Cllr Roy Gerstner – Community Activist

Many times I have made comment, never wrong so far? – but saying that I’ve sat on the fence like many whilst the whole mess carries on.
So now we have had at last confirmation from Tesco (Not the actual developer) that they will not be taking their option on the Station Road site. There will be a number of disappointed parties here, the land owner, the developer and ‘some’ local businesses.
However I doubt if residents of Station Road or Inhams Road will be crying over the decision. Luck in this cases was that Market Forces/conditions forced the decision – plus the ‘Big’ hole in Tescos accounts (See end).

Now we come to Sainsburys, we now have a full planning application coming before Fenland District Council in the near future. (Again see end)

Now being more than cynical I don’t know how many times I have ‘held’ my breath ‘waiting’ but I would need an oxygen tank the size of one of Sainsburys Petrol Tankers at this stage. Just because we have now at long last reached this stage – and all the hard work done by a multitude number of people and not yet counting the cost.
Will they or not build.
Just yesterday Sainsburys announced Store closures and job losses – a brave move maybe.

F/YR14/0991/F Erection of a food store with café, petrol filling station and car wash with associated parking, landscaping and highway works including formation of roundabouts and change of use of agricultural land to form Country Park with associated landscaping – Land South and West of 300 Eastrea Road, Whittlesey.

I declare an interest:

I  am personal shareholder in the following Supermarkets –
Sainsburys since 1994 (Worth less today than 21 years ago – (Long term investment!!!)
Tesco since 1999 (Worth the same (Long term investment!!!)
Morrisons since 1997 (Worth less today (Long term investment)

Don’t talk to me about pimply faced investment bankers still in their nappies.

Fenland District Council – Corporate Plan.

Your chance to have YOUR say….. whether any notice is actually taken is another issue,
however I would urge as many of our electorate to fill in the survey.
Two links (1) A summary of the corporate plan & (2) a link to the survey.
www.fenland.gov.uk/draftcorporateplan
www.fenland.gov.uk/yourviews2015

A new year and lets hope a good one! On Holiday at present, but am always contactable by e-mail or text.
My loyal friends keep in touch with me and I am abreast of what is going on.
So with elections ‘looming’ in May, what will it hold for Whittlesey I wonder!….We know a few sitting councillors are not seeking re-election. One being Ken Mayor, who I have a great deal of respect, has serviced his constituents for many years, held many senior posts at Fenland and has represented ‘Whittlesey’ to the best we can hope.
I well deserved ‘retirement’
Most of our Whittlesey councillors have worked very hard over the last 4 years, I have worked with many, and again I respect their hard work and tireless campaign to have our voice heard. Some unfortunately have not done so well?
So what is going to be my stance – At present I have not made a decision.
I have been approached by (2) main steam parties offering a ‘hand of friendship’ for which I am very grateful and honoured, however I still need a bit of convincing to ‘move’ from my
totally independent position. The next few weeks may change my course.
I am NOT a fan of Cameron, who for an educated Eton twit has only ever told me ‘Lessons must be learnt’ – his favourite phrase, in fact I have been known when he an ‘Clegg’ drop themselves into it – that they would be better known as ‘Dumb and dumber’ – now of course if ‘Boris’ were to be leader my support for the conservatives may be changed –  at least you know what you are getting – Another Eton educated ?
So I hope some regular mutterings and updates, we do live in a nice, reasonably clean and safe place. Some good schools and in general good health services. I am lobbying where necessary.
Happy New Year –

Another fantastic group of community volunteers – Whittlesey Neighbourhood Watch has been going for a number of years, there are a core group of around 30 Residents who are not only ‘Good’ neighbours but are actually ‘Better’ neighbours. Most of the group have been active for a number of years and act as ‘ears and eyes’ for both their area and Police.
They are kept informed by the ‘Alert’ messaging scheme. and have priority access to the Police communications systems.
Our next meeting will be on Tuesday 16th December at 7:00pm
Held at Whittlesey Town Council Offices (Grosvenor Road) (As if going to the Co-Op Supermarket)
(Pictured Mr Ken Creed (l) and Roy Gerstner Chairman NHW Whittlesey (r)

Report highlights huge public opposition to Tip Closures…

http://www.cambstimes.co.uk/news/report_highlights_huge_public_opposition_to_tip_closures_1_3851322

The above link will take you to the Cambs Times article 18th November 2014

Just out from the planning inspectorate : The planning inspectorate have rejected the appeal by the Showfield Group (Mr Rose et al. of Oundle). A fantastic result for People Power – Whittlesey Town Council and Fenland District Council.
The risks to building on this land has been proven, and had it been allowed to go ahead would have had ‘serious’ effects on a vast number of residents.
I sincerely hope that Mr. Rose seriously consider keeping the land as it is….

