A slightly
different blog today – in that it is largely written by others, with questions
on how ‘free’ Boston’s parking is at the moment, and another incisive
contribution from one of our readers ‘in the know’ which asks some pertinent
questions.
***
The
question about parking is an important one – and one that we know is a cause of
concern to a number of our readers.
***
Their
worries were best summed up in the following e-mail …
“At the
recent full council meeting regarding the alliance between Boston Borough
council and East Lindsey District Council, it was announced that if the merger
was passed then free parking would be introduced in the borough car parks until
the New Year. The alliance was passed
and subsequently free parking was introduced.
“However, it
now seems that the free parking has been limited to just two-and-a-half hours
per day!
“The
notices on the payment machines state that this is so people can enjoy a
shopping experience without paying for parking.
But a walk around the shops and market and lunch in a restaurant could
easily surpass the 2½ hour limit – making the constant clock-watching a less
than pleasurable experience … and certainly not what we were promised.
“And what
happens if you know you are going to need more than the free limit? The machines are not currently issuing
tickets so how do you pay for an extended time without incurring a fine?
“The
notice also states that the machines are about to be changed to accommodate the
new rules.
“‘If’ this
means that you would then be able to only pay for the time over and above the 2½
hours then that is still not the ‘free parking’ that we were promised.
“What if
you have friends visiting for a couple of days; will they need to keep going
back to the machine or will they need to pay for 24-hour parking?
“Still not
the ‘free parking’ that we were promised.
“And if,
like myself and many others, you pay for a monthly resident’s parking permit
then do I need to continue to pay the full rate each month when in fact it
should be reduced to allow for the 70-hours plus per month that it should be
free (2½ hours day)?
“This
smacks of something very underhand that has been sneakily introduced in order
to limit losses on the (rather rash) promise and perhaps to help alleviate
those losses with fines to the unwary who knew nothing of these sudden changes
in the rules.”
***
So, what’s
the situation?
We asked
Town Centre portfolio holder Chelcei Sharman to clarify things for us.
“This is
not right,” she said.
“Free
parking is available all day; you must obtain and display a ticket for 2½ hours
which is free and refresh every 2½ hours, but as long as this happens you can
park for free all day in any of the council car parks.”
***
We’re
grateful to Councillor Sharman for her reply.
However, it
must be said that the way the system works is less than ideal – and we suspect
that the issues faced by people who have bought a parking permit will have to
be brought to the attention of the appropriate Worst Street department for a
verdict.
***
After a
long silence until recently, our contributor Scanner seems to have
to the bit firmly back between his teeth – with another piece that, as always,
doesn’t mince its words…
“Congratulations
Councillor Skinner; you ensured that your alliance scheme (I still think “merger” is more appropriate) was so
skilfully kept secret for eighteen
months and then cleverly dangled the carrot of huge savings, rejected
any public consultations and rushed it through the council, apparently with
full details kept from any possible opposition.
I await any
judicial review with bated breath.
I am no
lawyer, but if it does rely on legal wrongdoings, could it hinge on whether the
judges consider the proposals important enough to need public consultation.
Whether both
councils gave permission for staff to do eighteen months of work in secret with
no interim reports back to any committee on their progress? That is, did both council
leaders act well beyond their powers? Finally, was the haste to carry the
measures through with a timetable that implied an indifference and complete
unconcern for the democratic progress?
I assume any
opposition is too late anyway.
Boston's
Chief Executive has already negotiated a very golden handshake and our new chief
to be will take his place – no doubt with an increased salary, I presume?
I wrote
earlier, and still maintain, that the new post should have been advertised and
the best man for the job is chosen.
Still, if
the Conservatives at county and national level have their way, any scheming by
local Conservatives will be in vain
It seems
that the more power you have the more power hungry you become.
Congratulations,
too, to Lincolnshire County Council and Boston Borough Council. You have
succeeded in diminishing a once-prosperous and thriving town centre into a
haven for banks, charity shops, eateries and coffee shops with few of the
retail businesses remaining and footfall falling.
Our famous
markets, too, are just a shadow of what they were, though many market towns are
succeeding to keep theirs.
The
supermarkets have a weapon that they have used to attract people – FREE PARKING. Not for nothing, as it must
cost. But they know it is so important, especially in such a rural area. I
understand that they have even increased the parking time at present because of
having to queue.
What do we
get in our main parking area? Small areas of short-term parking that is
relatively expensive and a large area that is completely empty most of the time
except for a few cafe tables.
Where are
all these events that needed such a large space every day of the year? That was the reason given at the time for why
the space had to be cleared – events that never materialised, but wasted the
spending of millions of pounds. There is also lovely trap for the unwary
motorists who fail to see the signs along the yellow lines obscured by cars
parked near the bollards.
