Cllr Roy Gerstner – Community Activist

Of course one of the biggest ‘gaffs’ in the General Election was Paddy Ashdown promising to eat his hat if the one prediction of the Lib Dems being all but finished in the pre-election polls ….I didn’t see him eat his hat….
Now it is very well known I do not make promises…unlike most politicians (I am not a politician)…however perhaps the brave Colin Gale and the labour supporters behind him, calling for the bi-election (well publicised story re Martin Curtis).
In the May election Martin Curtis collected 718 votes (The most of all the candidates standing), Colin Gale got a very respectable 357 votes (He was 52 short of the 3rd placed conservative winner). So unless there is a massif swing (or anti-Curtis swing) Colin and his supporters have a lot of work and ground to make up.
Colin did no leaflet drop in the May election, instead placed a large advert in the Cambs Times©.
If no other candidates come forward and it is a straight 2 horse race – well who knows what may happen – we all wait and wait.

So, according to the Cambs Times© Mr Kent of Teal Road, has written a letter to FDC along with the required numbers to call for an election (again) for the Bassenhally Whittlesey Town Council seat, now vacant.
So be it then, I hope that Mr Kent (maybe himself) or another ‘serious’ candidate will put themselves forward. As I have stated – it is costing us (The Whittlesey ratepayer) to fund this election. Just because Martin Curtis has made a ‘mistake’, it will take and I mean a ‘serious’ and committed candidate to take on M. Curtis.
In By-elections, in this case the conservative group will pull out all stops to get their candidate elected (re-elected), as would any other party.
They can put a lot of ‘people’ and resources into the campaign, to help the candidate, they know where the core voter is.
That said, like all politicians, we can all be beaten, and at some stage the all mighty M. Curtis may one day find this out himself, however I would be very surprised if this happens, firstly of course Martin has to be re-selected by his own conservative group.
The election ‘if’ contested is due 20th August….never a dull moment!

Being a big promoter of democracy, am still wondering why ask for another election to be held…..Cambs Times© breaks a story about my views on the reasoning/argument about who/why Martin Curtis was disqualified.
I don’t particularly like rumours, but there is a real smelly going about that Martin has been ‘stitched up’ – really by whom!!! can I have 3 guesses !!!
In the article Martin makes excuses, maybe if he turned up more regularly for council meetings he would be more aware of what is going on, rather than rely on media social networking. He has been a councillor for long enough to have known the rules – don’t blame others ….. (The stitch up theory may well come to light).
So we have been told that 10 ‘people’ have registered for an election to be held – so we now have to go through the due democratic process to see all is fair and square.
Just because 10 have asked for an election, does not actually mean there will be an election.
How – well potential candidates will need to put their papers in….Asked David Chapman(Lib Dem) this evening whether he is standing! – Not decided as yet – lets see who else there maybe.
Martin Curtis has to go through a selection process (again) in, order to stand – are there any other dynamic conservatives who would put up against the mighty M. Curtis – another wait and see…..
Watch this space….

 I had a good article in this months Discovering Whittlesea….Our extremely Good Neighbourhood Group is doing well, and ‘occasionally’ we get a new member, we now welcome Marie Flatt from the Snoots Road area and Steve Swan from Hemmerley Drive.
As always we have a very small but dedicated group of people ‘willing’ do ‘their’ bit for the community – without the ‘whinge and moan’ we are constantly hearing elsewhere.
My thanks to ALL the group for their continuing support to our committee and their community.

Taking a lot more me (and wife) time out now no longer having so many commitments.
So just enjoyed a 5* cruise with ‘Princess Cruises’ to the Norwegian Fjords and the North Cape. Weather Okay and food – well fantastic….
Never travelled so far North before – beautiful scenery and landscapes.

Here we are at the North Cape (71N) at around +6C (on the cool side)

Been asked to stand against Martin Curtis – Why! – Although ‘someone’ has been rather foolish in the respect that Martin being a very experienced Councillor forgot to validate his election – why stand against someone who has already won by a big majority in the elections in May.
Not only are the people questioning why ‘someone’ doesn’t stand (Not them naturally) what a complete waste of ‘Whittlesey’ rate-payers money – YOU and I will have to fund any bi-election which could run to 7,000+ and for what end…. Martin will still be elected.
Lets keep our money to be spent on something better for our town – and not for any ‘medals’ or such like for our current or past councillors.

Whats this I hear in distant lands that there is a notice on display at the council offices that (Cllr or Ex Cllr) Martin Curtis has been disqualified? – naturally if anyone can enlighten me I would apprecate…..

roy.gerstner@ntlworld.com

The Whittlesea Street Priders have been extremely busy over the last few days.
They have done yet another Litter Pick along Eastrea Road (9 Bags @ 100 Kgs)
Maintenance at Coates, Delph and Plough Road.
Supported the Cycle Race on Sunday and helped clean up afterwards at Oil Mills Road
Today installed the latest project – another bench to rest weary legs…. at our Windmill Street/Whitmore Street small adopted garden.
This bench was donated by Whittlesey & District Round Table, and was installed and will be maintained by Whittlesea Street Pride.
If YOU would like to help in any way – improve our Town/Villages, why not get in touch.

