Cllr Roy Gerstner – Community Activist

Cambs Times© @ 16:06 …
Sainsbury’s bid to open a store in Whittlesey looked increasingly fragile tonight after their late efforts to overturn “onerous” planning conditions were rejected by Fenland District Council
I can not count on two hands the number of times ‘we’ Whittlesey residents/public – rate payer/ex councillors/present councillors have tried to do our very best for what the town wants or is crying out for….over 4 years of issues after issues, block after block.
Planning problems after problems, Tesco’s/Cemetery Road, Tesco’s Station Road on and on, I’ve never so far other than Tesco’s at Fakenham come across such an issue.
Now ‘we’ had all thought ‘a’ supermarket is finally coming, with some much needed small business park and a very welcomed ‘Country Park’ – everything looks as though it could be in the balance again.
I feel extremely sorry for the ‘dozens’ of people who have promoted and worked hard over the years to get something our town needs….Will we be left high and dry again….
Are we just very unlucky – Planning developments don’t go our way and now a big question whether our out of town development will ever happen….
I’m quoting myself again…..and again…. I’ll believe it when I see the first spade for the foundations dug out, I hope to be there to take the picture!

ps….Tesco’s took up their option in Chatteris, only not to occupy the building when finished!…

A bit of a re-run for the 20th August election,

David Chapman Lib Dem
Martin Curtis Con
Colin Gale Lab

Should be interesting in ‘who’ canvasses the most…will the Con Group pull out all the stops and get the ‘whole group’ to canvass for MC, will Colin Gale get the support from his
Wisbech Office, or will David Chapman bother to do a leaflet drop I wonder….

I am interested in the % turnout…..!!!!!

I do not ‘normally’ believe in ‘Blame Culture’, but now the dust is beginning to settle a week after this application….. ‘StreetLife’© is full of various comments blaming all and sundry. Not having attended myself (At a funeral) is it somewhat difficult to get a ‘complete’ picture of ‘what’ actually happened at this meeting. The ‘Fiasco’ comes about with the ‘fact’ that this is not the first time that a FDC planning committee have voted on something, only to change it after ‘Officers advice’ Cllr Mrs Mayor who held her stance to vote against the application and according to reports the rest of the ‘against’ committee members could not come up with a ‘reasonable’ planning rule to substantiate their refusal – surely if they were minded this way they would have done their ‘planning’ research…beforehand on such an important application. SteetLife© is full of comments, but the commentators in general forget that the original application at appeal failed on Flood Risk. Somehow Mr Rose/Showfields have managed along with the EA report (whether accurate or not) to persuade FDC Planning Officers to accept/recommend the application. The rest of the objections would not carry much weight as they had been accepted at the previous application. The ‘Drone’ evidence as I am aware was more or less a waste of Whittlesey rate payers money (£750.00) as when the ‘evidence’ was shot – Half of Alderman Jacobs school were somewhere else – so it did not show the potential for road/traffic issues….another lemon. Now we have Capt Curtis on SL© giving his ‘expert’ advice – MC is well trained in planning matters, why then was this ‘expert’ advice not sort after before the planning meeting. Why wasn’t MC at the planning meeting – to give his expert weight. MC has given evidence at previous controversial planning meetings, and for what ever reasons – not much notice was taken then –

On my own expertise I  quote a favourite of mine from Oscar Wilde –
The Importance of being Earnest’ ” I know nothing“, (John Worthing to Lady Bracknell).

QED

You have a democratically elected council/councillors lobby them that’s what they are there for……

F/YR15/0134/0 Land North of Whittlesey East of East Delph, has been passed by FDC’s Planning committee today 22nd July 2015.
Considering what happened 2 years ago, when there was a phenomenal opposition from virtually ALL the town, an action group and £20K raised to fight the appeal that followed the original application.
Today saw empty seats at Fenland Hall (Not the expected standing room only), on my reading the application and taking the FDC’s Officers recommendation (To approve), it was always going to be an uphill battle to ‘reject’ the application, as the applicant Mr Rose had complied with everything that the planning inspector had highlighted.
Remember at appeal, the main objection was to do with ‘Flood Risk’ – it appears that the criteria for this has been met as far as the Officers at FDC are concerned.
The application went for some 3 hours and Whittlesey Town Council were represented.
There was a ‘sprinkling’ of other Whittlesey councillors, but noticeably a number were missing.

So this was for ‘outline planning – for 220 dwellings’

F/YR15/0143/F Land North and West of Moorhen Road – for public amenity space (Country Park) was also approved.

There was some conflict of what Whittlesey Town council figures on applications already passed for future development under the core strategy plan at 1063 houses and those of FDC planning officers at 816 approved for future development –  the figures being a bit wide to say the least….I don’t know who maybe correct on this….

Whatever – this decision today has serious ramifications and effects on our town, its future, and serious infrastructural concerns for many years to come.

The Showfields Planning Application is being heard at Fenland Hall tomorrow 22nd July
More news when known…

 Had to pay my respects to a couple of long standing seafarers who have gone to the ‘Davy Jones Locker!. So on returning, some good things been happening and some not so good.

(Click on pictures to enlarge)

Lets start with the good things, last week saw the judging of ‘In Bloom’ and our Whittlesey Group have worked so very hard on their projects. Our own Street Pride Group, also gave it a little more than average attention to the areas the judges were passing. There have been many people involved in really tidying up areas in and around our town and they deserve a big thank you for ALL the work they have done. Lets hope that Whittlesey-In-Bloom get a good result.