After 3+ years (maybe longer) Whittlesey/Village residents still await a ‘Supermarket’ – well reading ‘Sainburys’ financial outlook in todays papers – looks very much like they will NOT be building for sometime to come.
I stated some 2 years ago the number of Supermarkets within a 9 mile radius of our town, whether they be Tesco, Sainsbury, Morrison, Asda, Waitrose, Lidl, Aldi, Iceland, Co-Op or NISA – that’s a choice of 10 to start with.
I sympathise with our residents and our frustration in not getting anything conclusive – especially a potential country park (I was at their meetings from the beginning).
A potential business park – all in limbo.
This is not a fault of any of our councillors, many of whom have ‘worked’ their socks off to try and get the right thing done….. Is it/was it just bad luck.
I am seriously considering in approaching a friend of mine, who happens to have a nice plot of land on West End that’s been derelict for years – maybe, just maybe Aldi of Lldl maybe interested in Whittlesey? who knows….

Having lobbied hard along with many others to try and make some sort of ‘impact’ on our County councillors…. Whittlesey and Villages put in by far the most filled in surveys.
Out of some 2,207 respondents, 497 (22%) came from us? – in comparison  Wisbech only responded with 7% – now what should that tell us……
I do not ( and would like to be proved wrong) believe that a great deal of notice from this survey will be taken into account. (A similar survey about Transport strategy took no notice what so ever of what the public thought).
On the results I would have thought that if any Recycling Centres should be shut or hours reduced it should be those whose residents responded the least.
How about closing Wisbech then? – I am not a betting man but am willing to put money on that one !!!!!

Now – when it come election time (blow me down – only 6 months away) I wonder how much ‘listening’ some will be doing and better still how much are ‘they’ prepared to lobby our cause….

The link which should take you to the ‘on-line’ form for your views re – Recycling Centre Review….is very temperamental at present some people can access and some not.
Cambs CC was aware of the issue on Thursday and was looking at a ways to FIX…
I’ll see what is going on tomorrow.
In the meantime I would ask you keep trying.

See below…we have until 26th September to make our views heard….
We need as many people to fill in the on-line survey as possible.
If this facility closes… we will be left with a vast amount of Fly Tipping in the whole area…..
www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/recyclingcentreservice

It will take less than 5 minutes of your time…..

We have at Whittlesey Town Council all tried to make as much contact with the general public as possible.
This was by publishing in the Cambs Times and Peterboro Telegraph….
Both printed and online versions.
The news went out by e-mail and social networking, shape your place etc.
Today I have put out 15 posters in shops around town. I spent 3 hours in the library and 2 hours on the market place, and still we are getting so many people unaware of the Recycling Centre review?
I will do a limited leaflet drop around my area tomorrow.

Here we go again, it is only 3 years since the last campaign. There is a perception that a decision has already been made! – very little notice if any was taken on views expressed during the recent Transport consultation carried out by Cambs County council.

We need as many people as possible to fill in the on line survey following the link below….

The photos taken at the time the Recycling Centre was closed for refurbishment show just some of the effects.
www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/recyclingcentreservice

I attach photographs taken in 2010 when the County council spent several hundred thousand of ££££’s on the Whittlesey Recycling Centre.
This was done after the public again made it known of their views on the possible closure.

The County council are wrong in their assumption that ‘Fly Tipping’ does not increase if a Recycling Centre is closed and I would challenge this.

I have tried to lobby the County council members who sit on the committee….although to date I have only spoken with one. I will attempt to contact the others again.
How our elected County councillors are lobbying on our behalf I do not have any information.
Please we have until 26th September to make our voice heard….and that is of course whether any notice is actually taken?