Cllr Roy Gerstner – Community Activist

At Neighbourhood Watch we get regular information both locally and nationally.
The next planned meeting is on Tuesday 15th March at 7:00pm
at Whittlesey Town Council Offices on Grosvenor Road – All are welcome.

The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) is warning people of the dangers of Recovery Room fraudsters targeting former victims of Timeshare fraud. Recovery Room Fraud refers to a scam whereby fraudsters contact the victims of previous frauds, often by way of cold calling them, and claim to be able to recover previously lost funds. In July 2014 the Financial Services Authority (FSA) estimated that 30% of people who had lost money through Investment fraud would also fall victim to a Recovery Room fraud. When Recovery Room fraudsters target victims of timeshare frauds they usually claim to be a legal professional or a representative of a government agency (normally within the country where the original timeshare property was based) in order to legitimise the scam. The fraudsters know personal details about the victim and their previous investment which gives them credibility. They claim that the advanced fees requested are for ‘local taxes’ or ‘litigation costs’ incurred during the recovery of the funds. It is suspected that the persons behind Recovery Room frauds are often the same people involved in the original scams even though these crimes may have occurred years earlier. Initially, a small fee, typically in the region of £200-400, is requested by the fraudsters which they often claim is refundable as part of a ‘no-win no-fee’ basis.  The fraudsters rely on the victims seeing this as a nominal fee compared to the amounts lost, which often run into the tens-of-thousands of pounds, and therefore worth paying if it facilitates the return of their money. Once paid, various excuses are made by the fraudsters to explain delays in the recovery of the funds.  Subsequently, further larger amounts are then requested by the fraudsters.  Needless to say, no refunds ever materialise and no money is ever recovered.
Protect Yourself

• Never respond to unsolicited phone calls – if in doubt, hang up.
• Always check that the details of the organisation or company contacting you (such as website, address and phone number) are correct – the fraudsters may be masquerading as a legitimate organisation.
• Don’t be fooled by a professional looking website as nowadays the cost of creating a professional website is easily affordable.
• Be wary of any firms or individuals asking for advanced fees.
• Consider seeking independent legal and/or financial advice before making a decision.

If you believe that you have been a victim of fraud you can report it online: http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/report_fraud or by telephone: 0300 123 2040

See link for agenda for WTC Planning 27th January 2016

Planning-Agenda-27th-January-2016

Thanks to SR – Just in case of readers not being aware (especially those on Streetlife©).
Planning is now a shared ‘resource’ between FDC and Peterborough City Council and has been for some time.
Fenland still has its own Planning Committee.
See below.

https://www.peterborough.gov.uk/page-488/

Thank you Bruce for your latest. (R.G.)

‘Despite Sainsburys statement I have not and will not give up trying to deliver a scheme to Whittlesey that brings all the benefits that are hoped for. We do after all still have the planning permission.
I am pursuing Sainsburys legally and my hands are somewhat tied as to what I can and cannot say publicly, however I  intend to deliver one way or another as was my promise to the Town.
I am very dissapointed with our MP Stephen Barclay who fought tooth and nail for the Chatteris store and yet no input for Whittlesey despite several email requests which have  remained unanswered.’
Regards Bruce.
(Photo ©Wisbech Standard)

We might now expect a very lengthy legal battle, unless something is settled out of court.
Very deep pockets will be required on all parties.

See correspondence in regards to Whittlesey Primary School places and the need for future.
New Road School is planned for expanding. See link below….

160122 Whittlesey to Forum

Streetlife® Gilly B on 23/01/16

I really hope this is not true.
We had friends over for dinner last night and over the port, the talk turned to Sainsburys.

They live in Coates and I Was amazed when my friends husband said that a councillor had told him that Sainsbury wouldn’t be coming last June. Allegedly all town councillors had received an open letter from Fenland advising them that if the promised money towards road building was not paid by the end of June then that would give Sainsbury a reason to pull out. Allegedly the councillor said that they knew the money wouldn’t be paid because it simply wasn’t there!

I found this hard to believe but if it is true why do we need to spend our money on an enquiry?

RG I challenge the poster to name the councillor who quoted this.

I was not on the council in June so would not have seen or heard about such a letter. This is the first many of us have heard of such, maybe it is or maybe it isn’t correct…

Gilly B (hiding behind a pseudonym) has posted a lot of comments on Streetlife® now come good with the facts….who was that councillor.

         
Queen Street 1894                                                    Whitmoor Street 1920

There is for the observant, a cottage on Bar Street, called ‘The Locks’ the Whittlesea Museum is a good source for local history.
(click on picture to enlarge)

It is fantastic at last that ‘some’ Street Lifers®’ have ‘something positive to post for a change, there are a number who of course do attend meetings and get their information direct as heard, then there are a lot that – well I heard from someone the other day!.
There are a great many positives about our town and villages than there are negatives.
A number of fantastic community groups doing their part.

