A year ago Boston Market Place was a vast and dull expanse of grey stone setts with the odd pit  here and there as “renovation” work went on.  

This last weekend, Boston Market Place was a vast and dull expanse of grey setts with some stalls on it.
The difference?
The weekend saw the much trumpeted three-day Christmas Market – allegedly a feast of entertainment – but one which left us … like Oliver Twist … asking for more.
We visited on Friday and Saturday,  and came away with the feeling that once again, Boston – whilst it tries hard, could do better.
Certainly on Friday morning the Market Place looked a mess, with vehicles parked haphazardly, and no clear pathway around some of the craft stalls.
There was no need for this, as a cast of thousands wearing ponchos declaring themselves Boston Business “Improvement” District event officials could and should have taken it upon themselves to get things in order
What was most sorely lacking was a festive feel .
Just one Market Place shop displayed a Christmas tree – and what lights there were in the area were few and far between.
Not only that, but – despite being told that almost 80 traders had booked craft stalls – one visitor who counted them noted less than half that number.
And the definitions of “craft” were also widely interpreted, as a number of stalls were selling food, and a couple were regulars from the Wednesday and Saturday markets.
This was supposed to be a team effort, under the umbrella of Boston BID – but somehow a different image emerged on the day.
BBC TV’s Look North was there to cover the event, and gave the credit to just one man.
“The Market Place now looks very different, but that’s all changed thanks to one man and a group of local businesses …
The market had been organised “thanks to the determination of one man …”
Step forward Alan Ellis – Boston BID chairman …
“I went to Boston Borough Council to see if we could have a switch on. They said they couldn’t afford to do one.
“I said ‘what about the Christmas Market’ and they said they couldn’t afford to do one of them this year.
“So I said if Boston BID organise it, could we do one?  So from one crazy idea of actually doing just a switch on, we developed a three-day event.
The nearest to giving wider credit was to say that “the events have been funded by a group of local businesses because in recent years the Christmas spirit has been lacking in the town.”
Mr Ellis’s TV performance provoked an angry reaction from local businessman and former BID director Darron Abbott, who sent a highly critical e-mail to Mr Ellis copied to – among others –  Look North presenter Peter Levy, Boston town centre supremo Councillor Derek (mind how you park) Richmond and council officers.
In it, he reminded Mr Ellis of planning meetings in March and April when a group was set up to organise the Christmas market, and claimed that he subsequently insisted on chairing the meetings.
“I believe Boston Borough Council has helped you a lot regarding the publicity of the event and the event plans and health and safety.
“In the minutes from the October meeting it is noted that Boston Borough Council contributed to the cost of advertising on Lincs FM. They have also used the council staff to put up the stalls …
“Whilst I am not always a fan of Boston Borough Council I did find your comments insulting when you suggested they had not helped in any way.
“You seemed to take full credit for the event; you did not even acknowledge the donkey work of Niall Armstrong (the BID manager) – this was an insult to the man I assumed did a lot to ensure things happened.”
Whilst we are also not great fans of some aspects of Boston Borough Council – well, the leadership, then –   the fact remains that it has provided considerable publicity for the event and waived parking charges last Friday night.
Then there is the matter of the lights.
Last year, Boston Borough Council agreed to contribute £25,000 a year for the full five years of the Christmas lighting contract, with Boston BID contributing £20,000 –  £10,000 for last year and the same again this year.
The budget for all of this is almost a separate study.
Boston BID allocated £5,000 for the Christmas market from the compulsory levy forced on any business unlucky to operate in the area it has defined as being within its territory.
Yet even that was not enough.
At the last minute –   due to the tight nature of the budget –   it was suggested that a second pipe band appearance on Sunday be cancelled … and only a whip round among the directors raised enough to retain the attraction.
So, this year’s Christmas Market has cost levy payers £5,000 plus £10,000 towards the lights.
“Then there is the time put in by the BID’s £30,000 a year manager – which cannot be inconsiderable.
The whole idea of Boston BID is to promote the town across a wide area – to attract new businesses and support those who are already here.
The three-day Christmas event will undoubtedly be declared a galloping success –   but at what cost … what value for money?
It may well be that the bottom line of this event could be as much as £30,000.
But what about the year-round efforts to promote the town?
Boston BID faces a crucial year ahead. Having failed spectacularly to keep many of the promises it has  made, it is hoping that local businesses will vote for its continuation for a further five years at the end of 2013.
Regardless, today sees many “levy payers” summonsed to court by Boston Borough Council  (the BID agent) for refusing to pay these infamous charges – which for at least one defendant  will be hard to oppose … because he has been dead for seven years!
Happy New Year

 

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