Cllr Roy Gerstner – Community Activist

Very pleased that 4 friends from Whittlesey joined Connie & I to celebrate my 65th Birthday…. The Riu Palace here in Madeira made a special occasion for us.
This being our 4th year at the hotel (We like it).
We had a good build up to the day (07th) and a fantastic evening for us all.
Glad to have made it to 65….

       

Thanks to Andrew & Sue Overton,
Stuart & Pat Reynolds.
Propping up the bar on the right is a long term friend from Madeira Mr Daniel

Now all we need to do is sober up – just a bit….

Since the original complainer on ‘anti-social media’ has not had the decency to update their issues… my correspondent informs me that the ‘(2)’ offending abandoned vehicles in the Co-Op Car Park have now been removed by possibly FDC/CCC Contractors.
How this works on a private car park I do not know – however he also reports that since their removal – Another abandoned vehicle has arrived.
It appears that if you don’t want the cost of getting rid of your scrap – dump it in a Car Park and someone will remove it.
It is my understanding there is no cost to the Tax Payer – that said the culprits should still be tracked down and made to pay.

Report received today from PCSO Moll
Attempted Break-In – Jemmying a Front Door.

Please be extra aware and report anything unusual or suspicious.

Visit Whittlesey NHW

Friends of Whittlesey Library will be holding their AGM this evening.
Since their formation, we/they have achieved many enhancements and events
at ‘our’ Library/Learning’ Hub – including Lobbying extensively in keeping the Library open – when threatened with closure by Cambs CC (Remember the Recycling Centre – Same Issue).
Meeting is at 7:00pm and anyone can attend – at the Library.

agenda-friends-agm-october-4th-2016

Thank you to Cllr Kay Mayor ‘Quote’

I have made enquiries and have been asked to point out that the whole of one table top was replaced (half had been completely removed by ‘vandals’) and two slats were replaced on another (as shown in your photo) by the company and included in the price that was quoted at the Council meeting (£130).

I trust you will ensure that your readers are made aware.

This clears this up – let us hope that there is no more mindless vandalism of Benches, Flower Bends and other community projects which ‘The Few’ put a lot of time and effort into making our Town and Villages Clean and Presentable.

Since we are promoting Cancer this week, please see poster above, I am pleased to be informed that the Robert Horrell Macmillan Centre (Peterborough) has been re-launched and has extra funding…..

A very good week at 4 events supporting Macmillan and their big Coffee & Cake meet-ups.
Surprising that I met the same group of people at each event – sounds familiar.

As reported in my WTC meeting update, the Picnic Bench at the Manor Field was to cost £130 to repair after being allegedly vandalised. Looking at the repair!!! – seems rather an expensive exercise to replace 2 slats and repair the rest of the table top.
I have started to notice that ‘Our Council’ appear ‘Flush’ with money at present and are what appears to be on a spending spree with Ratepayer Money!
I did also notice at the Manor Field another bench with a complete new (untreated) top, maybe the £130 included this bench as well – I hope so.

Many may have seen the article in the Cambs Times© this week Re – Two Top Fenland Councillors faced action over Council Tax   Click Here for Story

Whilst I may fully sympathise for those who fall on hard times for what ever reason – I have been made redundant 3 times in my work life not knowing what the financial future may hold – Councillors are ‘ordinary people’ however sometimes people have to set an example and ‘If’ Council/Councillors expect the public to pay their taxes – it is not unreasonable for those who are elected to govern us – to do the same in timely fashion.

The website is having a holiday – I’ll post up anything relevant or important.e

I note that the ‘odd’ complaint is starting again, re-parking at NQS.
Why not ‘complain’ to the Surgery? – why whinge on social media, a written complaint will require a written answer!.
Maybe some remember that this ‘issue’ has been raised before, and although I sympathise with people using NQS, I too am a patient. I find that if I go at least 15/20 minutes early, it allows sufficient time to find a space.
As an original member of the NQS Patients Participation Group, we have raised this issue on many occasions, I took on to do a survey, and somewhere in these archives, there will be some results. I remember that I identified ‘6’ vehicles which appeared not to belong to the Surgery and suspected that these drivers – parked up and disappeared the rest of the day/week. That survey was sometime ago, and should the PPG ask me again to carry out another survey I am more than willing to do so.
Remember that it is not only patients using the car park legitimately – there is all the staff at the surgery which has increased along with the increase in patients.
There are staff from Boots Chemist, there are workers from specialists that support the surgery and day attendees on training and seminars.
New Queen Street Surgery opened with some 6,000 patients, it now has more than 11,000 patients registered.
If you are experiencing ‘issues’ with parking, please make the Surgery Management aware.

ps I remember when I carried out the ‘survey’ – I was subjected to verbal abuse from ‘members of public’ – not liking ‘someone’ recording registration plates – in a ‘private car park’ at the request of the PPG and Surgery.
Another case of no win situation.

I was pleased and honoured that The Royal British Legion Whittlesey Branch placed the Red Ensign (Red Duster) on their newish flagpole for the first time this year.
I have attended many ceremonies in other parts of the country.
I hope that ‘we’ can repeat this act in years to come.

Click on picture to enlarge.

Our very select ‘Club’ – a rare crew – of Tortoise owners – My Male & Female ‘Timmy’ & ‘Suntan’ – its bedtime once again – 40 years we have nurtured these reptiles, this year they appear to have done well in that Suntan gained 15 grams (Now 2466 Grams) and Timmy gained 12 grams (Now 709 Grams). Like all pets – there is a certain husbandry required in the well being of ‘our’ pets and we are always very pleased when they appear out of hibernation in the spring – having survived another year.
Friends ask me how old they are – I don’t know – as they were both Fully Adults when I acquired them – my guess is that Suntan is around 80-ish and Timmy is around 60-ish.
Nice life – Munch, Sleep, Munch, Sleep…..

I’ve heard very little concern over the closure of Whittlesey Police Station – ‘Everyone’ appears that it is done and dusted….well yes….see the letter from the PCC below.
What the PCC does not explain is ‘how’ policing will look after the closure – he ‘will’ I can guarantee ‘spin’ a story from some Senior Officer – None of whom has ever ‘policed Whittlesey.
I can not overturn a decision made – my influence is pretty minor – our Town Council made very little noise over the closure and the Public in general are pretty apathetic over the decision.
That does not stop me carrying on a campaign of getting the correct level of policing for our area….I still maintain that ‘The Police’ are using incorrect crime statistics – they are totally oblivious to ALL none reported crime – which makes it even more important that ALL crime is reported irrespective of how minor it may seem.

This letter written by the PCC is in the public domain

Click on picture to enlarge.