening front door. NEVER let anyone into your home without prior appointment! ALWAYS check ID. NEVER employ someone standing on your doorstep. (They might remind you of work you need completing!) however you should always use a reputable company!
Recommendation from friend or family is best If not trading standards have the BUY WITH CONFIDENCE scheme! If persons on your door step are being pushy, call the police. (If possible take vehicle details index, and make and description of person/s).

REMEMBER: Utility companies are who ever you pay your bills to e.g. British Gas, Anglian Water etc. You can also set a password on all your utility accounts for added protection and security. (Ask person what your password is)! Ensure you have a list of your utility companies beside your telephone! If your not sure contact company on the number you have NOT on any ID card provided. Most utility companies will contact you prior to attending your address (They will not be offended if you call to check they are genuine)! If you have a key safe change the code regularly and when carer’s etc. leave!

SCAMS- Postal scams …Australian Lottery, lottery of Ireland, Clairvoyants, prize draws, you have won please send money to receive your prize even some of the smaller mail order catalogues, vitamins etc.  If you are not sure, don’t enter and shred, or you can send them to post office FREEPOST scam mail and they will destroy. All the above if they seem too good to be true they are!
All monies sent to these PO BOX addresses is used to fund organised crime, exploitation and human trafficking. If you notice any of these types of mail dropping on the doorstep of your family members please report to trading standards.
TELEPHONE/COMPUTER. Never give your personal details to anybody calling you over the phone. If you are worried and need to check, call your bank etc. from a different phone or wait 10-15 minutes before calling from number you received call on! Microsoft software problems, never give money contact Microsoft directly. E-mail asking for money friend trapped abroad, this is another scam, your account has been hacked or tampered with. I hope that you find the above useful and are able to pass the information onto family, friends and members of your community you feel might not have access to computer. Many thanks for your help and support.

Julie Bailey Crime Reduction and Community Safety Officer Fenland.

Whittlesey NHW Website can be found – https://www.whittleseynhw.org.uk/

After many recent successes on putting on an event during school holidays, Friends Of Whittlesey Library (FOWL) have their next event…see poster
Click on picture to enlarge – click a 2nd time to further enlarge….

At the executive meeting held at Police HQ on Tuesday, the update from the Police & Crime Commissioner was that a consultant had been engaged to look at the delivery of ‘local Policing’ and had started work.

A few months ago – there was a consultation from the PCC’s Office regarding closer working with the Fire Service – the result was that 53% of the returns supported the initiative.
‘Speedwatch’ – the official channel that Cambs Police use (Not The Community Road Watch Scheme) had a dedicated officer ‘Mike Brookes’ -who was very encouraging in establishing more ‘official groups’.

Please see attached documents…

Environmental Reports, Fly-Tipping, Open Spaces, Street Pride.

Tidy Fenland saw FDC partners ‘Kingdom’ spend a whole 2 days in Whittlesey in a month, spending the majority of their time in Wisbech, which as we are all aware has much bigger ‘issues’ than us in Whittlesey, still some WTC Councillors are asking if ‘Kingdom’ can not spend a bit more time in our town and perhaps dare I say The Villages !!!

   
CCTV report – reading the incidents makes ‘sad reading’ suspects in Whittlesey Manor Field, suspected drugs – No Police available to investigate – Ask our Police & Crime Commissioner !!!
‘We’ are paying in the region of £9,000 a year for the above….