How about a good night out at Whittlesey Manor Bowls Club – Quiz Night – Friday 19th May 2017
Visit their website Click here
As I said yesterday – it takes a certain amount of ‘guts’ to put yourself in the public arena come election time, (and to make comments on blogs/websites) whether it be experienced politicians or novice hopefuls.
In Whittlesey South where I live and could vote if I so wished…!!!
With just over a week to go – lets have another look at Whittlesey South for the time being.
Our choice is somewhat limited unless you vote purely on Party Politics, Red, Blue, Green what-ever.
So far I have received extensive material from David Connor (Con), who has contacted me and we had a good conversation.
I have received extensive material from Graham Kitchen (LibDem) – so today I thought since he has made no contact with me (Why should he?) – I would try to contact him.
No luck – tried BT, Virgin, LinkedIn, Google and many more avenues….got an address but no phone or e-mail address….(Maybe someone can give it to me).
How serious can a candidate be if the electorate can not contact them.
Then we have Martin Lodziak (Lab) I did hear along the grapevine, that Labour were having both financial and distribution shortfalls, it is no cheap deal getting these lovely glossing pamphlets printed and having some very good friends help deliver them.
Doing some research on Martin (Again no direct contact details) I see he has being doing some worthwhile volunteering work in Ghana. Martins campaign HQ is from where he lives in Chatteris..
Lastly my other choice I could choose if I so wished would be Ms Karen Alexander who stands for the Green Party. I try to be ‘Green’ although the past governments persuaded me to buy a diesel car! which they now tell me is ultra-NitroNXo2 and should taxed to heaven and scrapped asap – anyhow Ms Alexander used to live in Coates but now lives in Whittlesey – well at least that’s one good point. Search again and I find NIL – Ziltch – Naga – Nothing… So there you have it.
Of course I can not really be serious – am I – people say well if I think it is a poor choice why didn’t I make a stand – and possibly add to the what some may consider another poor choice – NO – some of us that have been very active within our community and passionate about our (Whittlesey & Villages) area for well over 40 years – we few are the ones that can give the electorate a proper choice (Not based on National party Politics).
Many long serving Whittlesey Councillors share these passions and are very hard working,
my stance has been to give the electorate a ‘True Independent Choice’ – whether they want that or not is down to them – I have always accepted the democratic choice and that’s the platform I stand on.
Some of the above candidates are what is known as ‘Paper Candidates’ they are not serious
(prove me wrong).
Since I have made it known that I am NOT voting for any of the candidates (That would take away my ‘Independence’ – If I was to vote – there is only one serious candidate on the list….and I am sure you know who it is….and he is probably favourite to win – and yes if I was going to vote – I would vote for Him !!!!!
As previously stated anything that comes via my letterbox in respect the elections will be all treated with the same scrutiny – the latest ‘expensive’ political poster comes from the Liberal Democrats – Now ‘they’ are all producing some very costly material to convince the electorate to vote for them – (I in the past can only afford simple publicity as I fund it myself as I do this website) – still that’s big politics playing with the big boys (Out of my league). Anyway I do have a lot of respect for One LibDem Councillor that being Gavin Booth – Gavin has worked against a lot of odds for many years and known in his ward of Parsons Drove as a very hard working councillor – however he is not standing in Whittlesey – the areas I/we are interested in.
What I am very disappointed yet again and I know I harp on about this but think it is very important to the elector – None of our LibDem would be councillor/Mayor has attended any Local Council meetings, be it Full Council, Planning or Finance Committees – If they were that ‘passionate’ about Whittlesey – why wait until an election to ‘start’ engaging, at least ‘most’ of the present Councillors are approachable and available and are ALL Local residents.
The other extremely annoying FACT is that on all of this ‘expensive’ publicity’ promises – at no point can I find out How to contact this prospective councillor – No Phone Number,
No Address, No e-mail and no Website – Sorry guys I’ll NOT be voting for either of you.
Promises I have heard for the past 40+ years that I have been listening – and I am still waiting for ‘most’ of those promises.
It takes a lot of guts and commitment to stand for public office, these candidates have the advantage of the ‘BiG Party publicity machine behind them, they are very successful at fund raising and producing this very good, slick publicity material.
So Gentlemen – my details are at the top of the page, I am always open to dialogue, engagement or just a friendly chat over a coffee – the invitation stands to everyone not just the LibDems – try and convince me !!!
Like most of us I get very frustrated by the amount of time it takes for issues to be solved and addressed….but keep plugging away and there are some successes ….My reporting of the poor state of the ‘Tiled area’ around our ancient monument – The Buttercross saw it cleaned up within 36 hours.
The (3) vandalised toilets – although still not repaired is on the Big Radar and never fear I will be chasing it.
