Cllr Roy Gerstner – Community Activist

3 hours from start to finish – Agenda published here on the 08th April, this précis will as usual be in several parts and is NOT the official minutes of the meeting – they will appear on the WTC website in a months time.

I arrived early to witness the ‘Citizen of the Year’ award which this year goes to…old school friend and well known Whittlesey Lad – Mr Richard Exton. Well deserved and Richard has done quite a lot with organising the Straw Bear Festival for many years, he helps with ‘In Bloom’ and has provided logistical help with Street Pride in the past.
    
(l) Mayor Alex Miscandlon with (r) Richard Exton

Richard attended Sir Harry Smith secondary school during the 1960’s.
He has lived in Whittlesey all his life. When not doing some ‘part-time’ jobs, he and Enid go off for a motoring holiday into Europe.
Richard is ‘adventurous’ he does not own a Sat-Nav, prefers to do it the old fashion way – read a map.

Richard will be 65 in January next year – Retiring – maybe…..

There is some movement forward, – It all takes time, Now new signage is in place informing that the ‘Route’ is for those indicated on the signage.
Naturally there is access for owners of land or animals.
I understand that those ‘Car owners’ who use this access have no excuse as to the ‘rules’. It will be monitored.

At last nights meetings at Police HQ/Hinchingbrooke, I attended and as usual the ‘Police’ are going through a ‘lot’ of changes? – Staff moving, Staff leaving, and a lot of uncertainty along with the Police & Crime Commission elections.

There are only ‘4’ candidates on this occasion, all standing on a Political platform. There is a ‘Husting’ tonight at the Fleet in Peterborough organised by Peterborough NHW. All 4 will be there, I can not attend as at WTC meeting tonight.
We were in formed by Mr Charles Kitchin (Centre in picture) that there is a lot of Senior level changes also happening. Charles is not sure if his position will be secure.
Who-ever is elected takes over on the 12th May after a short handover period.
The successful candidate has 1 year to produce a ‘Police & Crime Plan’ – which I find amazing !!! – I am sure any candidate worth his/her worth would have already been well on their way to producing such a plan….I wonder?

15 Officers in Cambridgeshire are being trained on the use of ‘Drones’ whether any of our Fenland/Whittlesey Officers are included I don’t know…

The Police priorities are Burglaries and Child exploitation.

The ‘abandoned’ Ford Mondeo on Snoots Road has now gone. Who moved it I do not know but it has disappeared hopefully for ever.
No further comments on Street Life© over the ‘issue’ – which I am very surprised about.
Quick to complain – Not so quick to give credit – still that’s life – Street Life©

I note from last weeks Cambs Times© that’s Wisbech Town Council initiative to launch a Community Speed Watch scheme has been formed.
I/we in Whittlesey have tried at least on 6 occasions to get a ‘Speed Watch Team’ together (Minimum of 6 people), to no avail I am sorry to say. Again lots of complaints but no one prepared to join….

Having contacted my Councillor over the ‘Toilet – out – of – order’. This toilet has been in this state for more than 6 months.
Initially, it suffered from vandalism – a small fire.
It has been ‘looked at on a number of occasions.

I am pleased that my enquiries have been answered, I understand that Cllr Dee laws is on the case (Thank you) and she hopes to have a response from the Head of Assets and Projects at FDC in the near future.
Whether there will be anything at this weeks Council meeting we wait and see/hear.

With the publicity of holding events on the Market Place, to have any toilets out of operation – can and will cause some – ‘inconvenience’. Unfortunately there is NO statutory requirement for Councils to provide Public Conveniences. FDC had a review of all PC’s a couple of years ago., we in Whittlesey were left with 1 block, behind the ‘George’ – the Town Council looked into keeping the one at East Gate/Grosvenor Road car park, but it had serious drainage issues, would have cost a great deal of money to sort out, then there was the cost of maintaining.

Tomorrow (Tuesday) I am attending a meeting at Police HQ Hinchingbrooke with Policing partners and Charles Kitchin from the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner.

After that I am meeting a man with a ‘mission’ – Boyan Slat a young clever Dutchman…

Thorpe Hall celebrates 25 Years.

