Cllr Roy Gerstner – Community Activist

Revised-FC-agenda-13th-July-2016

Wilderness of Central Alaska

Time for some R&R but urgent notices will be posted….

‘Stealth Brown Bin Tax’  – I can only urge as many people as possible to support the ‘NO’ I don’t want a Brown Bin thank you to FDC – it maybe!!!! only £40:00 but it will only go up.

                                           ‘BIN THE BROWN BIN TAX’

Having read the ‘blurb’ which FDC have sent out – I and ‘many’ others I have spoken with get the distinct impression that FDC would like us to believe that ‘everything is FREE at the council…..Whilst I accept what they have written in the ‘blurb’ is factual and true, most people ‘thought’ (wrongly) that the collection of ALL waste was included in our Council Tax/Rates.
The £10,000 consultation is very ‘engaging’ for a decision already made.
Having spoken with ‘a Peterborough Refuse Bin Driver (25 years @ PCC) he informs me that when the ‘Brown Bin Tax’ was introduced the majority at that time did not take up the offer – most rubbish went elsewhere – the other bins became ‘overloaded’
Only last week in Mayors Walk Peterborough – all bins had notices put on them – to the effect that -If the incorrect waste was put in the bins – they would not be collected in future’

Of course part of our ‘democratic’ process of this ‘consultation’ are several ‘ leading questions’
One being how many times ‘we’ use’ the re-cycling centre. The centre is owned and operated on behalf of Cambs CC – and it is only 2/3 years ago that we had a very big campaign to keep our Recycling Centre open – we were successful but it will be back on the agenda at some stage – when (not if) this happens – where are we then going to take our waste!!!!

Since my wife does most of the gardening I have left her to complete the FDC questionnaire.

I would suggest the ‘we’ all ‘Boycott’ the Brown Bin Tax’

As stated in my previous posts – the suggestion of £40 per bin, depends on how many people take up the offer? – less than expected – then it will be more than £40
It maybe that the Brown Bin Tax is ‘popular’ and the cost ‘could be less’
(and I ‘could win the lottery’)

Year-on Year – it can only go one way – Upwards – this is a stealth tax.

I don’t care about other Councils or areas, I care about here where I live and am retired.

Okay – ‘we’ will never win with Fenland District Council, I am referring to both Grass Cutting (It is someone else fault/problem) or The imposition of a ‘Brown Bin Tax’
My thanks to several who contacted me re the FDC website ISS Grass Cutting Website
This is very informative and now gives the ‘planned’ dates when ‘we’ expect the grass to be cut – and now we can all leave ‘comments’ (I have done so) on ‘How are we doing’ – I would respectfully advise all who look on this site and other social media to do the same.
Another disappointing issue – being I have now been in contact with 5 if not 6 (loosing count) of our ‘elected representatives’ about the for never ending issues – only so far (2) have got back to me –  and no feedback what-so-ever from FDC.
Naturally being an extremely big supporter of making our Town/Villages clean, litter free and ‘blooming’ – what would happen if the In-Bloom Judges – so happened to make a detour on their planned route – and saw ‘the state’ of some of the other areas around our town – Good luck and thanks to everyones hard and dedicated work..

Update : A male was found to have died in residence off/behind High Causeway.
Police, Ambulance & Fire Services attended.

Don’t know the details as yet – but my correspondent informs me 2 or 3 cars were in the area of High Causeway…

At yet another meeting last night – we were informed by Cllr David Mason, that Bruce Smith (The developer of land on Eastrea Road – See many, many previous posts) had advised him to inform the membership present, that ‘He is in negotiation with ALDI’® to possibly take on the planned supermarket on Eastrea Road which Sainsburys® pulled out of last year.
Mr Smith also indicated that ‘if’ his negotiations with Sainsburys were to be in his favour, he would purchase the land intended for the ‘Whittlesey Country Park’ and gift/donate/trust it to Whittlesey.
Still early days but ‘if’ all comes off – what good news we may well have.

Report as given to members of Whittlesey Neighbourhood Watch last night 28th June.

As chairman of Whittlesey & District Neighbourhood Watch (NHW), I requested a meeting with the Fenland Police Inspectors – – last Tuesday 21st June.
I had One and a half hours of pretty intense questions and answers about various topics/issues around Policing,
(or None-Policing – depends on how you see it).
The final decision to actually close our Police Station is yet to be made/signed off – but on a scale of 100 –  I was told they are at the 90 mark in this process.

