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.

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The question about parking is an important one – and one that we know is a cause of concern to a number of our readers.

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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.”

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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.”

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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.

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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.

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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.”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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 19^th 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.”

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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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