Does this questionnaire ask what  we want answering?

Or just that which suits its purpose?

Once again, Boston’s Independent County Councillor Ray Newell lets us know how we may be able to influence County Hall to improve the town’s road system – in a way that his Conservative colleagues ... who make up the rest of the representation ...  do not!
He urges us to  complete  a county council questionnaire seeking responses to the latest Lincolnshire Transport  Plan – the fourth to be drawn up ...  covering the period from April next year for the next 10-15 years ahead.
“It is vital that you tell Lincolnshire County Council, in no uncertain terms, what you want included in Boston’s Local Transport Plan,” he says.
“If you believe as fervently as I do, that Boston desperately needs a distributor road, it is essential that you make your views known.”
Councillor Newell points out that any demand for a distributor road for Boston can only be made in the general comments box, which appears after question six.
He adds:  “The people of Boston are only too aware of the need for a distributor road, but this necessity has to be emphasised and documented. As many of us as possible must make our demand for a distributor road.
“On the last page of the document  –  under major highway schemes -  you will read that the Lincoln eastern bypass is being built; that Spalding’s western relief road, Grantham’s east-west link road and Lincoln’s east-west link road have been prioritised in the short to medium term.
“Please help to make Boston’s distributor road another of Lincolnshire County Council’s priorities!"
We couldn’t agree more.
The questionnaire itself is another of those typical local authority exercises which asks for lists of suggested actions to be prioritised.
Because it does not specify anything local, the results are open to generous interpretation when the answers are in.
Not only that, but the omissions speak louder than the questions…
For instance,  on improving transport in larger urban areas,  the choices for prioritisation  begin with  minor highway improvement, cycling, walking and public transport improvements, “smarter choices” -  which encourage less car travel -  “demand management” which actively discourages car travel , and traffic management measures such as one-way streets, speed limits and the like.
Although Boston is mentioned in this section  - along with Lincoln, Grantham and Gainsborough - as areas for which “specific” transport strategies have been developed with the district councils – anyone who does not consider that enough has been done cannot  vote for “major” highway improvements – because it  is simply not on the list.
However, one way around this is to complete section five– which asks how you would allocate £100 in minimum increments of £5 and a maximum of £50 – by spending your £50 maximum  on tackling problems in "larger urban areas" and specifying Boston as the beneficiary in section six.
Sadly, we don’t think this “consultation” will change anything – but every opportunity should be seized with both hands.
Once again, we thank Councillor Newell for drawing this to our attention.
But as we said at the outset - isn’t it a shame that his Conservative colleagues at County Hall couldn’t be bothered.
A copy of the consultation document can be obtained from www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/ltp4  or by phoning 01522-782114, or by phoning Councillor Newell at Boston 316444.
Completed questionnaires must be returned to: LCC Transportation, 3rd Floor City Hall, Lincoln, LN1 1DN no later than 27^th July.

You can write to us at boston.eye@googlemail.com  Your e-mails will be treated in confidence and published anonymously if requested.

Our former blog is archived at: http://bostoneyelincolnshire.blogspot.com