Cllr Roy Gerstner – Community Activist

20+ years ago I highlighted in the Peterborough ET the ‘Road’ issues along Church Street and Ramsey Road. 10+ years ago I highlighted this to Cllr Steve Garratt – who quoted me – there are no issues or problems with the Traffic/Parking on Ramsey Road?
Cambs Highways tried to highlight one issue on the corner of St Andrews Church/Letter B – but allas this did not work well. I am very pleased the both Cllrs Swan and Butcher have taken this issue on board. There are now plans to place a traffic calming system on this corner and to ‘Yellow Line’ more in/around this plan.
Just 20+ years a bit late –

Some 3+ years ago, when FDC instigated the Street Scene Officers within the Market Towns, they were supplied with an expensive ‘Electric Bicycle – this was to ‘promote’ some ‘Greenish’ credentials – be seen to be out and about and maybe! get some assisted exercise.
Alas I can report the said ‘Bike’ has very few miles on the clock and is stored away gathering dust?

I have been asked and have no problem in ‘correcting’ any inaccuracy regarding meetings held by ‘some’ Whittlesey councillors, it would appear that councillor Ken Mayor was thought to have been the un-named councillor in my article…..well it wasn’t councillor Ken Mayor…..my sources sometimes ‘talk’ to myself and others – there is nothing wrong in that.

The annual assembly of WTC took place last night…. it was extremely lengthy. However the highlights were the very good causes that David Masons ‘Mayors’ charity achieved – given mainly to those based in and around our town – some worthy groups…..
It is only fare that ALL councillors irrespective of their political standing should support our own Groups within Whittlesey….some of cause do more or less than others!

Our thanks to Tracy, John and Rachael (Rowell) who again this year organised a ‘Clean-up’ event in the river by Fields End Bridge/Kings Delph.  About 40 members turned up with various small inflatables and collected around 15 bags of litter and rubbish from the banks along the river. They found a ‘pram’ and a full set of ‘crockery’. Another good event.

The allotments are very special to the people of Whittlesey…..we have had allotments in our Town and Villages for as long as I can remember. The land in the past has been sold for what is now ‘housing’. This latest debacle about if/ever the present site is ‘sold’ by Fenland District Council is another  ‘travesty’ in the making.
We have Town councillors who are also District and County councillors who either are not listening or are as usual being out-gunned and steam rolled by councillors from March and Wisbech …. sometimes there is a ‘bit’ of noise’ made about an issue….and then quietly disappears from the agenda?

Todays controversial news about the Whittlesey allotments….If sold then Whittlesey Town Council would receive £100,000 – well all I can say on this one it was my understanding that this so called agreement was made between Whittlesey Town councillors and ‘Leader/Ex Leader’ Melton !!!! need we say more…..
Other than a bit rich of councillor ‘Pop Jolley’ who has ‘wasted’ thousands of £££ rebranding the Fenland leisure centres.
I doubt very much if Whittlesey Town Council/we residents will see anything should this land ever be ‘sold’….remember we residents/Whittlesey Town Council have ploughed a vast amount of rate payers money into upgrading/modernising the allotments.

Wednesday evening saw some 200+ people attend the update on the ‘Showfields Planning Protest Group’ meeting. Although the meeting was ‘slightly’ informative. I feel more information and direction could have been achieved.
It did have a ‘Fund raising’ element to it….(I have made 2 donations) but I felt that the ‘momentum’ was a little less that the previous meeting..   (Also from feedback I have received.)
This is not to say that the Group will not succeed in their endeavours to put together a very robust case to reject/refuse the appeal whenever that happens….
I will continue my support and offer whatever help I can….
Pick up the momentum?

I am sorry to inform who may ever read my small mutterings….but the ‘promised’ enhancements to Whittlesey Market Place – looks ‘doomed’.
It was at least (2) councillors who ‘promised’ local businesses that the ‘project’ would ‘definitely/ ‘certainly’ go ahead and be completed by 2014?
Now we hear that very repeated phrase – No Money….what a pity.

Having the ‘guts’ at least to stand up to ‘his’ views and principles….having heard the news and reading his web-blog – but could there have been another motive?
Martin is a very experienced Town, District and County councillor, he has had a vast amount of training and on occasions says it as it is?
I would have thought that Martin had a ‘good’ idea of what he was letting himself into when he offered himself to be ‘elected’ as the Conservative Group leader of CCC and onto leader of Cambs County Council.
I am not here to criticise either his decisions or views he made on his web-blog in fact I sympathise to some extent his views on the elected UKIP councillors on CCC….
But he is tarring everyone with the same brush….What perhaps Martin and the majority of the Conservative group can not get to grips with is the ‘fact’ that ‘most’ UKIP’ sympathy comes from very disillusioned Conservatives?
I agree whole-heartedly in the respected I think it is wrong for someone to stand on a ‘political platform’ then for whatever reason decide be become ‘Independent’
I stood as an Independent, proud to have been elected as an Independent and will remain so until the next election.
I have been approached on a number of occasions by other political groups seeking my ‘friendship’ I am very humbled by these approaches…but my Independence is very important to me, as is other councillors who decided to stand on a political party platform – That is democracy.

The latest I hear – is that ‘We’ (That is Fenland District Council) are nearly there?
One YEAR since the ‘application’ was approved (and that was after several attempts)….FDC indicate (No time given) that most of the 106 agreement and access issues have been solved…
I also ‘heard’ that Sainsburys have Eastrea Road factored into their planned building program for 2014 – Lets keep on waiting and see when/if it comes sooner rather than later.

Well it is congratulations to ‘People Power’ getting together a small but vocal group to voice and fight the Planning Application off the Wash Road…..this application has been refused, by Planners at FDC – but the applicant has gone to appeal.
This is where the Nitty-Gritty starts.
The applicants (Rose family -No connection to Whittlesey based Rose Homes) will fight this all the way.
One tragedy in this wholly unwelcome application is that one Rose Brother is a ‘local councillor’ in Oundle – he and his family are well versed with planning rules and law and will flight this application to the very end.

As for my part I totally agree with most of the Whittlesey councillors, that this application is totally inappropriate….I will support in any way possible the objectors to this application.