Independendent candidate Stuart Ashton won yesterday's election for a seat on Boston Borough Council's Frampton and Holme ward. The full results were:

Stuart Ashton (Independent) 204 = 39.2%
Maggie Peberdy (Independent) 139 = 26.7%
Claire Rylot (Cons) 126 = 24.2%
Sue Ransome UKIP 32 = 6.1%
Mike Sheridan-Shinn (Lab) 19 = 3.6%

Last week’s Boston Standard came wrapped in a cover telling us all about the new look paper  (pictured left) and a generous subscription offer that would save 28p a copy.
What wasn’t mentioned anywhere was that the new look would coincide with a price hike of 15 pence a week – a rise of thirty per-cent.  Editor Stephen Stray told Boston Eye that the Standard has previously gone “a considerable length of time” without a cover price increase, and that the fantastic subscription offer of 37p a copy was exceptional value.  We’ll have more on this next week.
A small victory for common sense and respect for history and tradition was announced this week by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England in its final recommendations for new electoral arrangements for Boston Borough Council. The original proposal would have seen the loss of the Skirbeck ward – apparently suggested by Boston Borough Council. But many people argued to retain it, a number citing the importance of keeping the historic name of the settlement that preceded Boston. Sadly, the Pilgrim Ward has not been so lucky, although we would have thought it worth keeping for the same historic connection which so many companies and organisations around the town have adopted.
Our disappointment at the news that Boston’s Conservation area has been named as being at risk and deteriorating has not been echoed by Boston Borough Council. A local newspaper report quotes the council’s head of planning and strategy as saying that the town centre is on the list because it was mentioned last year, and remains so because “all works and initiatives are on-going.” What works? What initiatives? Since the completion of the Market Place “improvements” all that appears to have happened is that one shop has taken up a share of the £120,000 grant available for improvements this year. The offer period for 2012 is nearly over – but even so there are several hundred thousand pounds on offer for the following four years. This is no time for complacency. We should be driving forward the need to improve the town centre as a matter of urgency. It is already a mess – and getting worse by the day.
At the end of July, we noted reports in the local papers of plans by Boston’s joint deputy leader, Councillor Raymond Singleton-McGuire, to turn the former HSBC bank building next to the White Hart Hotel into a café or restaurant - possibly in time for Christmas. There was even speculation that it might become a Starbuck’s coffee shop. The building had been advertised for rent at £27,500 a year for some while, and Councillor Singleton McGuire was quoted as saying that he regarded it as “very prestigious” and “almost a landmark.”  Now we note that it is back on the market for rent at the same price. So, what went wrong?
Speaking of planning matters, we note the appearance this week of an application by Lincolnshire County Council to replace St Botolph’s footbridge. Originally there were three designs of bridge to vote for, and the  one chosen as most popular a bowstring – pictured on the left in our photo.  It is not one that we liked – we much preferred the more traditional design on the right. Now the Market Place work is over, it strikes us even more forcefully that the right hand design would look better. 
When the designs went out for a four-week “consultation,” only 137 questionnaires were returned, plus some letters and emails regarding the proposals. More than 80% of respondents said that the time required to build the new bridge was very important. And Lo and behold - Lincolnshire County Council says that the preferred design can achieve just that as it can be largely built off site. Fortunately, all is not yet a fait accompi  – and if you have any observations before planning permission is granted, you have until the end of the month to make them.
It is said of buses that you can wait for one for ages, and then three of them arrive at the same time.  A  political equivalent of that occurred yesterday, with the co-incidence of the Frampton and Holme election for a seat on Boston Borough Council, the meeting of the council task and finish group into population change, and the local hustings when there was a chance to hear from and questions the five candidates for Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner. All three of these events were likely to be of interest to our local councillors, and members of the public. What a shame that no forethought was exercised to prevent the public interest being forced to choose which event to attend and which to ignore.
As the top secret sale of Boston’s Assembly Rooms trundles implacably ahead, we hear of a new concern. An e-mail to all of Boston’s 31 councillors reports fears that the Assembly Rooms are being sold to a company with limited liability set up specially to run the establishment. It asks the most sensible question: “Can we be assured that in the event of there being a major fire either during the refurbishment period or during its subsequent use, that the insurance would completely cover the full restoration of the building?”
The answer would be interesting, as Boston Borough Council has an uneven history where insurance is concerned.  The council is the “lay rector” of St Botolph’s - and is thus legally obliged to contribute towards the upkeep of the Chancel.  Once upon a time, it contributed towards the cost of insuring this responsibility – but  withdrew is some years ago. This means that the chancel is no longer protected.  In July, the council had – forgive the pun – to stump up almost £1,200 to refund the cost of repairing a vandalised window in the chancel. Whilst that leaves the council well in pocket, an official at the church told us recently that any local disaster such as flooding or fire could cost the council millions of pounds to put right.
And still on the subject of vandalism … some time ago, we were led to believe that once the  plantings in the Jubilee Fountain in Boston’s Central Park (pictured left) had died off, the fountain would be restored to its former “glory.” Well –   as yesterday’s photo makes clear –   the plants are long dead and gone … but of the fountain, there is no sign. Will it be replaced? Or it is destined to slip into obscurity – despite the promises of leisure and crematorium portfolio holder and dignitary Councillor Yvonne Gunter that Boston “will be one of the few places with a lasting legacy of the day - our magnificent Jubilee Fountain.”  It lasted less than a week – and now it looks as though it has been consigned to Boston Borough Council’s Fen Road waste site.

Earlier this week we mentioned the authorisation of Boston’s Chief Executive to seek quotations and employ appropriate lawyers to draw up leases for the continuing operation of the Princess Royal Sports Arena – which appears to view the council in much the same way as Bonnie and Clyde regarded banks. We also raised concerns that Boston Rugby Football Club – which benefits hugely from the PRSA deal – was well overdue with the submission of its accounts to the Charity Commission, and expressed the hope that someone would raise a concern or two. Gratifyingly, we are told that news of the club’s tardiness was sent to the borough’s chief officers and all councillors on 10^th October. Two councillors have already expressed their concerns, and Chief Executive Richard Harbord has said that the affair will be “looked into.” We are sure that his involvement will be seen as deeply comforting.

Boston may have been relegated from its position as the flood risk capital of the nation – but someone still needs to rattle the cages of the people responsible for ensuring that the town’s drains and sewers are kept functioning properly. Yesterday’s rains resulted in localised flooding beside John Adams Way - pictured on the right.  This is a regular occurrence – and is usually followed by the arrival of BT to pump out its telephone conduits. Could someone among the powers that be please ask those whose neglect forces people to paddle through inches of water to do their job properly?
Finally, in our searches for news about heritage in Boston, we came across this little morsel of delight in a borough council report …

A shrunken  medieval village?  Who would have thought that members of  the Dyak tribe from Borneo could have found their way to Algarkirk all those years ago?

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