Cllr Roy Gerstner – Community Activist

After the CCC elections, the Conservative Group are still the largest party, and we await to see ‘what’ administration we will end up with.
Nick Clarke their defeated ex leader perhaps has got his message !!! live too far away from your electorate and maybe they will find someone closer.
Since it was Ex councillor Clarke who ‘promised Whittlesey’ its never ending promise of a Bridge at King Dyke – I wonder where that leaves us now.

We sincerely hope that re-elected councillors for Whittlesey Cllr Curtis and Butcher will maintain the momentum. We shall wait with baited breath….
We all make mistakes, it would be a perfect world if not but you can still catch up for what its worth of Nick Clarke Website if you’re interested ! http://nickclarkeconservative.wordpress.com/

Sorry for the lack of posts, but since I was not standing in the County Council elections, it was only fair to stay out of ‘trouble’ for this period.
I did not stand because I am ‘only’ interested in the ‘more’ local issues that Whittlesey suffers. I believe there is one too many tiers of local government.
I was disappointed in how the election went, with many candidates not putting any literature or leaflets out – who and what have some of these candidates done for your/our community. Many stood on ‘just’ being a member of a political party or group.
Then said that party politics should not come into local issues !!!! so why stand on a party platform then….!
I phoned on candidate to find out a bit more, the unfortunate was ‘hardly’ aware of any issues, problems or how councils work….. but expect and got 260 electors vote for him?

A Happy Easter, cold and dismal – make the most it….
Eat, Drink and make Merry…..

Cambridgeshire along with many other areas of England and Wales are having their Street Lighting – Upgraded and or replaced/taken away.
This is a Government lead initiative!…..To improve and make Street Lighting more efficient and environmentally better.
Here in Cambridgeshire/Fenland, this was planned by Cambs County Council along with the contractor Balfour Beatty. It is under a PFI agreement which means we will pay for the next 25 years and beyond.
Initially there was little or No consultation either with District/Town Councillora and the public in general. We as councillors made noise about this and shortly afterwards there was some sort of dialogue…..
We have now reach a stage whereby BB (Balfour Beatty) have identified which Lighting has to go, which is to be replaced and which does not belong too their contract.

Most households will have had some notification by now, there is to be an overall ‘Loss’ of 10% of lighting columns. This ‘may be’ offset by the brightening more efficient lighting that is being installed but not in all cases.
BB now have personnel in place who are contactable and approachable with issues and problems.
Whittlesey Town Councillor (some) are quite involved, and most of us have been out at night time to survey the areas where the proposed loss of columns are to be taken out.
In the majority of cases (and not everyone can be happy) the exercise will work fairly well.
Here are some issues….
There appears to be some doubt of the methodology used in identifying these columns.
As some columns are FDC they are not affected.
We will end up with some 5 metre columns, some 6 metre columns all dimmable
Some very old FDC which are old lighting and are not dimmable.
Stonald Road for example will have 3 types of lighting, 3 different colours and 3 different heights……

If you have and problems or issues I am more than happy to listen/advise.

Our sincere thanks to Pearl Burdock who nominated us for the ‘Pride in Fenland Awards 2013’ our efforts were acknowledged and we were the
only nominee from Whittlesey –
Well done Street Pride. There were many groups and individuals from all over Fenland and some very worthy
winners.

From Fenland District Council

Planning Applications F/YR11/0895/O (Whitacre) and  F/YR11/0930/F (Sainsburys)

We can confirm that following the submission of the applications to the National Planning Casework Unit (Secretary of State), the Secretary of State has decided that the applications should not be ‘called in’ for a Public Inquiry.   The District Council are therefore allowed to issue the decision notices.

We are currently working with the applicants to complete the associated section 106 agreements.   Once completed the decision notices will be issued.

