War memorials need a clean

27/09/2009 by Steve Barclay.

Chatting in the bakers in Littleport early Saturday morning is a great way to find out what is going on.  One issue mentioned is the war memorial opposite the church which needs cleaning.  I pop over to have a look and they are absolutely right.  It needs sorting out, not least with Remembrance Sunday only a month away.  Take a photo and email it to East Cambs Council asking if they would give it a clean.

Then join Littleport campaigners Debra Jordan and Louise Brighton who have a stall in the High Steet.  They are doing a great job in highlighting the cuts in our paramedic cover.  The East of England Ambulance Trust has a poor record - buying Ambulances that are too tall to go under the bridge at Ely Station is just one of their recent mistakes wasting money.  It is no wonder that the Healthcare Commission rates them one of the six worst NHS trusts in England.  Moving a paramedic car to Cambridge (which has a hospital) and away from a rural area (miles away from the nearest hospital) is another mistake.

Great response to the stall in the High Street where shoppers are asked to deliver the leaflet to the street they live in.  Louise phones me later in the day to say that all the leaflets went out within three and a half hours!  Thanks to everyone that helped.

Steve Barclay with Littleport campaigners
Debra Jordan (left) and Louise Brighton (right)

Then head over to the other end of the constituency for two more of my regular series of coffee meetings with residents I have not met before.  In both a key concern is planning.  The Government’s obsession with people building in back gardens is causing a lot of resentment (and adding to problems with flooding).  There is also concern that planning permission is being given to new buildings in architectural styles that do not fit with the other buildings.  We need to ensure we protect the charm of our Fenland towns and I share their concern. 

Another issue raised is the George Hotel and the Old Post Office which is still boarded up.  This has gone on for far too long, and is an eyesore at the heart of Whittlesey.  I know Cllr Martin Curtis is working hard on this and shares my desire for action to sort it out.  I will find out what the latest is with Wetherspoons who own the George.

George Hotel which remains boarded up

Other ad hoc issues are raised in the meetings, and I will discuss this with local councillors to see if we can work together on a solution.  One example is cars parked around the Falcon pub, where the yellow lines could perhaps do with being extended and a mirror could be installed to help with visibility given the blind spot on the corner.

Finally on the way home I thought I should check whether the issue with the war memorial in Littleport also applies in Fenland.  The Whittlesey memorial does not look too bad although it would still benefit from a clean.  A call to the British Legion puts me in touch with Steve Napier at Fenland DC to flag this to him.

Whittlesey War Memorial

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