Cllr Roy Gerstner – Community Activist

Last night the Police did respond to some serious damage to property and vehicles.
The Police were ‘quick’ to ask that reporting be curtailed on social media as it can hinder and jeopardise current and on going investigations – what happened…Pages and Pages of reports, questions, even a photograph flinched off the official Police Website.
I am just as concerned and angry that the alleged perpetrator has been let loose – don’t blame the Police for this – blame the Criminal Justice system including the Magistrates who have one arm tied behind their back.
Leave it to the Police to sort out – yes it took all of 20 Minutes to respond – come on I consider that to be pretty good. Not of course if you are a victim.

My condolences to the family of Mark Colin, who died on Tuesday when a stolen vehicle was in collision with him in the early hours.

Good to see in the press that two Whittlesey Councillors meeting with the mayor of Cambs & Peterboro’ James Palmer this week at Whittlesey Railway Station – at least there is still some pressure and argument for a better Station and more frequent service in/out of Whittlesey – remember there is a public meeting coming in September 11tth
The more people that come to these meetings the better as it shows of concerns ‘we’ all have about the Station and its services.
Of course the ‘Challenge’ is – how long is a piece of string….
This has been ongoing for months, years and a decade or more. Maybe Mr. Palmer can work us a miracle – I for one will be very impressed indeed if his lobbying brings about the improvements we are looking to have…
Oh No – Not Again !!!!! – As I have suggested some weeks ago, one of the ‘other’ toilets was reported to me to be playing up…. well after some 3 weeks – would you believe me! – the said toilet in question is now ‘CLOSED’
 
I wonder is I should start the ‘stop watch’ to see if this takes 4½ months to sort out as the last one did.

Between 02/08/17 21:00 - 03/08/17 06:00 A Bailey Caravan has been stolen from the driveway - Godwit Close Whittlesey

Looking East from Ball Bridge – A regular occurrence of ‘Black Bin Liners’ – sometimes containing ‘spent’ cannabis plants’ – which again is fairly regular.
Fortunately  we have community spirited neighbours in the area, who regularly try and keep the area free from this type of rubbish. Local councillor Mrs D. Laws has good contact with the agencies responsible for managing the river/drain/watercourse.
The Police have been the area regularly and there have been banning orders given out to certain individuals – so all is not lost.
It is just very annoying to say the least that the above is a regular occurrence.

I, like most people enjoy living in our town, we are passionate about keeping it clean, tidy, graffiti free, and helping to keep crime where we can – at a low level. There has been and always will be crime and anti-social behaviour.
But compared to Wisbech we live, work and play in a totally different sphere.
The latest survey to take place is to deal with drinking and anti-social issues predominantly in Wisbech, but can be used in other parts of Fenland.
Fenland District Council is proposing to replace the use of Designated Public Places Order (DPPO) with a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO).
This relates to the consumption of alcohol within public places. We are consulting with the public to gather views on these proposals.

Our proposal
We propose to remove the DPPO’s that are currently in place covering March, Whittlesey and Wisbech. These would be replaced with location specific PSPO’s to restrict the use of alcohol consumption within specified locations only. Find out more about the proposals.

To clarify, current DPPO’s are not banning orders. Currently, this means that drinking alcohol within DPPO areas is only an offence when people refuse to follow police officer instructions not to do so.

The proposal is to introduce PSPO’s in specified locations that suffer from high levels of alcohol related anti-social behaviour and littering. This will make the locations no drinking areas, thus aiming to help reduce the localised issues on alcohol misuse.

Based on evidence from street drinking and alcohol related littering reports, three areas have been identified as the most problematic areas to focus on for a PSPO:

• St Peters Gardens and Sensory Gardens – Wisbech
• Memorial Gardens (The Cresent) – Wisbech
• Tillery Field Park – Wisbech

To see the survey and to fill in (about 2 minutes or less)

HAVE YOUR SAY

Fenland District Council have asked for the community to have their say on proposed Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO) to tackle antisocial street drinking.

