When Boston’s million pound gift from the Big Lottery fund was announced earlier this week, everyone was at pains to stress that none of the local powers that be would have anything to do with it – and that the way the money will be spent will be entirely at the discretion of the public. Nevertheless, we have already seem reams of comment from the South Lincolnshire Community Voluntary Service – which is sending one of their officers and another from Boston Borough Council to Ipswich, to see how a successful grant scheme there has worked. Meanwhile, the council decided to get in on the act as well with the issue of a press release – which has not appeared on the borough website –  quoting Councillor Mike Gilbert, Boston Borough Council’s portfolio holder for communities, as saying: “The allocation of this funding is brilliant news for Boston. Wisely spent it will make Boston a great place to live.” Whilst Councillor Gilbert is one of the less rabid members of the cabinet, we do not think that anyone from the authority should be telling us how to spend money wisely. The borough’s track record on wasting cash is legendary …
Another aspect of the million pound grant is the repeated reference to Boston as a “forgotten” part of the country. In recent years, the town has benefitted from £2 million for the Market Place “refurbishment, ” around half a million to improve listed buildings in the town centre, and a multi-million pound traffic scheme  which is already showing signs of being overwhelmed by the growing number of cars using the roads since it was completed. So we are scarcely “forgotten.”  It is more a case, as Councillor Gilbert has already pointed out that whenever we are given money to spend, we make a sow’s ear rather than a silk purse of the works we undertake.
Two interesting items of heritage news caught our Eye this week.  One was the re-opening of  the Indian Queen’ pub in Dolphin Lane, which has undergone extensive refurbishment to recreate it as it would have been  in Victorian times – and renaming it  the Indian Queen and Three Kings.  There will be no pool tables, television, jukeboxes or fruit machines, but Victorian style pub games instead. Well done to local brewery Batemans for such a good idea, and let’s hope that others will follow suit.  By comparison, Boston planning councillors have been recommended to refuse an application for a cash machine and illuminated signs at the Halifax building society in the Market Place. Among the reasons given are that the property is a listed building in the Boston Conservation Area and within the setting of other listed buildings. A report continues: “The signs have no respect for the historic character of the façade and will, if allowed, seriously compromise the listed status of the building, thereby undermining the amenity of the area.” The proposed advertisements are apparently contrary to policies which “collectively seek to resist proposals which are damaging to the appearance of a listed building and harm the character of an area.” 


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We don’t know about you, but we think that our clumsy attempt at a panorama (above) shows that such great damage has already been inflicted on the area that  a couple more signs and an ATM will make little if any difference to the “ambience.” Perhaps the idea is to atone for the large number of ancient and historic buildings that the council allowed to be demolished some fifty or more years ago – among them the Red Lion coaching inn that stood on Strait Bargate from the Middle Ages until it was demolished to make room for a branch of F W Woolworth. And of course the ancient Falcon pub which was trashed to make room for an Argos store.
Our mention of the Geoff Moulder Leisure Centre yesterday reminded us of the fanfare when solar panels were attached to the roof earlier this year – with much hooting about the  money that would be saved on electricity as a result. However, as far as we can tell, the bills are running at much the same level as they have for years. Is Boston especially overcast, do you think?
There are times when it becomes very difficult to decide where the truth of a matter lies. Earlier this year, during the Task and Finish group “evidence” taking sessions concerning the impact of inward migration to Boston, the police were at great pains to play down claims that there was any great problem caused by drinking in public areas such as around the Ingram Memorial. The minutes – in March this year – reported: “The police have been slow to publicise their successes; there has been a steady decline in incidents since the Designated Public Places Order was introduced, with fewer than one call a day.” How does this jibe with reports that in October,  a “crackdown” on street drinking in  saw five arrests, people moved on more than 50 times and alcohol seized 32 times?
A similar problem presents itself this week with news of the population figures for Boston based on last year’s census. At its evidence taking session in June, Boston Borough Council dredged up retired Professor Gary Craig, an expert on social justice and slavery.   At the time, a senior council officer said of Professor Craig: “He will be able to answer with authority, backed by research and fact." And so he did. Among the “facts” provided was that in the working age population, migrant workers in Boston accounted for 4% or more - which is 5,000-6,000.   “I’ve done research that looks at the facts.”