Now the not so good news…. It’s a good job that the In Bloom Judges didn’t go on the Tow-Path side of the Bower, which is becoming quite a mess and in places now difficult to pass because of overgrowth.
I saw 2 men (Resting -horizontal) in their Mid-Level boats (It was lunchtime) dredging the weeds from the river.
I went back today and really couldn’t tell the difference.

The path used to be fairly regularly maintained by the ‘Community Payback Team’ who I always give great credit too. However since one of the ‘miscreants’ was bitten by a ‘lesser spotted something or another’ they not longer take this area on – what a pity.
It has now been brought to your Town Council attention at the last meeting (08th July) and they are looking at a ‘tender’ to do the job, I’ve heard no more.
A little more of the Cycle Route….
Triangular signs are ‘Warning Signs’ – The gate has a chain around it but there is no lock.

My correspondent has shown me all documentation.
The ‘illegal’ marina on the Nene besides the Millennium Bridge is causing serious concerns.
There are now 9+ ‘boats’ moored at this site.
The owner of the Land/Site is a Mr Stephen Foreman of Whittlesey, he purchased the land in 2004 . He is running a commercial operation.

Enquiries to FDC Planning states the following:

‘I can confirm that there is no planning history for the site, however looking at aerial photos in 1997 there are signs of moorings taking place at the location and also in 2003, 2007 and 2011. In planning enforcement there are time restrictions 10 and 4 year rule. For a change of use 10 years rule applies and development the 4 year rule applies.
I am of the opinion that there has been a continuous use of mooring at the site for over 10 years and the development eg platforms is also over the 4 year ruling and therefore we are time barred to take any formal enforcement action in order to regularise the change in use and development.’
(Q) Why wasn’t the Councillors in 2003, 2004 and 2011 on the case – they ‘Must’ have known about the ‘development’.
The ‘Police’, FDC, at least one Whittlesey/FDC Councillor, Cambs CC and various others are now ‘involved’ – my correspondent is getting no-where…..Political correctness again maybe.
The vehicles driving vehicles along the Green Wheel Cycle route to gain access to their moorings are doing so ‘illegally’ this is an offical Cycle Route – and other than for access to emergency services, it should not be used by any other motorised vehicles.
(Q) The Police are the authority that should be doing more, I understand that our PSCO’s have been, monitoring and had words of so-called ‘advise’. (A PCSO in Cambridgeshire can not ticket a moving vehicle) – It is my understanding that these vehicles,  should not be on the cycle route and that complaints they are travelling at speed.
On more than one occasion when my correspondent(s) have been on the cycle route they have been aggressively accosted by the vehicles and owners.
They claim they have ‘permission from the land-owner Mr Foreman. No record from Hanson (The adjacent land-owner) or any official body has given for the said permission.
There are serious conflicts of interest – namely the Cyclists, Walkers, and the Boat owners at the somewhat ‘marina’.
The last I hear is ‘someone’ is ‘trying’ to arrange a meeting….
(Q) With whom and why……If it is ‘Illegal’ to drive on the cycleway/route – end of meeting.
(Q) Are we/the cyclists waiting for someone to be seriously injured or worse! – and I would ‘think’ ones ‘insurance is null and void if you vehicle is in contravention of the road traffic act…..
(Q) The ‘other’ access is via ‘Funthams Lane’ – this is a Bridleway – again vehicles should not be using it….further issues….
The case just gets worse and worse and it ‘appears’ – No-one is prepared to take action.
Whilst this inaction is going on I understand – the cycleway surface is being damaged due to these vehicles using it.

There maybe more to come – my correspondent has been in contact with MP Steve Barclay and if he receives no action will instigate Mr Barclays support and advice.

Now if Mr Foreman has a different version – I am more than prepared to publish his side, providing the documentation is shown to me.

(Click on pictures to enlarge)

Not sure – but apologies in any case maybe someone! doesn’t like this website for what-ever reason, anyway we are back now…

The millennium cycle route has major ‘issues’ Full story coming tomorrow Saturday.

A chance meeting with Colin Gale today (Friday) as we departed from The George…Colin informs me – he and the Labour Group are going ‘All out’ in the impending by-election.
They like the conservative group will pull in as many troops as possible.
Labour is NOT seeking my or my friends support – we remain Independent of such hanky panky. Looks like ‘if/probably’ Martin Curtis is re-selected – maybe will have to work on their ‘core’ voters to persuade them that Martin C is a really serious candidate!

So attending the Whittlesey Town Council meeting last Wednesday, saw a ‘few’ more public attend…myself and surprisingly including Martin Curtis …however council meetings are becoming like ‘Just a minute’ a popular radio programme, can someone talk for a minute without repetition, hesitation or deviation’ – for sometime the past and now present chairman should keep to the agenda, the meeting would take a lot less time.
At most meetings one or more councillors leave the meeting before its conclusion.

Tonights very well advertised meeting at Scaldgate, was very poorly attended…..NO Parents and NO Youths….In all 10 people came along to exchange idea’s on how the future of Youth Services/Club could be promoted within our town.
Councillors Butcher, Windle and Dorling attended, Paul Cornell (Rotary Club) Rob Windle, Liz from KidsZone, myself and 3 representatives from Cambs/FDC also there, making a total of 10, of which only 3 of use were members of the public – Not a Good turn out at all. It looks very likely that unless there is a bit more enthusiasm from Parents and Public in general, that we shall not as Town be able to support a fully functional Youth Club again.
Another issue is always to due to ‘funding’ or lack off…..Cllr Julie Windle has agreed to put another article in Discovering Whittlesea – to keep the ‘door’ open as such, we will wait and see if there is any response.
(Missing from photo Robert Windle who had to leave for other business, myself who took the photo)