Week ending 2nd July

Our Friday miscellany of the week's news and events
Lies, damn lies and statistics ... So at a stroke, Boston is no longer flabby and unfit. Figures from Sport England show that participation in sport rose from 14.6 per cent in 2005/6 to 21.4 per cent now – a rise of 6.8 per cent. Despite the fact that Sport England say that figures like these are the result of their efforts, the borough's portfolio holder for sport, Councillor Richard Dungworth, is quick to claim credit, saying the figures help confirm that Boston Borough Council’s strategy for sport and healthy lifestyles is helping promote an increase in well-being in the borough. Two "helps" in the same sentence suggest some distance from the action. We're always sceptical about figures like these. A six percent increase is less impressive when one notes that it has taken place over four years - and it would also be interesting to hear what the actual numbers are. If two people take up pogo stick jumping where only one did previously, that's a £100% increase.
Question time ...The debate continues into the rights and wrongs of writing off almost £2 million of taxpayers' money thrown at the Princess Royal Sports Arena. Letters to the local papers are tending to the view that it's time to put the whole debacle behind us and forget it ever happened. Perhaps one day we might- but certainly not until after a full, penetrating and official enquiry into the whole mess that will clarify once and for all where responsibility lay for the disastrous decisions taken - rather than the vague pointing of fingers that it currently going on.
Free for none ... The decline in quality of our local papers continues apace. A handout from Boston Borough Council concerning a Festival of British Archaeology exhibition at the Guildhall is slavishly reproduced almost word for word, and gives the impression that it is free to visit. The crucial line omitted from the borough press release reads: "Normal admission fees apply." Expect a few angry visitors.
Promises, promises ... Earlier this week we noted that "work" of some sort appears to have begun at the so-called "Hub" in the former Sketchleys and Card Fair stores in Strait Bargate - almost two months to the day since we were told it would begin. Not only that, but the pledge from the lacklustre Boston BID, which for some reason seems to be co-ordinating the project, was that it would be open by the end of June - that's last Wednesday to you and us. At this rate the year's lease will be up by the time the place opens. And where are the window stickers that were due to brighten the town's growing army of empty shops. A few backsides need kicking, we thinks.
Up to his old tricks? ... The other week we took the Council Leader Richard Austin to task for pinching large chunks of an article by the Interim Chief Executive in a previous Boston Bulletin and submitting them as his own work in a letter to the local papers. Now we note he's apparently at it again. An article in the latest bulletin, which came out on Wednesday, entitled "The Boston Experience" appears under the leader's by-line. Could it be the same piece written by a member of staff that we criticised back in April for the invention of a place called "Waterland" and the use of the word "Mayfair" for May Fair. Oh, yes it could!
Over-egging the pudding ... Whilst we all need to take precautions to avoid becoming victims of crime, we feel that too much publicity can lead people worry unnecessarily. Everywhere we turn at the moment we see pictures of transparent cars, ninnies posing as Batman and Robin, and the orange clad council Tango Team (why?) warning us to secure our cars and sheds, and swelter behind closed doors and windows in the hottest summer for years. It's claimed that people now fear crime far more than they are likely to fall victim to it. There's a delicate balance to be struck here, and we feel that it is tipping the wrong way.

Sneak preview ... Coming up on Monday, how shrewd political manoeuvring has made it possible for the borough council's political Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson to enjoy a buckshee trip to Bournemouth ...

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