"Typical attempt to inject false readings into bus poll"

We hope that you are all calm again after yesterday's sideslapping seasonal entry ... now it's back down to business.
Our piece on Tuesday about the ongoing manipulation of the survey to gauge opinion to help decide the future of the Into Town bus service generated an interesting reply.
Councillor Brian Rush, of the Better Boston Group, says: "It seems to me that this BBI/LCC initiative is being foisted on the people of Boston despite protests, and public condemnation, of the needless invasion of Strait Bargate.
"Your observation regarding hand delivered questionnaires is not surprising. This is a typical but not unusual attempt by these councillors to inject 'false readings in everything they do' so as to deceive the public into believing that the project is more popular than it is - they are always claiming other agencies projects as their own ... the barrage, water link, etc.
"I questioned the professionalism of the Norwich company that had charged with the task of information gathering, I was assured that 'this is what they did.'
"I however expressed doubt that any 'company worth their salt, that operated in this field', must be aware that there should be very little effort and no expense incurred by respondents in order to collate a widespread result of public opinion, thereby returning a valid borough wide consensus. It seems to me that this was not the point of the excercise. I wonder why."
One has to note that the 'town wards' are the beneficiaries of the service, so a vested interest might be considered. I wonder if any off route and rural wards were given the same consideration?
"I recently asked a simple enough question of Richard Austin in full council, as to whether there was an alternative route for the buses, if for some reason the present 'invasion route' proved inappropriate? He refused to enlighten me; he said he was not prepared to speculate until the results of the trial were known. (In other words He Has No Idea!)
"So this suggests to me that your opinion is correct, there is no alternative!
Because in fact this is not an experiment, this is IT, and to hell with public opinion, peace and safety!"
But we do have the forthcoming County Council Elections in June, when we can expect the same councillors standing, so here is an opportunity to put them in their place.
"Can they realistically expect to be trusted again as a voice for Boston. I think not!
"The Into Town service is unique; it is over and above the nationwide concessionary travel scheme - but with this comes some considerations. It must be paid for by the borough, so this is an extra burden on already scarce funding.
"We must consider the implications of the costs of the service increasing with popularity, and it will.
"We all need to be aware also, that not all residents can access the service, even on expansion, but all residents have to pay - through their council tax."Even the £1 fare payers are paying twice through council tax."Fare payers have no guarantee of travel either, if a bus is full of concession passengers it's full ..."
But remember, we were told in the beginning that the service HAD TO BE VIABLE!!!!
"With this in mind it will be interesting to see what this cost will climb to next year, and the year after, but at least we will finally get to see the end of the Boston Bystanders.
"So life's not so bad,
"But what will their legacy to Boston be!!!!"
So as we said, this is not an exclusive County Council organised "poll" of opinion. The grubby fingers of the BBI are again in the pie ... doubtless to pull out the plum that has the sweetest answer for their purposes.
Don't they just give you the pip!!

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