Deja phew!

 past  comes back to taunt us …

Strap on your seatbelts for a trip back in time …

Remember this?

Well in the way of all good fairy stories we'll begin by saying ...

Once upon a time ...

That was the big news eleven years ago.

Then ten years ago – almost to the day – came the news … 

As if to mark the anniversary, Worst Street last week announced ...

“The new leader of the ruling group on Boston Borough Council has revealed his vision for the town – a massive redevelopment project to dramatically improve fortunes and perceptions.

The draft proposals will form a joint public and private partnership plan to redesign and redevelop an area between the railway station and the river, north of West Street …

“Councillor Spencer said: ‘It will be a comprehensive and complex project over many years – perhaps as many as 15 – and involving many partners and is a long-sighted vision for the future prosperity of our town. …’

“Project partners already include Lincolnshire County Council and health partners. Proposals include moving the bus and coach park to the current Staniland car park, all-new development of retail units, a hotel, housing and car parking, a major health and wellbeing hub and a green corridor linking the station and the new centre with the rest of town. It is likely that only the former Jobcentre building near St Botolph’s footbridge will be repurposed.”

He added that: “The scheme in total will completely revitalise this large area of the town.”

It could almost be a copy and paste from eleven years ago – although Councillor Spencer was probably too young to remember it the first time around.

County Hall and “health partners” are already said to be on-side.

They would be.

Lincolnshire County Council stands to make a profit from selling off two car parks for redevelopment and the “health partners” sound to be getting something for nothing.

And is Worst Street really sure that relocating the bus station to the Stanliand car park is such a good idea?

And where will the private investment come from?

We’re still awaiting the arrival of the £3 million 168-berth Gosling Marina on land in the Fenside area which was enthusiastically approved by Worst Street four years ago.

At the time, former leader Peter Bedford was quoted as saying: “Obviously we hope the marina will give the town a much-needed boost and regenerate the waterfront.

“When it is built, it should bring millions to the town, push up property prices and get people coming to Boston – it is a very exciting prospect.”

And where are we with plans to build 16 shops and 15 residential apartments on the car park site near the Centenary Methodist Church between Wide Bargate and Red Lion Street?

Meanwhile, the in-town Lidl – which according to the signs on the hoardings is set to open 'soon' – remains a razed site.

And let's not forget that a year from now, Boston United is supposed to be playing at its new stadium at the Quadrant – easily found by looking for the fast food shops being built in anticipation.

***

It always seems to be jam tomorrow where Worst Street is concerned and we find it disappointing that our latest leader should join the ranks of those making such promises so soon

Or, rather than jam tomorrow, do we mean ...

News just in …

The Worst Street announcement said that a bid for finance had been lodged with the Government’s £675 million Future High Streets Fund – but last Friday saw the government announce the 50 applicants who will  receive up to £150,000 to work up detailed project proposals based on their initial plans – and Boston was not among them.

How this bodes for the chances of another bid being worked on – to the £1.6 billion Stronger Towns Fund – is anyone’s guess, but it might be a good idea to go back to the drawing board and ‘repurpose’ the bid currently under construction.

  

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