Over the weekend, we have reported claims that the Boston Beat free concert in the town’s Central Park has been cancelled by Boston BID and Boston Borough Council because of “the weather.”
Here, former BID director Darron Abbott gives his view of the weekend’s developments.
“What a shame the event has been cancelled - or has it been postponed again? Just as the publicity machine had kicked in, and posters had just started to appear in shop windows advertising the event on Friday.
“I have to ask whether the event has really been cancelled? Upon checking the BID website on Saturday morning, there was no mention of it being called off. Surely this would have been the first place the BID manager would have posted the announcement -  but then as Boston Eye regularly points out, Boston still has a chance with the Portas Pilot.
“Let’s just hope it does not take as long to get the word out to take the posters down as it did to let people know that the event was taking place.
“The weather has been blamed for the cancellation. Yes, it has been wet and the weather forecasts predict more rain, but I can remember the last party in the Party in the Park where it was equally wet, when the stage and toilets were removed from the park, large ruts were left by the vehicles but the event had still gone on. The May Fair has also used the park and left it in a real mess but been allowed back next year.
"I have been to open air concerts, and falling rain seems to add something to the atmosphere and Great British Spirit.
"Perhaps it is not just the fact that precipitation may fall on the day that may be a problem. Are there fears over the insurance cover? There is some concern regarding the applications for licences. If the event went ahead and it turns out the application deadlines had not been met, therefore correct consideration could not be given to health and safety issues - who would be liable for any accidents? "Perhaps the Council and BID could clarify this?
“Then comes the question of money. The BID manager has paid a company from Grantham £10,000 to stage the event. This payment does not appear to have been authorised by the Board of Directors. "At the members meeting on the 10th July there seemed a considerable amount of vagueness surrounding the contents of the contract.
“I am sure the nine performers will want some kind of payment for the cancellation. From the contracts I have seen for my entertainer clients they get a percentage of the fee which gets larger the closer to the event the cancellation takes place. I can only assume the stage has been booked, the PA system hired, and portaloos arranged. Many of these items will have had to have had a deposit paid upon them - mostly non refundable. Will these losses be covered by event cancellation insurance (of course the ever diligent BID will have put this in place) if not, who will suffer these losses? Will it be Infodex Events or Boston BID?
“I know for a fact that BID will be out of pocket for the promotion of the event, because it appears that Infodex were not responsible for this. It may only be a few hundred pounds, but this is money coming out of the levy payers’ pockets - not the managers, the directors or Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce who run BID funds.
“I do hope the powers at Boston BID come out with answers very quickly and let their members know what has really gone on, but from my past experiences I will not be holding my breath (as much as the Manager and the Directors wished I would.)     

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