It seems that our cloak and dagger leadership at Boston Borough Council has managed to cock up its handling of the sale of the town’s assembly rooms and the knock-on closure of the public toilets in the Market Place – by giving the dates to the local press before telling their fellow councillors.

On Friday, the Boston Standard website reported that notices going up at the toilets were giving the date of closure as 6pm this coming Friday – 16^th November.
As if the notice wasn’t short enough, several councillors were less than happy to read this morsel of news in the local media – rather than enjoying what they considered to be a normal courtesy of hearing about it from someone within the Worst Street walls.
We understand that Council Leader Peter Bedford – never the world’s best communicator – is apparently trying to pull a George Entwistle by claiming to be out of the office when the deed was done and unaware that the dates were being given to the press – whilst intending all along to notify this council colleagues yesterday … three days after the news became public.
At least Mr Entwistle had the good grace to resign when he realised what a mess he had made of matters.
Now, one of the two councillors in whose ward the Assembly Rooms are located, has issued an open letter to the new owners – which is just as well, as her fellow councillor remains silent.
Independent Councillor Carol Taylor says in her letter: “It has been no secret that councillors from opposition parties were prohibited from obtaining the views of the public before the sale went ahead under a cloud of mystery.
“The people of Boston deserved better.
“To lose the Assembly Rooms will be a very sad day indeed, but the plans to renovate them will ease the public's loss of this Grade II  listed building.
“The loss of the public toilets, however, will have a detrimental effect on our local economy –  especially with Christmas festivities planned including the Christmas markets.
“Boston is hoping to attract more shoppers, which is partly why £2 million was spent on the Market Place refurbishment – as yet to prove a success with the public.
“I wish to make an appeal to the new owners of the Assembly Rooms and toilet block and ask them to liaise with the council and keep them open at least until after the Christmas markets and St Botolph’s Christmas fair.
“The toilets also provide footfall for the businesses of Church Street –   whose livelihood will suffer as a consequence of the toilet closure –  but if the facilities could be kept open for these festive events, it would go some way towards a successful Christmas for businesses and shoppers alike.
“Having just five days’ notice of the toilet closure does not give people enough warning and when coaches arrive, the passengers will have to queue for the three toilets in the bus station or walk through town to the other much smaller amenities. “This will not encourage shoppers or visitors.
“Also, on 3^rd December, civil parking enforcement will be introduced in Boston – and woe betide  anyone who parks in the wrong place … they will receive a hefty fine.
“If those people buying the Assembly Rooms and toilets have any consideration for the good people of Boston they will keep these toilets open and help us celebrate what could be a very successful and happy Christmas time for everyone including themselves.
“I urge you on behalf of the public, keep these toilets open ... please.
“Show us you care about Boston.”
We think that Councillor Taylor’s arguments are persuasive – but somehow fear that even if the new owners were willing to liaise with the council to keep the toilets open, Councillor Bedford and his henchpeople would find reasons not to go along with the idea.
The best that the leader has come up with so far is to suggest that the loss of the Assembly Rooms’ public toilets could be offset by using some of the proceeds of the sale on the Cattle Market toilets and “probably” the bus station - which fails to address the fact that there will still be no toilets in the Market Place.
We also note with wry amusement, that news of the completion of the Assembly Rooms sale coincided with the loss of access to planning applications on Boston Borough Council’s website – due to a software upgrade.
This was all due to be back to normal yesterday – but  then an announcement declared  some difficulties with processing applications and viewing the online register … with the hope that “normal service” will be restored “soon.”
Despite the fact that the completion of the Assembly Rooms sale might also be contingent on certain planning permissions, we are sure that this is nothing more than mere coincidence!

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