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Although the figures released this week (see above) are not specifically about the working population, they are, however, heavily at odds with the good professor – showing as they do that Boston ranks  14th  in the  top 20 local or unitary authorities list of  population growth  caused by people born abroad by with a population surge  from 55,800 in 2001 to 64,600 last year – an  increase of 15.80%. The also show that Boston has the largest number of non-British EU passport holders outside of London – with 12.1% of Boston residents holding such passports. The Lincolnshire average was 3.5%.

We’re keeping our fingers crossed for better luck this time with the news of Boston Business “Improvement” District’s latest attempt to promote Boston outside the area. A note on the group’s Facebook page says that there is still time to advertise in the 2013 “Discover Boston” guide – which will be ready next month and will be distributed  “around the A1 corridor. The BID’s efforts at promotion have been pretty drab and often inaccurate so far. And quite what “the A1 corridor” comprises is a little vague – but research suggests that it could be anywhere between  Stevenage and Gateshead. We note that the BID is employing a Lincoln-based media consultancy to do the job. Surely, there was someone in Boston who might have done it?
Still with Boston BID – and back in September, we heard that the way the BID conducts its business with members was set to change “dramatically” with the introduction of bi-monthly drop-in sessions at larger stores in the town. The idea followed disappointing turnouts at many meetings – which included appearances by the directors themselves … and meetings were not been quorate on several occasions. When the news was given out, BID chairman Alan Ellis said that he did not know when the first event would be. Apparently, he still doesn’t – as  nothing further has been announced!
Meanwhile, as the BID blunders along, a rival organisation in Market Rasen seems to be going from strength to strength.  The town’s MR BIG organisation –   the acronym stands for Market Rasen Business Improvement District – won £100,000 from the Portas Pilot scheme with an imaginative bid that was everything that the one from Boston BID  wasn’t. Now it’s applying for a further £70,000 from the £1 million Future High Street X-Fund to sustain its work.
Regular readers will recall our frustrating attempts to take out a subscription to the Boston Standard, and save a few pence after its appalling price rise a few weeks ago. After considerable to-ing and fro-ing, we eventually received our vouchers – only to find that in the self-same week that we began using them the Standard was giving away a month’s worth of cut-price coupons which made our first  month’s subscription almost worthless. We complained – and after a patronising attempt to make us think that nothing was amiss, Johnston Press decided to do the decent thing and refund our first month’s vouchers costs. It may only be a couple of quid, but it’s better off in our pocket than in theirs. If you feel similarly roughed-up, why not have a go yourself?

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And still with newspapers – in days gone by typesetters were renowned for their skill at reading the mirror image of the words that had been set in hot metal … and now it seems that  the Standard would like you to see how difficult it was  … (see picture on the right.)
Did  you see the security guard’s cap badge? Have you spotted the wording on the packages? Oh,  for those good old days when newspapers were not only written, but sub-edited and proof-read in the same building rather than fifty miles away!
A couple of entries too late for last Friday’s feature …   One reader wrote to say “What a wonderful photo of Councillor Yvonne Gunter in the Standard (“Queen gives approval” Page 7.)  Poor old Kevin, having been instructed to write to the Queen and receiving a Royal reply, he could not stitch together enough rabbit skins to have his photo taken. To avoid confusion I think her Majesty is the one in the book.” A second – and far more irreverent comment – came from an occasional contributor, Bill Boston, who has animated last week’s photo of the fur-clad Councillor Gunter … and given her a voice. You can find it by clicking here  and selecting  “Our Reply by her MAD-Jest-Tea Cllr V Gunter !” Just make sure that you are not drinking your morning cuppa at the time!

This is the last  week ending of 2012, as next week we go into our  traditional lighter-hearted Christmas mode. Look out for some gift ideas from the Boston Eye catalogue of Christmas novelties – inspired by Boston Borough Council!

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