Cllr Roy Gerstner – Community Activist

e-mail received from the Friends of the Country Park secretary, urging (we) members to contact chris.templeman@sainsburys.co.uk
‘We would like to ensure that Sainsburys are aware that the community are still keen for this project to go ahead, and want to give a show of force to ensure that this stays on their agenda.
If you would like a copy of the pro-forma letter which has been produced or you would like to join or support the ‘Friends of the country park’ contact:

Julie Shortland   @  friendsofwhittleseycountrypark@yahoo.co.uk

Another 3 hour session.
Apologies from Cllrs Garratt, Mason, Bristow, Whitwell – Cllr Curtis arrived at 20:40

A very good presentation by Jonathan Digby – Principal SHS Community College, updating the 4 of us (Public) and Councillors on the achievements of the College.
He advised there is plenty of capacity at present for the new homes being built.
Funding is always a challenge.

I did a talk on Neighbourhood Watch – asking for support from Councillors to promote this Group, last year in Cambridgeshire there was 60,000 (That’s correct) reported crimes.
I ask anyone interested, to contact me, join us, help us keep ourselves and our neighbours informed and safe.

It is NOT time consuming and involves very little work.

The one controversial item was the change of Standing orders at the Council.
The major proposal being the creation of a ‘Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council’
This will change the role of the Mayor to just a ceremonial role.
I and others believe that this makes a Town/Parish Council much more ‘Political’ – which is already in place, irrespective of whatever political group may be in control, in the case of Whittlesey  – 14 Conservative Councillors, which the public decided they wanted in the May elections.
One disturbing point being Cllr Martin Curtis arrived at the meeting at about 20:40, just (just) as the vote to for the above was taking place, he voted with 5 others to approve the resolution, having NOT heard the debate….which makes me again ‘Think’ this has been well thrashed out at some previous venue/meeting prior to this Council meeting.
The vote went 6 for and 3 against with 1 abstention.
Of course news on the ‘wire’ is the M Curtis maybe considering running for the PCC’s job next year (Police & Crime Commissioner).
Other items: Kings Dyke ‘Bridge’ ongoing – Cambs CC are placing a planning application for the project in the near future – possible decision Jan/Feb 2016?
Showfields: The Council ratified for £500:00 + VAT to be spent  on Mr Martin Edwards to obtain an initial opinion on whether a Judicial Revue would succeed on the Showfields site. The next stage if the Council decide to go ahead would cost the Council £2,500 + VAT.
There were several other items, which if and when WTC eventually get a website up and running everyone will be able to see the information.

Good to see Eamonn Dorling producing a ‘News-letter’ for his Delph Ward.
Normally (other than myself Ex councillor- running an active website/blog).
Councillors tend only communicate to the masses near election time.
Considering we have 14 Town Councillors No one running website, Martin Curtis last update was 3rd September 2104 – over a year ago….
So we have ‘StreetLife’© where a number is ‘trolls’ operate along with much rumour and guesswork. A Councillor decides to answer a question, can in many cases expect to get ‘roasted’ for his/her efforts. That’s a fact of life these days for elected representatives.
I hope Eamonn continues his Ward contact.

Did I pick up today that Whittlesey Town Council are getting near the BIG Launch of the long awaited Website….I can’t wait!

Here are the Town Councillors attendances at ‘Full Council’ from May 2014 to April 2015
(Elections in May) (No meeting in August) (Max attendance = 11)
In alphabetical order.

Alan Bristow           10
Ralph Butcher         8
Martin Curtis           5
Pauline Edge           10
Steve Garratt            4
Roy Gerstner            9
Rita Jolley                 8
Dee Laws                   9
David Mason           11
Alex Miscandlon     11
Kay Mayor                11
Ken Mayor                10
Derek Stebbing         7
Gary Swan                 9

Notes: Whittlesey Town Councillors are NOT Paid, They received NO Allowances, only the Mayor receives allowances.