I have held back on breaking this news in order to update the membership which I represent.

It is my understanding – that negotiations are on-going with the Fire Services to utilise facilities at our Fire Station (to use as a base and vehicles etc)
We are a town & villages of 14,000 people, we are approximately 20% in area of Fenland.
Inspector Davies, explained what resources he had at his disposal for Policing Fenland 24 hours/365 days a week.
The Thin Blue Line is an understatement.
Whittlesey and Villages are ‘seen/perceived’ as a ‘Low Crime’ area – We are NOT a Crime Free zone/area. A couple of weeks ago I reported there were 40 individuals on probation in the Whittlesey area!
My initial request for a meeting was triggered by me being contacted by 8 individuals reporting crimes to me (a member of the public) for incidents they could not be bothered or found it too difficult to report to the Police.
These incidents may have been ‘low’ of the crime scale – never the less were incidents – and by not reporting throws out the whole reporting and crime statistics, I received 4 incidents the following week and I have receive None this week.
Our Police Station opened in October 1968 – Policing and crime was very much different then too what it is today – there will never be a ‘Bobby’ doing his walk-around late evening checking shops and premises, we have all but lost our Neighbourhood Policing.

I could write a book  about this – but won’t – if your feelings are that here we go again!!! – another loss to our Town & Villages.  Then the only person that can stop the Police Station closing is YOUR PCC (Police & Crime Commissioner) – Remember He has just been elected – Fenland turnout was a very dismal 13,699 (18.23) of the electorate.

Again – If you are concerned about this topic/issue – then contact YOUR Councillor.

I am honoured and humbled to have been re-elected as Chairman of the Whittlesey & Neighbourhood Watch Group for another year – I took over the group on a ‘temporary’ basis in 2011

Earlier today a correspondent sent me this photo, another bit of Fly-Tipping along High Causeway (Not the first time) almost opposite ‘Boots Chemist’ – when I went and had a look this evening, someone? had added a couple of small chest of draws behind the Settee…. WTC are on the case I am told.
The good news is that FDC’s rapid response team will get it removed – it is just not only annoying but a sorry state of some people we have in Whittlesey. I just hope it doesn’t get any worse.

There is a PPG meeting tonight 7pm at NQS – Which I plan to attend.
A recent communication from Dr Gary Howsam.

“As you all know I have been using some of my working week to Chair the Greater Peterborough Local Commissioning Group, and represent our area on the CCG Governing Body.
I recently applied for, and was appointed to, a new role as CCG Chief Clinical Officer and Clinical Chair.
This new role carries a lot more responsibility and will require a bigger time commitment. It will take up two and a half days a week. This will mean that from October 1st I will be reducing my practice commitment to two days a week. I will be resigning half my partnership duties from that date. (subject to final ratification of my new role by the Governing Body).
Although my number of days at the practice will be reduced I am still fully committed to improving the quality of care we can provide to our patients, and ensuring the practice remains fit for the future and the increasingly difficult challenges ahead (in terms of increasing workloads, reducing workforce and reducing financial resources)
I hope that my experiences working outside the practice, across the bigger system, will allow me to bring benefits to our team from observing the solutions others have successfully implemented- both locally and nationally.”

Photo © Peterborough ET

Started off by collecting more ‘rubbish’ my main ‘hobby’ in Whittlesey – how sad?
In case you are not aware I go out about 3/4 times a week depending on if I am here and the weather of course.
I do keep a record of the ‘Sad’ amount of Rubbish I collect!!!

Next went to the Library/Hub, to see another successful event ‘The Ukulele Taster’ where some 25 or so people turned up to a lively session. Tea/Coffee & Cakes put on by the FOWL committee ladies. I am not sure how many actually signed up for the complete course but quite a few.

Please see notice about CAB Session Cancelled

Connie prepared a ‘Wonderful’ indoor BBQ this afternoon for guests from Malaysia.
The two young ladies are pharmacy graduates who have completed there UK training and have been working for the past year at The ‘Independent Chemist’ on Market Street.
They are about to return to M’sia by the end of August.
Pictured (l-r) Emily, Yee Chun, Connie G, Anna Lim, Nancy G & RG – what more could a man want fantastic food, drink and 5 very nice ladies to be entertained by.

Good to see Flags flying in support of ALL our Armed Forces

For more information Click Here

There was events on Cathedral Square most of the day – Including Rain and Hail