Cllr Roy Gerstner – Community Activist

I decided to go alone to ‘listen’ to the F&P (Finance & Policy) meeting, followed later by the Planning meeting.

1. F&P meeting was predominately the same as last weeks full council meeting, however there was some serious discussion around:
(a) Premise Evacuation Policy
(b) Fire Procedure Policy
The debate revolved around fact that there is no suitable emergency exit from the meeting room on the first floor, other than having to go down the stairs and out of the usual exit.
When WTC took on the building it is my understanding that they had a ‘Fire’ official look over the building and brought up no issues.
Now that the above has been identified, the committee decided to re-seek further updated advice from a competent person and I presume act on their report.

2. See below the agenda….
Ref F/YR17/1051 Conversion of ‘Wrights Shop’ – there was a good debate – however some great confusion about Cambs CC wanting 4 dedicated parking spaces for the 2 new shop units….in my experience this has ‘never’ been brought up before, and dozens of retail units in the town would surely be subject to the same conditions.
My opinion is that quite often there is NO consistency in applying planning rules, quite often various ‘stakeholders’ change there stance on planning – this should NOT be so.
All applications should be subject to the same rules.
A somewhat entertaining!!!! rift between Cllr Bistrow and Cllr Mrs Mayor took place about
her ‘abstaining’ from the decision process.

Councillors have to declare ‘interests’ whether personal and/or prejudicial and there are rules pertaining to councillors and officials have to abide.

Anyway the result was 2 Councillors voted for the planning permission and 1 against.

If you zoom in (+) the document will be better readable.

Although incidents like happened at the Straw Bear Festival are very rare, and I hope there will be some review about security in the future. Whittlesey crime is increasing, yes we have periods of little crime and then it goes up for a while.
Over 100 incidents were reported for the Whittlesey area during November (Latest figures available)
This now raises our level to a Medium Crime Area
You can view the map by going to Cambs Police Website.

https://www.police.uk/cambridgeshire/Fenland_Whittlesey/crime/

On the Home Page – you can report any crime, it is very easy to use – I am assured by Cambs Police that ALL crime reported on the website will be treated the same way as telephoning 101 – You will get a receipt but unless you are a material witness there will not be a follow up.

Why not make your Road/Street safer with your Neighbours –
We have some 50 NHW Co-ordinators within Whittlesey and surrounding area’s
Register with e-cops to receive crime updates and news.

https://www.ecops.org.uk/

Visit Whittlesey NHW Website for a vast array of (Always up to date) Information.

https://www.whittleseynhw.org.uk/

The next meeting of Whittlesey NHW Group will be:

Tuesday 13th March @ 7pm – Whittlesey Town Council Offices Grosvenor Road
(opposite the Bus Stop) – Side door up the stairs – ALL welcome.

Roy Gerstner
Chairman Whittlesey & District NHW
Cambs NHW Executive Committee member

Thanks to all those who informed me of a ‘Stabbing incident’ yesterday afternoon,  having seen the Helicopter landing in St Mary’s.
It is my understanding that one person has been arrested and taken to custody, and that the person stabbed is NOT in a life threatening situation.

[wds id=”6″]

So I am almost recovered and almost firing on all cylinders, I have attended 6 various meetings this week and caught up a great deal.
Naturally today is one of our towns BIG days – The Straw Bear Festival
Now in its 39th year with a great deal of support and organisation involved it has become an ‘International ‘ event and bring several thousand visitors into the town over this week end.
More later.

With Heron Foods® Opening their ‘New’ enlarged store on High Causeway (Ex Alice’s)

Some large signage with the now official ‘SUBWAY’ opening in the near future, it makes one think – will everyone survive – especially with this weeks news that the old ‘Morley’s
Petrol Station site could become a – Co-Op convenience store! will this make a very good choice sorry but is there any ‘real’ competition, noting that the Co-Op have bought out NISA wholesale -that could make (4) convenient stores who are supplied by the Co-Op – this only leaves ‘Heron’ as independent – I don’t see that as much choice – sorry.
We will of course have to wait and see whether Lincolnshire Co-Op Group get their planning permission – maybe another Supermarket could come along as before and try and rival this application.
I as my readers are aware do not (normally) do ‘rumours’ – however as with the Subway (rumour) sometime ago, that has come to reality so is there a possibility that ‘COSTA Coffee’  is also about to arrive – I will wait for something official first.

A reasonable Council meeting of Wednesday at least provided us with the Councils finances are in pretty good shape.
The resignation of FDC’s leader John Clark I found disappointing – but I don’t have all the behind the scenes information – although I did speak to a Councillor (Friday) at some length and the usual ‘unhappiness’ is par for the time – give it a few weeks with a new and ‘hopefully’ invigorated Leader of FDC all will be lovely again.

Plenty of news from Cambs Policing with an in depth update from the Chief Constable.
A fantastic new website – very easy to use and report crime as well – see link below. https://www.cambs.police.uk/

Issues from Pigeon Poo to The Great Plastic Issues – (No Brexit Here Thank You).
Finally again I must ask (again) why is the state of our pedestrian crossing(s) in such bad and poor shape.

Last time – 2 years ago when I approached Cambs CC Highways -they told me – ‘honestly’ – There was NO MONEY for paint – however a few weeks later a quick ‘lick’ was given!

Here is a picture taken – yesterday 12th January 2018 and it has been in this condition for some considerable time….
The Zeba on Broad Street in not much better.

Wishing all a Good Straw Bear Festival.

Not so busy (yet) next week…..

There is a Finance & Policy + Planning meetings at WTC on Monday.

Reading John Elworthy article in the Cambs Times® makes very interesting reading.
I have always found Cllr John Clark very helpful and polite in my few dealings with him, and I am somewhat sorry to see him quit.

Cambs Times – Read Article Here

There are some very damaging remarks made by Cllr Clark in reference to Planning, Tourism and lack of entrepreneurial plans and the selection process.

So there is now to be a secret ballot amongst the conservative group councillors.
Could our own Cllr Chris Boden make a stand – already Town/District & County Councillor, will he have the ‘time’ to take on this ‘challenge’ – remembering he is also administering NECCA (North East Cambs Conservative Association)
or maybe Will Sutton the current deputy make a stand – especially as he is one of the named to have been de-selected for the forth coming 2019 local elections.

Maybe another Whittlesey Councillor will make a stand – I can think or at least one.
So the ‘jockeying’ for friends (real or otherwise) now begins – as Cllr John Clark quotes –
Politics is a rough and tumble game.

Quad9 is a service being promoted by the UK Action Fraud and Police it is a legitimate piece of software and is not difficult to install – follow the instructions.
Do not be put off by terminology.

The link below takes you to the Quad9 website – It WILL NOT make any installation or changes to your computer unless the set it up yourself from the instructions.
Have a look – it is free and supported by The City of London Police.
https://www.quad9.net/#/#setup-quad9

See tonights Peterborough Evening Telegraph – online – See Story Click Here..

I and many are so pleased about the amount of coverage given recently – However it is far too soon to start celebrating…. I’ll do an article tomorrow….

Politically motivated – Never – Deflection from Brexit – Never – Government sitting on this issue since 2015 – Never. Any legislation to back up the initiative – NONE.

I hope I’ve made the point.

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….