Cllr Roy Gerstner – Community Activist

The final & 4th event held on the Market Square, organised by Whittlesey Town Council.
Regulars know what to bring with them, and there was a very well behaved crowd.

All the events this year have pulled in between 200/300 people and very family orientated event for all to enjoy. The weather remained dry and not too hot.

The next event will be ‘The Lions’ Centenary Celebrations – again with Music on the Square.

Accountability – seems a bit thin on the ground once again… for example when ‘Mayor’ James Palmer was canvassing in Whittlesey, I met him on the market place for all of 5 minutes, he assured me that there was no duplicity in what he was going to do, there was no overlapping of strategy, and he would be running an organisation on minimal budget – well not going on what’s hit the pan this week….Money on his running costs. Let us see if the Scrutiny committee has any teeth and may I be bold enough to suggest that ‘Mayor’ Palmer buy himself a decent Razor – talk about looking scruffy…

Five councillors forced the issued on the agenda of the scrutiny committee to ensure a review of the £1.8 million wage bill – nearly 25 per cent higher than the original budget- to staff the new authority.
From an earlier projected cost of £1.3 million a year authority members felt enough was enough when they looked at the latest budget figure of £1.8 million.
Chief executive Martin Whiteley thought the final staffing level of 15 would be smaller than other devolved authorities.
He said: “I don’t envisage us creating a big shiny office. We’ll be looking to work flexibly across council offices.”
This week we revealed how Mayor James Palmer has bagged himself his own parking space at his new HQ – inside East Cambs offices The Grange in Ely – but only two of his team will also be able to park there. Details of arrangements for accommodating the newly elected £75,000 mayor have been revealed in a Freedom of Information put to the district council by a local resident.
The council has rented out three spaces in total to the combined authority.

On the national news which I do not normally comment on, there is of course more negativity on the scrapping of the London Garden Bridge….accountability – where has £37 million gone so far – a vast amount of money in anyone’s terms.

How much has the project cost to date?

The Garden Bridge Trust needed to raise an estimated £200m to complete the project – but there is a shortfall of £70m.
So far £37.4m of public money was spent on planning for the bridge and this money will effectively have been lost.
A further £9m is at risk.

So all quiet in Whittlesey – I think not…. More windows broken, Station Road, Broad Street and Victory Ave and another car vandalised.

Fancy something different well not far away is the Ramsey 1940’s Weekend

More information on their dedicated website.
http://www.ramsey1940s.co.uk/

Website taking a break for a few days…

Below is a link to the latest newsletter from Police and Crime Commissioner, Jason Ablewhite.

In this edition, you can read about funding to help prevent and address violence against women and girls  and find out what the Constabulary is doing to help combat Rural Crime.

To read Click Here – PCC Report

FARMERS across the county are being urged to ‘paint it pink’ as part of a crackdown on battery thefts.

Between March and May there were 108 battery thefts across the county damaging their livelihood and costing them hundreds of pounds.

Thieves cut the cables from farmer’s irrigation pumps and machinery or find scrap batteries from yards and attempt to sell them at scrap yards or recycling centres for their lead content.

Officers from Cambridgeshire Constabulary’s Rural Crime Action Team hope that painting the batteries bright pink and marking them with postcodes will stop thieves in their tracks.

PC Sam Thompson said: “We’re asking farmers to paint their batteries pink and etch each one with their postcode. Meanwhile officers have been visiting scrap yards and recycling centres advising staff not to accept pink or marked batteries without a driving licence or similar photo identification with an address linking them to the battery.

“Battery thefts not only cost our farmers hundreds of pounds to replace they disrupt their work and cost their livelihood.”

Members of the public are urged to be the eyes and ears of the rural community and report any suspicious behaviour to police on 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111

Sold out, with a waiting list for any cancellations, people asking at the door – what a success considering ALL the anti-social media some weeks ago – SOLD OUT.