Please, inform your neighbours, there are ‘Low life’ out there, wandering around in the early hours of the morning….Looking for easy targets. It is surprising the amount of people who do not lock things up, Garage, Shed, Bicycles…. If it is not locked and you get done over…your insurance may not pay up

On a slightly lighter note… Maybe FDC should re-label their toilets to be a bit more diversified and cater for ‘Daleks’ as well!

(As always click on picture to enlarge)

Thursday evening, a group of us attended the 10 Year celebration of Fenland Councils ‘Street Pride’ – A fantastic achievement by all 12 groups now involved, plus now the ‘In Bloom Groups’ and ‘Friends Groups’. I was invited to give a ‘Key Note Speech’, my theme was the success of Whittlesea Street Pride – Its history, objectives and statistics. We have collected in excess of 43,000 Kgs of Rubbish and Litter over the 8 years our group has been going, we were the 2nd group to be formed. We are the largest, most pro-active, and best self financed. Our success is due to ALL our ‘volunteers’, friends and sponsors of – Whittlesea Street Pride. I did specifically ask, Paul Medd Chief Exec of FDC and Cllr Peter Murphy to commit supporting voluntary groups like ours through these austere
times.
 
More signage along Peterborough Road –  I suggest this they join this graffitied signage

On Saturday we conducted our regular Litter pick at Kings Delph, this is ‘The worst area’ in our area – we have removed in excess of 8,000 Kgs of Rubbish/Litter – that’s correct 8 TONS….I’ve harped on about discarded Road Signage many times in the past…well I am having yet another go…as NO Councillor has taken this up!!!!! – We regularly removed discarded signs, they are normally bent and twisted by the time we rescue them. Now we’ve remove ‘Hundred’s in our time, imagine just around Whittlesey – if each sign cost say £50…. The amount the ‘Contractors to Cambs CC are wasting, Now multiply this all over the County… again a Big Amount….Now all illustrious councillors are looking at ways of saving money? we I suggest starting HERE…

Thanks to RB an authority on this subject, who tells me, the Wall featured besides the Taxi Office on Grosvenor Road, has been as good as abandoned by FDC, they have allowed one owner to demolish their part of the wall. He (RB) has attended many meetings both with the Whittlesea Society and FDC, he sent some recent photos of the ‘Wall’ along Whitmore Street/West End which again is beginning to show large deterioration. Most of these remaining ‘Walls’ are the responsibility of the Land owner/House owner.
There are ‘grants’ however these are becoming more difficult to obtain.

Whittlesey Mud & Wattle Wall Whitmore Street                 Haddenham Bucks
 
(Click on photos to enlarge)

My correspondent lives on Commons Road, someone – I presume FDC have put in some extremely flimsy plastic bollards to stop people parking in said area…. the photo says it all…

(click on photo to enlarge)

There have been a number of break-ins, around our area. One particular Garden Shed, was broken into ‘twice’ they came back for the parts they didn’t get the first time.
Owner has security lights, locked shed and a ‘dog’ which did not deter the low life….
Beware – these break-ins happened around 01:00 in the morning, when decent folk are sleeping. If you see, hear or witness something happening in real time dial 999 if it has already happened and is history report it using 101
Why not look at Whittlesey Neighbourhood Watch website :
www.whittleseynhw.org.uk/

Something I’ve heard ALL my life ….A correspondent contacted me about the ‘ancient Mud/Wattle Wall on Grosvenor Road/New Bus Stop – besides the Taxi Office.
When she made an enquiry WTC passed her onto WTC (Ms Brown) who said there was no money for this repair. The wall appears to have been forgotten about and the top tiles/coping stones lay on the ground.
Under ‘normal’ circumstances, it would go on a work list to be looked at….so, it is yet another area which appears will be left until it no longer viable to repair it….
I am still on the case, but don’t hold your breath.

Not just me celebrating a birthday yesterday, our good friends Maria and Pepe at Vesuvio Italian restaurant were celebrating 4 years since they opened in Whittlesey.

Maria and Pepe, have given a lot of support to many local groups from the beginning of running their business. New décor…..Food and service excellent….

17:15 BST All I know is that Sainsburys latest planning application has been granted, what conditions if any I have not as yet seen. But if you read the application, it was not just about being able to make deliveries 24/7…..