Anyway I bring you my environmental part recently in Galle/Sri Lanka, where I spent an hour or so with the Street Cleaners, (even with my limited mobility) they we so happy to have me with them, and the made a very good job of this area (There is a vast amount elsewhere, plenty for many years to come)

A nice mini rubbish cart donated by             No he did not let me drive his tractor.
the people of Okayama Japan                        This was collected from 1 street.
(click on picture to enlarge)

In my professional life I was very proud of NOT being party to ‘Blame culture or recriminations, I have carried this on as far as I can in my community roles.
The number of times it has now been said and explained on various forums, Whittlesey Town Council/councillors are only ‘consultees’ on planning matters, their ‘weight’ being if a unanimous decision is made – then some ‘weight’ might be highlighted at a FDC’s  Planning committee.

The 7 elected FDC councillors hold the ‘force/lobby’ and weight at decisions.
The (3) Whittlesey /FDC councillors who ‘normally’ sit on the planning committee, are the ones who can persuade/argue and convince the rest of the committee the Pro’s/Con’s of an application.
The ‘Blame culture/Recriminations’ could if the electorate so wished be decided at the ballot box – but this will not happen – why because there are no FDC elections for another 3+ years, by which time most of the arguments will have either blown over or been forgotten about (or we may even have a supermarket/country park by then?)
Maybe in 3+ years time is site will no longer be here – there is no crystal ball.

On a final note, Martin Curtis who occasionally when he has time raises his head above the parapet ‘Quote’ It is about value and spend to save in regards to having an enquiry into various planning issues. I disagree – Martin is NOT spending his own money but the Tax/Rate payers money, he cost the ratepayer several thousands of £’s in his misfortunate non compliance of the initial election results, which needed another election in his ward, I think I am correct in saying it worked out at £16 per vote cast – well that’s history as well now – MC being re-elected on a very convincing majority.

MC appears to have a personal vendetta (for some time now) against FDC’s planning department. He was of course Chairman of the Planning committee whilst some of the issues being raised now.
The FDC solicitor has long since left and found another job on another council.
The Chief Planning Officer, on whose advice many relied upon – has also gone to pastures new.
A multitude of ‘Planning Officers’ dealing with these applications have long since departed.

By now there are few left to ‘Blame’ if the public so wished, except for !!!! you tell me….

For many years the volunteer Street Pride group have held a clean up event after the Straw Bear celebration.

Who dropped this litter?….I think I know who the culprit was He won’t be doing that again …. Well at least for another year.

The Pride were out in force on a chilly Sunday morning, with 18 members clearing up from the day (and night) before.

The team who filled the Street Scene van with 21 bags.

Future Events.
Saturday 23rd January     10:30am
Park Lane School, Park Lane, Whittlesey, Peterborough PE7 1JB

Clean up and maintenance of the garden and children’s play area.
Join us at 10.30am along with parents and councillors.

Saturday 30^th January   10am
Mortons Leam.

Meet in the layby (Long Drove) just outside of the town on the B1040 towards Dog in a Doublet.

Saturday 13^th February   10am
King’s Delph.

Meet in the layby on the A605

Wednesday 10^th February  7pm
Whittlesey Street Pride Management Committee meeting

The Meeting Room at The Manor Leisure Centre (next to the hall).We still have spaces for 2 new members who could give up an hour every couple of months to shape the future of Whittlesey Street Pride

Wednesday 17^th February  7:30pm
(PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF DATE FROM PREVIOUS EMAIL)

Bi-Monthly meeting in Whittlesey Town Hall
All members and friends welcome to attend.

Thank you to all who attended today. Without your support there would be no Pride.
I look forward to seeing you at the next event.

Rob Kent
Treasurer

Chairman – Fred Mills                    Vice Chairman – Bernard Gray-Esson
pongofred1@sky.com                      mail@bandsge.plus.com

Secretary – Peter Davies                Treasurer – Rob Kent                                              peterdaviesgb@aol.com                          robkent@usa.net

COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
Alan Hobbs    David Palmer    Margaret Palmer     Min Mean

Whittlesey Street Pride are a volunteer group established in 2008 as an environmental impact group. Since their inception, the group have removed in excess of 40,000+ Kgs of litter & rubbish from the town and surrounding villages. We have 9 Gateway projects, ranging from floral boats to plough gardens and adopted laybys. We are a community based group under the umbrella of Fenland District Council.

We are self-financing and are grateful to the many local businesses for their generous support and sponsorship.

Link to newsletter

Calling all businesses in the Whittlesey area, your opportunity to meet and network

(click on picture to enlarge)