The event was put on by Cambs Library Service and sponsored by Whittlesey Town Council. Today myself and some of the friends lent our support for the event and served squash and biscuits at the end.

Helen from Animal Experience, had about 15 or exotic animals for the children to hold or stroke if they so wished. It was a fantastic experience for all the children and the adults who accompanied them.

Thanks to our correspondent who informs me that the signs have been placed. It was known that if the business was not sold by August this year that – the shop would close.

Established in 1955 – David and Shirley are very well known business personalities within our town, have supported and sponsored many organisations and events throughout their business years.

Placed on the market – when they decided to look forward to a well earned retirement.

Hopefully the ‘new’ owners will keep some of the traditions that the shop has given for the last 60+ years.

Time has moved on and Wrights do have their own website:
http://www.wrightsofwhittlesey.co.uk/

I do NOT want to be alarmist, but we are getting more reports of crime and especially burglaries, it maybe just a ‘spike’ or the time of year, however I keep promoting, that anyone see’s anything remotely suspicious – please report it, – it is the only way that the Police can then target their stretched resources.

Between 11:30 and 14:30 on Tuesday 15th August 2017 a caravan was stolen from the area of March Rd, Coates. The caravan is described as a White Eldis Supersiroco, Twin wheel caravan and has distinguishing black and white bubbles on the side. Anyone with any information, please call the Police Non-Emergency number 101 and quote crime reference CF0468180817.

There has been an attempted business burglary in Coates on March Road. A vehicle has driven down the side of a property to an outbuilding. Attempts have been made to gain entry but failed. If anything has been seen or heard in this area. Please contact 101 and use reference CF0466730817.

PSCO’s Green & Froment

It is not going away – sorry – as the population increases, more cars per household, garage full up with junk, bicycles and the freezer. Cars parked on pavements, double parked on the highway and on the wrong side at nigh-time, the issue can be debated for-ever.
We may count ourselves very lucky in that ‘we’ still have free car parks and No Traffic Warden (anymore), our PCSO’s do carry out ‘some’ enforcement but they have many other duties besides ‘parking’.
For ever hearing at various meetings, issues of illegal and inconsiderate parking, during the school run is especially emotive to those who take and collect their children, but what about the residents they block in at times.
I do know that our PSCO’s do visit school areas during term times and have been known to issue tickets on occasions.

In parts of Peterborough some residents enlisted the local NHW team to carry out the following along with taking photos of the offending vehicles – This is NOT coming to Whittlesey as far as I am aware – that’s unless you know differently!

Find out a lot more by visiting Whittlesey NHW https://www.whittleseynhw.org.uk/

Between 11/08/2017 17:00 – 14/08/2017 08:15  Unknown Offenders have broken into a Haulage Yard on Eastrea Rd and made an untidy search of the premises. Also batteries have been attempted to be stolen from vehicles.

Anyone with any information please get in contact with the Police on 101 and quote crime reference CF0465070817
Kind Regards PCSO Shane Green 7172

‘Some’ person(s) are regularly roaming around looking at targets to break-in to.
If you see anything suspicious please call the Police none-emergency # 101
If you see a crime taking place call 999

Still a very dangerous corner if you’re not very aware, even after some road improvements a few years ago. When coming from Fengate/Peterborough the corner is almost ‘blind’ until you are actually in the corner itself.

Early today a head on accident, which I understand involved a vehicle which had been involved in a crime incident.
Luckily no one seriously hurt I am told.

Our correspondent informs me, that on passenger seat of the red BMW is what appears to be a pretty hefty ‘Safe’

No matter how slowly you approach the corner from the Fengate end, if the vehicles coming in the other direction ‘cut’ the corner – it is jump on the brakes time….

Whilst we’re on the subject – it appears very few of ‘us’ are keeping to the 40 mph speed limit, most times I drive North Bank, impatient drivers not happy with 40, will insist on over-taking, only to be caught up at the Dog-In-A-Doublet Bridge turning – Ha..

Many thanks to our correspondent aka A.C.