The link to the consultation page is

http://www.fenland.gov.uk/pspoconsultation

The initial PSPO will only address Wisbech, I believe a full appraisal of ALL towns in Fenland should be included.
By the amount of cans and bottles I find in the Manor Field, surely this could be considered

Yesterday afternoon on Daws Drove, Whittlesey, A WHITE VAUXHALL VIVARO VAN has had power tools stolen from the back of the van.
Kind Regards PCSO Shane Green

If you live in Cambridgeshire or Peterborough please help us by giving 10 minutes of your time to complete our Vital Signs 2017 survey:
This is to do with your experiences with Education in our area.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1tnFW5d9EAY9ikvkhXc4OeH_JR2ui1ahwUKrxapAIzK4/edit

As appreciation for taking the time to complete the survey, we will select at random one respondent’s name each week until 14th August 2017 and invite them to nominate a local voluntary and community group to receive £150 towards a charitable activity they are undertaking for the benefit of local people.

Vital Signs is a programme initiated by the Community Foundations of Canada. The goal of Vital Signs is to “take the pulse” of our community; to provide a sense of where we’re at… and where we might be going.

Cambridgeshire Community Foundation has been publishing Vital Signs reports since 2013- more information about which can be found on our website :
http://www.cambscf.org.uk/vital-signs.html

As a community foundation, we need to understand current issues in our community in order to have a lasting impact. Vital Signs provides us with useful statistics gathered from local as well as national sources alongside the views of local people, which has guided our grant-making in the past.

We will publish our next Vital Signs report in October 2017 (along with other UK community foundations) and then use the report to “start discussions” – discussions with donors to better inform them about issues and opportunities in the community; discussions with groups addressing needs in our community about how we can help them do more; discussions with our trustees, grant panels and other stakeholders about our priorities and opportunities.

Please help us by completing our online survey and please pass this email and survey link to your contacts (trustees, volunteers, colleagues, members etc.) who live in the county, inviting them to complete the survey.  The only requirement to being involved in our community survey is that respondents live in the county.
Thank you in anticipation of your support . 

Marion Carey
Cambridgeshire Community Foundation

See below your opportunity to have your say.
I have commented on this subject before, and believe the P&CC has enough on his plate already – and has yet to prove – what he was elected for in the first instance.
I believe that the Fire & Ambulance Services make a much better business case.
I have voted for the first option.

Over 1500 responses have now been received on the consultation on possible future options for the Governance of the Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Thank you if you are one of them.
If you have not fed back your views then there is still time.

New legislation means that Police and Crime Commissioners can take on greater responsibilities for fire and rescue services in their area where a good case is made to do so.
Four options are being considered and a report has been independently produced (by PA Consulting) setting out the four options, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of each option.

1. The no change option:  Police and fire continue to have governance arrangements that are independent of each other

1. The representation option: The Police and Crime Commissioner has a seat and voting rights on the Fire Authority becoming the 18^th member of the Fire Authority

1. The governance option: The Fire Authority is replaced by the Police and Crime Commissioner who becomes the “Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner”;

1. The single employer option: There is a single Chief Officer for police and fire personnel who becomes the single employer under the Police and Crime Commissioner.

The business case recommends option 3 – the governance option

We would like to know what you think.

How to tell us your views
A two page summary, the full report and online survey (that takes 30 seconds to complete) can be found at www.cambridgeshire-pcc.gov.uk/fire

If you would like to provide a written response or have any queries, please send them directly to cambs-pcc@cambs.pnn.police.uk     If you would prefer to complete the survey over the phone or require further assistance please phone 0300 333 3456

The consultation closes on 4th September 2017.

Besides the serious fatal accident along Ramsey Road at 4am this morning, causing Ramsey Road to be closed for most of the day – this is now a criminal investigation requiring police resources. Our issues are minor in comparison to the death of someone in a Road Traffic accident.

As I went to Peterborough along the North Bank – the traffic at 1pm was pretty light – there was some sort of High Level Pow Wow happening on the Dog-In-A-Doublet Bridge by a lot of suited persons.

However on returning I came along the A605 – big mistake, the tailgating started at Park Farm, all the way back into Whittlesey, including of course the Kings Dyke level crossing being closed, then Road Works and traffic lights, then a nice Farmer Giles with Hay Bailer (No Number Plate) holding things up even more so – I wasn’t in a hurry anyway.
    

