Deputy's argument defeats council's claims on bus service

Time for some catching up after the elections dominated our blog over the past few days.
The war of words over the use of Strait Bargate as a rat run for the Into Town bus service took on a new combatant in the shape of deputy BBI leader Councillor Peter Jordan.
In a letter to the Boston Standard, he declared the service "a spectacular success" used by about 24,000 people every month.
Ever quick on the uptake, he goes on to declare that the controversial matter is that it runs through Strait Bargate.
He trumpets the county council commissioned survey of public opinion by a "professional" company which was the "only official, valid opinion poll that has been carried out." Councillor Jordan goes on to say that the poll showed that 71% of the Boston public "were either prepared to accept buses travelling through the precinct in view of the benefits or had no view. Only 29% were against."
This is where we think his argument is drifting off course.
The question in the survey did not ask whether people were prepared to accept buses travelling through the precinct "in view of the benefits."
In fact the wording of the questionnaire posed a slightly different question.
It asked: "Overall, do you think the benefits of buses using Strait Bargate to provide a cross town facility outweigh the disbenefits?"
It is possible to answer "yes" to this without approving the route taken by the buses.
People might, for instance say "yes" because they feel that the service might not run to time as well unless it wrecks the ambiance of the town's most prominent shopping street.
Councillor Jordan goes on to slate the survey run by the Better Boston Group.
"Opinion polls must be carried out by trained, qualified pollsters who know which questions to ask and, equally important, how to ask them. Secondly, they must be carried out by independent impartial bodies."
The question asked in the case of the BBG poll was quite simple - do you believe that the Into Town bus service should travel through Strait Bargate? YES or No?
This question was asked of more people than the "professional" poll and produced a resounding vote against the service using the precinct.
Amusingly, Councillor Jordan hoists himself on his own thingy as his letter draws to a conclusion. "A very high percentage of the 24,000 passengers monthly are people on low fixed income and cannot afford cars or taxis, people who can't or won't
drive, are elderly or have handicaps. This service is really helping these people."
What happened to the argument that this service was going to take cars off the roads and reduce traffic congestion?
The admission by Councillor Jordan confirms what we have argued all along - that the service is mainly used by people who wouldn't be using a car if it didn't exist in any case. Not only that, but the bulk of the passengers are travelling free ... using bus passes and contributing not a single penny to the coffers.
In a final burst of his well-loved arrogance, Councillor Jordan asks: "Why is the Better Boston Group voting against the continuation of the traffic order in a recorded vote at the last Boston Borough Council meeting when the service is clearly better for Boston Borough Council?"
The answer to the question concerning the opposition vote is glaringly obvious. People do not want duses driving through Strait Bargate.
The claim that "the service is clearly better for Boston Borough Council?" encapsulates the BBI attitude to the voters.
We don't care if it's no good for you, the voters - it's what WE want ... so stick that in your pipe and smoke it!

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