Plough Road                                                       Delph

Windmill Street                                    Happy Boys

Click on Pictures to enlarge….

I now see on Streetlife®, the ‘issues’ of the Railway Station has reared up, unfortunately ‘most’ of SL correspondents do not or do not wish to know some history behind these on-going issues, this could fill many pages, but I’ll be brief.
There are many meeting between various councillors the most senior being Cllr Ralph Butcher (contact him to find the most recent news) and various interested parties one being Network Rail (don’t hold your breath) there are ‘some’ ambitious plans – whether they ever see daylight remains to be seen.
It is very ‘kind’ of the SL people to mention Street Pride, in regards to the Station, however as you know I love giving ‘FACTS’.
Whittlesea Street Pride have carried out many ‘Litter picking/Rubbish’ clear-ups in/around the Station area. We regularly (about every 6 weeks carry out an event in the whole area)
I personally Litter pick nearly every week…. the Station area (When I am here!)
We carried out a MAJOR clear-up campaign in 2011 (yes a long while ago) over 3 days we and others including Network Rail, removed 6 TONS of bracken and rubbish, we hardly made an impression on the place. ‘We’ were promised that ‘they’ would organise an event every 3 months to try and get on top of things….Sorry it never happened and we were not contacted ever again.
Over the last 2+ years various bodies (including Whittlesey Town Council) have tried ‘unsuccessfully’ to get a group ‘Friends of Whittlesea Station’ off the ground – alas – We at Street Pride said we would support a stand alone group, help in any way and have had a ‘liaison management committee member’ waiting for over 2+ years for some ‘friends’ to join him – Alas – NO Friends.
So we are back at square one – many people making suggestions, but they themselves not prepared to get involved in any way – sorry – that just about sums up – some of the Street Life’ bloggers…. you are more than welcome to contact me about this and I can tell you ‘some’ of the history – but as I said – Cllr Mr Butcher is your elected representative – he knows more than I do…..

The ‘new’ play area in the Manor Field is well advanced and ‘everyone’ is looking forward to the ‘new’ facilities. However….. Not that long ago having a Mobile Phone mast near anything remotely public was a very very hot topic. I worked with Professor Stewart on a Government report into Mobile Phone Signals/Masts and his conclusions were somewhat ‘open’ and could prove very little in terms of radiation damage. During that period protests were the norm should a Mobile Phone mast come anywhere near a house, school or the public, then ‘someone’ realised this was a big money spinner (Around £5K for a mast) and very, very quietly all the ‘issues’ seemed to have disappeared.
On the Manor Field area, I would give my professional opinion, that being under or very near under the mast is probably the safest area to actually be…..so there is a history lesson for today.

I can assure you that ‘most’ councillors and some ex councillors ‘view’ the posts on Whittlesey Street Life, but I am sorry to say, ‘some’ people, whinging continuously about very little indeed. I have met on a number of occasions some of the Street Lifers, who have openly admitted that they ‘enjoy’ winding and whinging’.
I am also pleased that there are a ‘few’ on Street Life, who are much more positive of our area.
I’ll give you a small example…. Our Street Cleaner Peter (Lilly) Savage, deserves a big thank you, he goes way and beyond his job remit. Only on Monday I witnessed him sweeping and digging all the weeds from under the benches and other street furniture around the Market Square – and no he wasn’t doing this because of some competition or the cycle race coming by this Sunday. I and many other ‘Always’ know when he is in town as it is always kept in a good state of cleanliness…. Remember HE does not make the Rubbish – people make the Rubbish and there is plenty of it.
Of course our Street Pride Group has done a fantastic job over the past 8+ years, I and they go our several times a week as well as our usual fortnightly organised events.
Stop whinging and wining – Help, Get out, Do something, Get involved, Make a positive difference. I can assure you – we live in one of the cleanest – safest places in Cambridgeshire. Not Litter Free or Crime Free – many people have come to the area because of these reasons.

Being a founder member of the PPG I always find the meetings interesting, we get information and updates direct from the Practice Manager and Dr Gary Howsen.
One of the on going issues is that of the level of service patients receive from Boots the Chemist. Boots being a totally different business to that of the Surgery.
I was one of the patients who for many years obtained my medicines from this branch of Boots, however I found last year I was having a mix up with my prescription and on many occasions a shortage of medication – needed me to return to pick up the short fall.
I made these concerns known to both the PPG and Boots and in the end changed my chemist. Since then no further issues.
The Patients Group have now met with Management and have had ‘some’ positive feedback.
Whittlesey being a growing town (infrastructure still a dirty word) – Boots claim that they have had an increase of 66% of patients requiring their services since 2007.
Next meeting 13th July at NQS / 19:00 upstairs meeting room (There is a lift)