Consternation throughout the afternoon, with lots of reports that Neighbourhood Watch does NOT exist here in Whittlesey – this started off by Mr BG going to March Police Station yesterday to enquire about joining here in Whittlesey, only to be told by the Desk Person (PCSO) that there were NO schemes running here in Whittlesey.
Fortunately through my Social Media friends BG and I have now made good contact.
Somewhat disheartening that having been going in the present form for 10 years that – March not wholly surprising doesn’t think we are on the map.
Of course its not only Policing but a whole raft of other issues that FDC/CCC think we do not exist – tell me and a shed full of other residents something new….
Maybe it is time for our Sector Inspector to get a bit of fresh air and visit places beyond March & Wisbech (+Hinchingbrooke @ Police HQ).

Between 27/07/2017 22:00 – 28/07/2017 07:00 unknown offender/s have forced the farm workshop door off it’s hinges and stolen workshop tools in the area of Glassmoor Bank, Whittlesey.

Whittlesey & our Villages are not what they used too be – able to leave doors, windows and cars unlocked.
Besides welcoming a large number of ‘new’ residents who maybe law-abiding, there is now a small element of people who are opportunists – if they see an easy target they will take advantage of it.
Years ago, we the community and our Local Police probably knew the local Riff Raff – and within a short time had someone arrested and in custody – and up in front of the Local Magistrates – held at Whittlesey Town Hall (Market Street).
Besides on-going minor crime – thieves are very ‘mobile’ and will travel well over a hundred miles in search of easy targets.

One of our problems here in Whittlesey, is that there is quite a lot of ‘minor’ crimes being unreported – there are several reasons for this. Some of these crimes are sent to me! – I can not reported crimes that other people have suffered.
It doesn’t matter how ‘small’ the crime/damage maybe – unless it is reported through the Police, there is NO trace, No Crime Number, NO follow-up and NO crime statistic.
Policing today even in Fenland is driven by ‘Reported Crime’ – the Police will then try and put resources where these crimes occur.

See something suspicious – phone 101
Report a crime after the event – phone 101
Report a crime in action – phone 999
Feel threatened or intimidated – phone 999

Want to feel safer, join in with our local Neighbourhood Watch Group
See full resources on Whittlesey Neighbourhood Website – Click Here

I see there has been a bit of comment about Whittlesey Railway Station – again – with how much the ‘latest’ consultation is costing (eye watering).
I and a couple of other Whittlesey residents have attended many Community Rail Partnership meetings over the last few years – along with ‘some’ of our councillors on occasions!! – I have been quite vocal at some of these meetings and got absolutely no where – which I more than expected. Something ‘simple’ like better lighting and access could take ‘years’ and everyone ‘blaming’ someone else for the delay.
It wouldn’t be bad if a decision could be made.
Whittlesey Railway Station is never going to be a ‘picturesque’ – ‘quaint’ station.
Those who use the trains and some that may – want more frequent trains stopping at Whittlesey – alas the mathematics of trains running ‘through’ is very complex.
So if you feel strongly enough – why not attend the next ‘Public Meeting’ on:
Monday September 11th 2017 – I hope to attend.

Whittlesey Town Council Full Council meeting is being advertised on the WTC Website as being held on Wednesday August 09th – I question if this is so, as there is not a meeting usually held in August, our own Clerk will be on her well deserved holiday – so unless WTC are hiring-in TJ to do the Clerks job – I maybe wrong, please correct me if so.

Our Community Police inform me, that there is ‘More’ antisocial issues going on in/around the Manor Field area – surprising since it is School Holidays! – although there is one councillor who refuses to admit the two have anything to do with one another – really.
In New Zealand – they have issues as well but have been running a successful initiative –
Kids in Sport – Stay out of Court – and it seems to have worked in many areas (NZ that is)
Whilst in New Zealand a few years ago, I spent 2 days ‘volunteering’ with the ‘local’ Community Probation Service – only a few wayward kids – we had a bit a fun and work – no problems.

Click Here to View Report The report is 18+ Mb so maybe take a time to download depending on your connection.
I am not making comment as there are several more meetings to take place, this consultation was to give the public/electorate an opportunity to make comment on the questions within the document.
Every household within Whittlesey & Villages should have had a copy.
The return rate was reasonable for this type of survey, but still the ‘majority’ did not fill in the questionnaire!.
The results make some interesting reading – although ‘we’ have to be careful of what can and what can not be achieved – Its a bit of a ‘Wish List’
Should anyone be unable to view the document, I am more than willing to print off a copy for you – my contact details are on the top tool-bar.
There is to be a ‘Brain-Storming’ session in October to invited parties.