©ESP Magazine

Bus Fest returns to Whittlesey Sunday 15th May with Parking Suspension in place for the day…..

Whoopee……Wagamama is coming to Peterborough – pity it’s not Whittlesey….
One of our ‘favourite restaurants, Wagamama, where we have frequented since the early 1990’s is finally ‘arriving’ in Peterborough – some months to go before opening.

Wagamama is a Japanese themed ‘Noodle Bar’
Our closest is in Cambridge.

Usually nice food – not too ‘heavy’.

©ESP Magazine

Luckily? – we do not suffer too much from either, but like ‘crime’ Whittlesey is not free from people who seem to enjoy ruining our environment.
  
Kings Delph – where it would appear the ‘owner’ of this ‘boat’ runs his car across the grass, over the daffodils to service the boat. The picture only shows some of the damage – I dare say the daffodils will survive  – but that’s not the point.
Pictures A.H. – thanks.

Here we are today (Monday)  along Blackbush Drove, someway passed the Railway Crossing with a variety of Garden and other rubbish.

I will report and hopefully FDC’s rapid response team will deal with it.

For more information have a look at Street Prides own website. Click Here

                                                                      ©Street Pride

At the Latersly Nature Reserve, located at the top of New Road. Sixteen volunteers turned out to litter pick both the roads / highways and the reserve. A grand total of 20 bags of rubbish were collected plus other objects.

For a better ‘understanding’ of the process of a Neighbourhood Plan, see this flow chart with accompanying information.
As previous post there is an update being given at this Wednesdays WTC Full Council.

Click on picture to enlarge.
Depending on software, clicking a 2nd time will enlarge further.

Photograph courtesy RWT Photography.

As promised yesterday, here is ‘some’ of my 10 minutes of ‘fame’ – chat with Steve Barclay MP, you will notice ‘how’ intently I am paying attention and listening to every word of Mr Barclays response to my 3 main questions.
Here is the précis (No recording or notes were taken).

1/ Where are you with the European Referendum.

Where MP’s are accused of sitting on the fence, I am not – I am for leaving (exit).
The reasons are several  but mainly ‘Democracy’.
(RG understanding that Brussels is making most of the decisions).
It is not necessarily about immigration, in Wisbech for example many Europeans have been working well.

2/ Is everything in place for the Kings Dyke Crossing Bridge.
This has been primarily a Council lead project, I have supported the scheme from the very beginning.
Is all the money in place for the scheme.
As far as I am aware yes, but again the Council (Cambs CC) are the main lead on this.
Given as yet ‘we’ have not been told the ‘full’ cost, as tendering is still being sought, how can all the money be in place not knowing the ‘full cost’
At this point a Whittlesey Councillor, gave the same answer as I had from Cllr R Butcher several weeks ago, that any ‘shortfall’ – Cambs CC would ‘find’ the money.

3/ All (most) of Whittlesey are wanting a By-Pass – how does this happen.
Whittlesey (Councillors and Public) have to be able to demonstrate the cost benefits of a scheme, for example for every £ spent there has to be a benefit coming back of a £.
Mr Barclay exampled the Wisbech – March Rail Link, when the scheme started , there was only 60p benefit for every £1 cost, and therefor the scheme is not deemed viable.
Now, there is a figure of £3 benefit for every £ spent – thereby making the scheme viable.
(How it went from 60p to £3 was not explained to me)
When someone produces a 2 page document, highlighting All the benefits a By Pass would bring to the area, (£££ Benefits as above) I would be in a position to take it forward.

We briefly spoke about my role on the periphery of the criminal justice system.
I thanked Mr Steve Barclay for allowing me some of his very valuable time.

Your MP holds regular surgeries within his constituency – details are available from WTC and from Mr Barclays website. Click Here

Whittlesey Osteopaths are moving from their present location to the Market Square.
Monday 18th April. There is a planning application for change of use of the building.

Full-Council-Agenda-13th-April-2016
Agenda for next weeks meeting.
Several items of interest.
I plan to attend and will publish a précis afterwards.