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)
I have left the ‘post’ as it is – however I have to put in a disclaimer…..
When I signed the ‘petition’ it wanted quite a lot of personal information, which most petitions require in order that they remain ‘valid’ signatures, however after I had completed the form I was taken to another page asking for ‘donations’ – this is a free choice and you do not have to donate anything.
Secondly I have already had 2 e-mails from Change.org the web hoster, I hope I do not get anymore.
I host and finance my own websites, this being one and the other being my old shipping company London & Overseas Freighters.
Just be weary – the idea is well meaning and innocent enough.
Above is being circulated on various media, if you feel strongly enough to support and help to ‘try’ and get the ‘final’ stages completed then please follow the above link.
2/ Apologies for No recent News, sometimes I go away…and ‘real’ news is somewhat spartan. However I and a couple of other members of the public (myself being now public) attended last Wednesdays Whittlesey Town Council meeting. As most of the area should know by now, Bruce Smith the developer for the site on Eastrea Road, gave an e-mail to the ‘New council’ (below last post).
I have had communication from one of the ‘other’ members of the public present and publish in part what he said to me…. I am not the only person who wonders why bother to have a council meeting when ‘most’ decisions are made beforehand….The electorate decided in the election who they wanted and now they have got what exactly that…
quote..
Cllr Ralph Butcher in ‘Deep thought’ First to attend an empty room to get best seat?
Congratulations to Cllr Alex Miscandlon
on becoming the ‘New Mayor’ from
Cllr David Mason.
With permission from Mr Bruce Smith the developer on behalf of a Supermarket, Business Park and Country Park…..e-mail to FDC, councillors and interested parties (The Public)
Sainburys/Business Park applications Whittlesey
Graham
I write to confirm that if a planning consent is not issued by 30 June 2015(including the completion of any required S106 Agreement) then Sainsburys will be able to terminate their contractual commitments and withdraw from the transaction to deliver a food store and Country park in Whittlesey.
Accordingly any investment in job creation,consumer choice and the country park will be lost.
The public have overwhemingly supported this application for nearly 4 years and so I would urge you not to lose sight of this date as there is nothing I can do once it has passed to recover the situation , there are no other food store operators willing to come forward.Indeed from press announcements I would infer that Sainsburys if given the chance and if they had their time again, would not progress this opportunity,I cannot impress upon you enough that this is really a once in a generation opportunity for Whittlesey which if lost will never be repeated.
It is therefore critical that you as Officers and your members are aware of this and if you are supportive then please do all you can to issue the consent in the immediate future(and replicate the S106 agreement in substantcially the same form as per the existing S106 for the previous scheme).
My preference is immediate delegated approval so that all parties can then focus on the S106( with only absolutely essential changes being permitted to preclude any delay) and in this way it should be possible to have an approval by mid June in the worst case.
The principle and existing food store permission was originally approved following 3 Development Control Committees and given that we are now only talking about technical highway changes I do not think that any further reference to Development Control Committee is a beneficial use of members time.
The risk of delay far outweighs the JR risk which was totally dismissed without merit last time.
Can you please advise me of the determination date for deciding these applications as a matter of extreme urgency as I am coming under pressure to make a public statement to supporters.
I and Whittlesey town are soley in your hands as to whether this scheme can ever be delivered. If you consider a meeting between you and the members of the council and I would be helpful I am available.
Regards Bruce
So there we have it straight from the man who has put a ‘lot’ of money into getting this development where it is today. June 30th is the crunch date.
Watch this space….it is the ‘only’ place you will get ‘facts’ not rumours…
RG.
Peterborough City Council are to apply for a permanent 40 mph speed limit along the North Bank. The temporary measure was brought in after much lobbying by the action groups, residents and councillors. Six accidents occurred in a space of six days during November/December 2013. A new safety barrier was put in place on one of the dangerous bends. Speed has played a great part in these accidents, today I publish a motorcycle and a car overtaking me both doing well in excess of 40 mph as my in car camera recorded. 
double click on image to get a full sized view, I make no apologies for naming and shaming.
Colin Martin and his group campaigned hard along with a 2,500 signature petition to try and get improvements done – these (2) motorist(cyclist) should be very aware of the past dangers of this road – Stop Speeding…..
