Cllr Roy Gerstner – Community Activist

Further to my Council meeting update regarding Cllr David Mason trying to get a late night bus service restored.  I have now spoken at length with Billy Wright (Married to Penny Morley of ‘Morleys Bus Co). I was correct in my article, in fact Billy has explained the several reasons their business suffered.
The late night buses running from Peterborough to Whittlesey, suffered several issues with vandalism, stones and bricks being thrown at their buses (Mainly in the Stanground Area), they also cut back their services, due to drivers not wanting to work later hours. Billy always had to be ‘on call’ in case of incidents and at the time when reported to the police- was not given a great deal of help or support.
Other reasons was they suffered from diesel theft on many occasions and their insurance doubled year on year.
The Morley Bus Co ran in Whittlesey from 1922 to 2005
I actually worked for John Morley (Snr) when I was at school. I worked Sunday afternoons on the Petrol Station/Pump on West End from 2pm to 9pm I was paid £1:00 for my efforts in 1967.
(remember a ‘Gallon of Petrol was 25p and you could get 8 pints of beer for £1:00)

Billy is still involved with Buses and informs me that ALL bus companies have to run like ALL businesses at a profit – If there is No profit – simples – Go bust.
Billy and Penny have been married for well over 40 years.
Pennys brother John Morley (Jnr) still lives in Whittlesey.

So now you’ve had the FACTS – no rumour or hearsay.

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(Top picture © Cambs Times)

Dave has ‘privately’ lobbied to stop closure of police stations in his constituency – good for him – but what about the rest of us ‘Dave’ you seem quite ‘happy’ to lobby saving your own – but the rest doesn’t matter.
He makes an ‘argument’ that there are savings to be made – sorry Dave where have You been for the last 5 years of cutbacks.
There are answers:
Do we need 43 Police Areas in England (Ex Police Authorities)
Do we need 43 PCC (Police & Crime Commissioners)
Do we need 43 Assistant PCC’s
Do we need 43 Personnel Departments
Do we need 43 Chief Constables
I can go on and on, yes there has been a ‘few’ services joined up between Cambs, Herts and Beds, but looking at some of my list there are ‘substantial’ savings to be made and I think these potential savings would more than pay for front line police officers.

See full story at the BBC Website

To see National Statistics of Police workforce England and Wales as of March 2014
Click Here

Another topic ‘very briefly’ touched on was Cllr Ralph Butcher informed the rest of the Councillors that ‘The Recycling Centre’ would remain open for another year.
It looks like this will be looked at on a year-to-year basis then?
The CCTV System report is somewhat not that helpful just a few statistics, this area is being looked into as part of the ‘finance review’ taking place at FDC.
There is/was a meeting at Fenland Hall today with Councillors attending – this has already been well documented in the Cambs Times© today.

I wonder if ‘we’ will find out what has been discussed – ‘behind the scenes’ as happens, but I doubt as NO Councillor is keeping the electorate informed on a daily/weekly or monthly basis….why don’t you ask them why? – Not everyone is a fan of Twitter® or Faceless Book®.

Of course another item discussed was the ‘Loooong’ awaited Whittlesey Town Council Website….Months and well over a year. I can inform the Council it takes about 10 minutes to get a website started and then just a bit of time and effort to update and maintain.
I have run my Shipping Company Website for over 10 years and this one for 5 years.
Lets move into the 20th century please, of course they did not mention cost?
My cost ‘ minimal’ 2 websites less than £100:00 a year with full redundancy.
We wait and wait as usual.

Cllr David Mason is admirably is still on his campaign for a better Bus Service at night time.
He updated the members on the normal NO contact/communication from Stagecoach. He is looking at another provider, one quoted over £200+ for an after 8pm service for a 12 seater bus which worked out at over £13 person single journey – I don’t think so.
By chance I bumped into David yesterday and informed him of my long term contact with Anthea Head of Decker Bus and my old school friend Billy Wright (Morleys Bus).
Decker Bus runs a near 100% School Bus contract with ‘some’ private hire and tours.
(WBS ) Morleys had to give up late night services one reason because of vandalism to their buses en-route to Whittlesey, would frequently be ‘stoned’ or have ‘bricks’ thrown at them – you can imagine what problems that caused.
Anyway I wish David every success in his quest – Good Luck.

Our Street Scene Officer for Whittlesey is Sally Mitchell, she is VERY Pro-active and in many opinion the ‘best we have had’.
  
 
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If I am here – I attend as a member of the public the town council monthly meetings.
Last night there were 3 members of the public for a planning application plus myself and one other who stayed the norm 3 hours of ‘debate’.
All 14 Councillors were in attendance.
Varied agenda, including a shortish presentation from Mr Rob Litten Executive Head Whittlesey Learning Trust. (Park Lane & New Road). He hopes to be here 10 years?