Our Vagrant Mr Latvia – although not an overly Big problem – has returned to Peterborough – but he maybe back….
Finally the Illegal vehicle causing issues on Station Road has also been addressed….
Not a bad week for ‘A member of the public’ – Maybe ask your prospective County Councillors what success they have had this week for Whittlesey….or are these minor trivia issues beyond them to look at…
Before….. 36 hours later a significant cleaner area for all to enjoy
These ‘issues’ may seem very minor -but they have all had an impact on our Town as a whole.
Finally Mr Albie Burrell is doing his best to break his Community Exclusion Order with a number of residents giving statements to our Police of him breaking his terms and conditions….carry on Sonny and you will see something better than an Exclusion Order
I wonder what next weeks ‘challenges’ may be!
See agenda below.
Note that the Planning application for houses near/besides Whittlesey Railway Station has been withdrawn
My thanks to Cllr Mrs Mayor for her update this morning – she has gone to Corporate Director of FDC Mr Richard Cassidy – who informs that FDC are awaiting spare parts.
I worked for The ‘Mickey Mouse Company’© and I was very proud to do so I might add.
As the Senior Support Engineer if something broke down and had an adverse effect of The Customer experience’ I and my team were expected to fix the problem in more than quick time (Or you found yourself unemployed).
Now I know there is somewhat differences – The Disney Corporation© had a vast amount of money and I didn’t work to a budget – Fix it or replace it – and do it pronto.
FDC in the past were always wanting to focus on their customer satisfaction.
Again I thank all the Councillors who are on the case.
Public toilets although not a statutory requirement – however if you have them they should be fit for purpose – come on FDC ….Get them fixed please…
ps I am also informed that the Buttercross flooring will be cleaned today.
One of my remits was as the Support Engineer for the Multi Million $ Walt Disney Theatre
©RG
Whittlesey & District Business Forum & The Fens Magazine are organising a ‘Fun Walk’
9th July – Click on picture for full details – help support two local excellent groups.
The guest speaker was not Inspector Will Davis but Sergeant Richard Lugg who now heads the ‘Problem Solving Team’ which consists of 2 PC’s and 7 PCSO’s.
They look after Whittlesey and many other parts of rural Fenland.
He explained the teams remit and some of the success they had in dealing with anti-social behaviour – apparently Low Life are not given ASBO’s any more they are called ‘Criminal Behaviour Orders’ Sgt Lugg appeared very positive and upbeat with the engagements he had with his area.
I did ask him before the meeting for ‘More’ PCSO visibility at our Library/Community Hub, where the public might be able to report or ask questions – he said he would pass it on.
Good update from Cllr Miscandlon on hoping to get ‘MUST FARM’ better recognised and a home here in Whittlesey – still early days, but again positive news.
A number of people have spoken to me about the forthcoming elections – County, Mayor and General Election – and asked me how I’m going to vote – normally I say I’m voting the same as you? – But on this occasion I am voting for None of the Candidates –
My thanks to (3) Councillors and the Town Clerk who have been chasing my complaint and comments.
Today I received a reply via Cllr David Mason/Cllr Dee Laws from Mr Mark Mathews, Head of Environmental Services.
“I share your concerns that the contractor has not responded and resolved the issue yet.
We signed the order off for the work early in April hoping to avoid delay and potentially more damage.
Unfortunately the Whittlesey facilities are a different design to the other toilets and I’m informed that the work involved is more than just replacing the boxes.
We will chase the contractor concerned and try and have the work completed as soon as possible”
Now I/we have a better picture – I wonder ‘why’ our facilities are different to the rest of Fenland and that the work involved is more than just replacing the boxes – That I read as costing more money.
Again my thanks to the Councillors for taking up the issues and keeping me informed.
There is still no update on the (3) Out of Order Public Toilets behind ‘The George’ (The only public toilets in Whittlesey). As previously reported these have been Out of Oder for a number of weeks – due to vandalism.
The question that needs asking now – are there spare parts available for these toilets or were FDC advised when commissioning the toilets that the Paybox system was about to become obsolete? – I can report that the Boxes have again been Got at/vandalised yesterday. If this is the case – is the system suitable and will they for-ever become a victim of vandalism – Costing the ratepayer I would image quite a lot of money.
If the toilets are the same throughout Fenland – why are parts taking so long to source?
I have today reported the extremely dirty state of the Buttercross ‘Tiled area’ – I was informed some years ago, that the area was ‘Power Washed Weekly’ I would seriously challenge this…..hopefully FDC will clean up.
Whittlesey & District Business Forum – Falcon Hotel 18:30
I am hoping to attend this meeting, the guest speaker will be Inspector Will Davies, Fenland Police Operational Manager – I and many others will be very interested in Insp
Davies presentation – especially Policing in Whittlesey.