This, it
seems, is part of the road and has to be kept clear. Manna from heaven for the
County Council! I won't comment on the short-lived free parking that was
promised until Christmas if the merger with East Lindsey went ahead.
I'm sure
evening parking charges have done little to help “The Night Time Economy”,
either.
Come on you county
councillors, why not use the space within the bollards to provide FREE ONE HOUR
PARKING?
All is
needed is a ticket machine that uses the vehicle registration number and the
time of issue to regulate use, make the disabled spaces free for two hours and
the rest of the parking times kept to a maximum of two hours.
Total cost?
A new machine, new car space markings, and a little more supervision.
I don't
suppose our local county councillors come into the town centre anyway. I'm
writing this as news has just broken about the closure of Oldrids and the
former Marks and Spencer’s will be another charity shop!
My case
rests.
***
Talking of
local councillors, I ask Councillors Viven Edge and Neill Hastie - both of whom
represent Witham Ward – ‘are you too busy fighting battles in Worst Street to
pay attention to what is being inflicted on some of your residents in Robin
Hood’s Walk?’
It’s a pity
more councillors don't live in the areas they are supposed to serve. But that's
another story.
They may
remember that, several ago, after two years of opposition by residents on
planning grounds and site access, planning permission was finally given to a back-garden
development of eight houses behind a row of houses in Robin Hood’s Walk. It
also meant ‘demolishing’ garages that are really needed in that area. The
garages are still standing, though I don't know if they are empty.
The site has
just become a messy builder’s yard with only a half-hearted attempt to put in
house footings. Last year the owner was,
I'm told, warned by the Environment Agency about the burning of rubbish on this
site. This warning seems to have been in vain because I saw that the fire
brigade reported that they attended a large fire on this site that threatened
to get out of control.
This is just
one of the fires that have occurred on this site over the past few months.
Objects such as plastic bags, possibly tyres and other rubbish, even a drum kit
have been burned.
Residents
have been unable to open windows the next day on some occasions because of the
stink.
Whoever is
lighting these fires. surely the owner is responsible for ensuring these
illegal acts don't happen. Apparently, the Environment Agency are considering
another letter – a paper slap on the wrist seems to be considered enough
punishment!
I don't know
if the local council health department is even aware of the problem. Come on,
Councillors Edge and Hastie!
It won't be
long before you are begging for votes. I'm sure the residents would really
appreciate your support, once more, to stop this illegal burning and the
problem they are facing.”
***
Do you
have an issue that your local councillor seems to have lost sight of?
If so,
drop us a line at Boston Eye – and we’ll do our best to give it an
airing.
***
Scanner mentions the Oldrids closure – and
we were sorry to read and hear the usual worn-out platitudes from Worst Street
and Clownty Hall when the news was announced.
Blaming
the move away from High Street shopping in favour of the internet is all well
and good, but the issues to be faced now are – most importantly – finding
employment for those who have lost their jobs, and also addressing the issue of
how to fill the empty spaces that disfigure our shopping area like missing
teeth.
***
It’s
impossible not to remark on the news that our newly acquired Chief Executive
has been forced to apologise for ‘sexist’ posts on his Facebook page six
years ago.
How
patient someone must have been to trawl back thorough the last 2,200 days to
unearth this and ensure that it reached the public domain.
Whilst
most people seem willing to let sleeping dogs lie, one of our independent
councillors plans to keep the pot boiling.
***
According
to reports, Councillor Anne Dorrian – clearly a highly sensitive person – was
said to be planning to file a formal complaint calling for a “full independent
investigation” and for Mr Barlow to “be suspended with immediate effect”.
Of the Facebook
comments she was quoted thus: “They’re enormously sexist, misogynistic and
damaging to women.
“I was offended
to my very core. These dreadful sentiments have been there for all to see
for over five years, during which time, the entire world has had an awakening
as a result of the ‘Me Too’ movement.
“What does
that say about him, that he chose to leave those demeaning comments on such a
public platform and ignore what was going on around him?
“Mr Barlow
holds the most senior position in our council and has power and control over
the working lives of hundreds of women – some of whom will have experienced
severe trauma – what on earth are they to think about how he perceives them?”
Where
would we be without councillors such as Ms Dorrian?
***
Speaking
of the Manby merger, one question that remains unanswered is that of the “judicial
review” threatened by independent councillors.
When we published
the open letter to the taxpayers on Sunday 19th saying that time was needed to debate the
already-approved and operational alliance, Councillor Richard Austin told us: “We
are having a meeting early this week to
discuss the judicial review and to check whether or not the conditions that
have been requested have been complied with.”
***
Well. Did they?
And have
they?
The issue
is either so important that action needs taking, or is isn’t.
What we don’t
need are more unanswered questions.
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