View down the years sees both sides of immigration debate...

Monday’s blog on the immigration debate saw several readers posting comments on Boston Eye.
Among them was a local businessman whose contribution was too long for the comment section, but who  - with three generations of family in the town - has much to say on the subject, which is why we are publishing his comments in full today.
Julian R Thompson, proprietor of JES Electrical, who has worked in Boston for almost 40 years, has raised a number of points which it seems that the great and the good of the borough seem content to disregard.
“I am a senior Bostonian,  who used to be proud of my town and paid all of my dues, but over recent years  feels that our town has lost its identity,” he writes.
“I would have moved to Poland if I wanted this in my life. I no longer feel that I belong here due to the heavy influx of migrants.
“It is not their fault, and not a racist slur.
“If I were in their position, I would probably do the same and go to ‘a land flowing with milk and honey.’
“There are too many off-licences selling alcohol, fuelling antisocial behaviour - and some have been found selling rocket fuel drink from the distillery in Broadfield Lane.
“This has made policing the town centre very difficult. In my opinion, the DPPO (Designated Public Place Orders which give police officers discretionary powers to require a person to stop drinking and confiscate alcohol) should cover all of the town, as it can be very intimidating when groups of people become anti-social due to alcohol.
“Personally I do not see the need to consume a can or bottle of alcohol in town, although both local lads and migrants are guilty of this.
“Boston police have said that they would like to have the amount of businesses selling alcohol limited, which is down to our council, who have the powers to implement it – and other towns have implemented orders to make it happen. It has been brought to Boston Borough Council’s attention, and they are asking their legal team to investigate this.
“The government have been aware of - and turned a blind eye to  - our plight of now being over populated. David Cameron attempted to seize control of the political minefield of immigration in 2007, but it appears that we are still waiting for change - political massaging in my opinion.
“My grandchildren are now suffering in their education as resources are over-stretched in schools with comparatively very little extra funding. Teachers’ jobs are made difficult adjusting to children with English as their second language. I live near Park School, and I have been asked on several occasions for directions to “the Polish school.”
My daughter has worked in the school with children in the past and complained of the lack of funding, although I am not aware of the current situation.
“Last year, 96 children without English unexpectedly joined Boston primary schools, which had 85 already - and some children have suffered lack of education due to resources being depleted by a heavy influx of migrant children.
“As for locals gaining employment in packhouses, they now have to read a foreign language to apply for work - as there are at least five labour masters advertising for work in their windows in several languages ... but  not English.
“Perhaps these so called 'lazy people' should take a degree in language before they start agricultural work.
“I have also noticed that often when property is to let, advertising boards display several flags, but not a British one - either St George or the Union Jack. Is there a hidden message here?
“The migrants have had a raw deal working for unscrupulous gangmasters.
“A relative was  a wages clerk for such some years ago, when locals and migrants worked together, which is a rare occurrence these days.
“I feel that we have been pushed aside, in favour of migrants. Where did Gordon Brown’s quote “British jobs for British people” end up? British politics at its worst,
“I remember the press and media saying that foreign workers were being paid the minimum wage, and that all was fair.
“Not at all, they were being gang-master taxed at source, with exorbitant charges for transport to work, protective clothing and ppe (personal protective equipment) which an employer should provide. None of the British workers were similarly charged.
"There are also exorbitant charges for living accommodation. I have witnessed HMOs (houses in multiple occupation) with hot bedding for shift workers and sub-letting at £250 a week to gangmasters but realising healthy profits of over £1,200 a week plus - all living in fear of losing their jobs, and becoming homeless at the hands of their employers. How demoralising is that?
“Set aside their tendency to being hard workers, it is also shows the ease with which they can be exploited that makes them attractive to employ.
“Our forefathers spent years working for equal rights, pay and regular holidays for this country.
“For a majority of land workers this has been lost to the migrants - because they are prepared to work bank holidays and double shifts at mainly flat labour rates.
“It makes for a difficult working environment when mixed races try to work together - not for all, but in general.
“In my opinion one of the keys to harmonisation is integration in the community – which is not likely when Russian-Polish relations and our prejudices all conflict.
“When the question of integration was put to the police at a recent meeting, an officer replied: ‘I have been trying to bring together shops and businesses in the High Street for several years. If the Russians and Polish will not sit in a room together, there is very little chance of them attending a meeting and working with us”
“Boston has witnessed migrants feuding amongst themselves, involving knife crime. I once worked in a Skegness hotel that was overpopulated with Lithuanians, and several rooms contained eight inch lock knives - a cultural problem!
“Unemployment has now created a problem with some youngsters - where they have never worked, and now lack confidence to go out and find work. I do not see this as their fault. Many want work but are unable to obtain it, through no fault of theirs.
“Housing for our youngsters has become unaffordable unless they are prepared to house share, which prolongs the time that they have to spend with parents due to the rising demand for property.
“HMOs are a drain on resources, with ten wheelie bins to empty for one council tax charge - yet our elderly in shared property have to pay individually.
“We need the powers that be to stop guessing at the number of legal eastern European migrants that are here and give us the appropriate funding to meet the drain on our resources.
“It is said that migrants contribute £6 billion  to our economy. If this is the case then percentage wise, Boston should be in for a windfall - considering we have one migrant in six - the largest migrant population outside London. This would benefit all, including the migrant population.
“I do value the positive aspect to having a multi-racial Boston. We have two worlds operating alongside and hopefully together in time, when our children and grandchildren have children of their own.
“I have Polish friends, and eat and drink in the Delight Pub in West Street. There are many more past and present that I have worked for as an electrical contractor. They do feel victimised.
“They have every right to be here as part of the European Community - but not so many so that we are over populated.
“I believe that some of the migrants realise this, and wish others to understand it too. I would also like them to consider how they would react if this were to happen in their home town.”

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