Nick Clarke leader of Cambs County Council has announced today (28th)…
A ‘Bridge’ is to be built….sooner than later, possibly within the next 3 years…
All kudos being given to our (2) County Councillors Martin Curtis and Ralph Butcher…
Of course no one else has being campaigning for either a bridge or by-pass for the last
50+ Years!..
Whilst I and many if not all of Whittlesey are very happy at this ‘news’…..Like the Supermarket Plan, I will be Jumping (In my dreams) for joy when I see the building work begin.
The only sting and there has to be one, is that ‘We’ Cambs ratepayer will be funding two thirds of the cost.
No Government help – No Euro help….!!! – they have no money……
Why not go the whole hog and charge us for using it….

Some of our younger councillors are harping on about infra-structure!… well well, nothing new …. Some of us who know the true meaning of the word…. look it up as – most of the info our younger councillors seem to rely totally on Twitter/Faceless book etc…. have been knocking for years about the lack of Whittlesey infra-structure.
An elector told me yesterday, why ‘we’ had to spend £10K on a study to tell us the issues of the Kings Dyke crossing, her implication was it was money for the ‘old’ boy network….
I am keeping a close eye on this one…..

Enforcement issues whether it be Fly-Tipping, Littering or Planning, I heard ! that Leader Melton has it in his remit that there should be minimal enforcement….. well whilst many of us know that the ‘Enforcement Team’ at fenland has made some monumental mistakes in the past, which has cost us/you the ratepayer sheds full of our hard earned cash….
‘They’ that is FDC has had to bring in a temporary enforcement officer from outside for the time being. Letters-emails and phone calls ‘appear’ to be ignored……
One local business has waited months for some sort of action to be taken…..

Whilst we do need to be sympathetic with little or no staff does nothing for us as councillors or you as the public and electorate.

At the planning meeting held at the Manor Leisure Centre on the 9th January, where some of us sat again to listen for the ‘the 4th or 5th’ time these applications….
A decision was made, which to most attending was a satisfactory result for the majority of Whittlesey and district….. Fenland Planners, Legal and a very expensive Lawyer were all there. We had the ‘expertise’ knowledge of Cllr Martin Curtis (who has had a lot of training on planning). Now we are informed that ‘Harrier/Tesco’ are appealing on the grounds of and I quote….

Have appealed on the basis of non-determination, which is a direct result of them not issuing the refusal (FDC) Non-determination appeals are done because Councils don’t decide applications in a timely way.
(Cllr Curtis) My recollection of how this works is that the Tesco decision will be taken out of Fenland’s hands and be decided by the inspectors. However, it is a while since I dealt with non-determination, so I need to check this over.

The question surely is – Did none of the ‘experts’ see this coming !!!!
Was this ‘possibility’ not thought of in a ‘Risk assessment’
It is surely time for ‘some’ people/employees/councillors to be properly accountable BIG TIME.

I have now attended 8 yes that is 8 planning meetings regarding the ‘Supermarket’ coming to Whittlesey…. 4 for Whittlesey Town Council (as consultees) and 2 at March and 2 at Whittlesey.
Yesterdays meeting started at 14:30 and concluded after legal advice at 22:45.
It was a very good turn out and in general the meeting was well handled and behaved.
I still think that the Independent Councillor Mark Archer was the most robust in his questioning of all concerned. To be fair it was Marks first time ‘listening’ to this debate.
Simon King another newcomer to the debate was also one of the better questioners.

So after listening to various comment this morning, everyone is ‘Happy’ –  BUT the decision is still open to appeal and legal challenge. It needs to go to the Secretary of State for ratification.

I hope that Harrier/Tesco now see sense…. and come to some agreement to give up their
plans for Station Road…… there is of course one way to make it work…..
Sort the Railway crossing out and who know!!!!

I and the majority of Whittlesey residents look forward to the long term, a new supermarket, a business park and a country park for future generations.

Everyone can influence hopefully some priorities for the near future.
Fenland District Council have a consultation period for YOU to have some say.

This is YOUR opportunity, take a little time and have YOUR say…

The questionnaire will be available in the following locations:

o               Fenland @ your service shops
Thats at our One Stop Shop on High Causeway
or              Online at www.fenland.gov.uk/yourviews2013

I’ve done MY bit, please do yours …. thank you…..

It will take less than 5 minutes to fill in YOUR Views…..