No one spoke at the Public Forum.
A couple (my view) controversial planning applications.
F/YR15/0920/CERTLU – This is the use of the Manor House for business use, it has been going on for some considerable time, some of the residents of Manor View/Portland Place are displeased with deliveries etc….WTC recommended ‘Refusal’
F/YR15/0933F – 6 dwellings on Church Street (Ex Garage area) – The big issue of course is ‘Parking’ I have to state I have at last heard Cllr Garratt admit that parking is an issue on the road of Church Street, several years ago he claimed there was No Issues…..
It is bad enough during the daytime but at night when all are back from work it is ‘horrendous’ – I have pictures and video of the dangerous issues, some of which have been posted here before..
WTC recommended ‘Approval’

There was a deviation from the agenda, which I am not that happy about.
Financial and tendering naturally should be discussed under ‘exclusion’ of the public – which I do not have a problem with, however to change an item within the agenda as the meeting is in progress should not be allowed.
If a Councillor (In this case Cllr Curtis) wishes items to be excluded, this should have been placed in the agenda and not changed during a meeting in progress.
The item concerning the ‘Showfields’ Legal update/costing of Legal advice.

I’ll post some more regarding the Street Scene Officers report – tomorrow….

At Neighbourhood Watch – we have access to our local police, we have a dedicated ‘phone’ number to report crime or issues. If you would like to be part of making your street/area safer, by being a ‘Better Neighbour’ why not become a ‘Co-ordinator’ – it takes very little time or effort. Contact me.

Here is the latest report from our Neighbourhood Team

We have had no news either way regarding the closure or not of the Police station. As far as we are concerned its business as usual for us until such time as we are told otherwise.  The staffing level of the local team remains at 2 PCSO’s, a PC and a Sergeant. There are 7 Police officers that work out from the station.
If there is any feedback from the remembrance parades then it would be appreciated. As a team we all came in on a day off as we wanted to pay our respects and understand the significance of the day but we need to comply with the rules regarding closing the roads/stopping traffic  even for short periods of time.
Patrols have continued at the schools to give people the opportunity to bring any concerns to us and to deal with the on going parking concerns. We have several assemblies planned in the coming weeks at local schools and are working with the children of Coates school to educate speeding drivers.
Several people have mentioned cars being parked poorly in the area of Commons Rd and Stonald Rd, plans are in place to speak with local residents to initially educate as to parking laws before we start giving tickets out.
We arranged for the ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) team to be over and in a stint at Pondersbridge they issued 3 TORS (Traffic offence reports – basically we submit the offences and someone else decides what fine you get) and one driver given words of advice.

Whittlesey Neighbourhood Police

After an extremely good turn out on Sunday, Armistice Day held yesterday saw around 100 members of the public attend to pay their respects

11:00 11-11/15                                                                 Connie G & Jeanne B
Fantastic to see our good friend Jeanne Beaumont who is looking very well for her 80+
Jeanne was recently presented with her long service medal for her voluntary work with the Red Cross, she has also given a great deal to the RNIB over the years.
Jeanne was a very active member of Street Pride and still helps to promote the group when-ever possible.

Neighbourhood Watch Meeting –
19:00 Tuesday 15th December – details later.

I am sure we all live in close contact with neighbours who are ‘older’ than ourselves.
Most are pretty ‘savvy’ – but I always check to make sure…..I have neighbours in their 90’s, it takes only a few minutes to ask if ‘everything’ is Okay.
Do they need any help getting to the doctors or hospital, do they know how to get help with transport
Have they had their Flu – Jab?
Please take a minute….

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A fantastic turn out at the remembrance parade, considering the weather, just holding dry, it was one of the best attended – year on year more organisations take part, and it would seem more people wish to attend.

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Many would have noticed work being carried out at the Ex FDC – One Stop Shop on High Causeway…. originally thinking it may become a Pet Food Shop, Whittlesey Business TLC – Tim and Linda, have been busy moving from their present (2) premises to this site.
I am sure as ‘locals’ we all wish them every success in their expanded venture.

Many thanks to Natasha and the team @ Discovering Whittlesea© for inviting me to do the article in the November edition. As a ‘local boy’ it is very humbling to be asked to do this. As happens someone asked me ‘why’ some of my cv was missing, trying to catch me out? – Well it is well known I worked for the Government and I hope to put a post up in the near future, once I have permission to do so.

All very ‘quiet’ on local issues, nothing much happening with the ‘Sainburys Supermarket’ – No news on the Showfields development.
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But I did get a ‘whisper’ that Our Council may well be looking in to giving themselves ‘Medals’ again.
This topic came up a couple of years ago, and at the time I was very vocal against it, I still am – there should be NO cost to the Public/Ratepayer.

As some of my community commitments now allow us to have a bit more – me time – I am away a lot more, making the most of what mobility will allow.
Just returned from Madeira, went to the same place last year – excellent all round, weather could have been better. I met a delightful 91 year old gentleman and his 90 year old wife.
He started the day at 8am with several glasses of ‘bubbly’ with his breakfast, and didn’t stop all day….never fell over and was totally looked after.
Our friends Andrew and Sue O stayed in the hotel next door and joined us for a celebration 65th birthday at the Riu Palace.
Andrew and I were ‘Cubs’ in Coates in the 1950’s, ‘Scouts’ in the 60’s. Both went to sea, he in the RN – me in the MN. We both married ‘Nurses’ and have remained friends for over 55 years – many happy memories.