Week ending 3rd July

Blogging good news of the week. Congratulations to Conservative County Councillor Andrea Jenkyns, who represents Boston North West at County Hall, and who has joined Councillors Raymond Singleton-McGuire and Myles Larrington in setting up a blog. You can read it at http://andreajenkyns.blogspot.com/ . Councillor Jenkyns also has a website at http://www.andreajenkyns.com/. We hope that many more councillors will follow the examples being set. County councillors have a particularly important role to play here, as it is harder for electors to follow what goes on at Lincoln than it is at Boston. Having said that doesn't let local councillors off the hook, and we hope to see improved communication in the not too distant future. Meanwhile, the clock on the BBI's blog remains stopped at Tuesday, 29 May 2007 - and still with the original line up of councillors - which we think says quite a lot about the party, doesn't it? Former party members might not like to see their names still up in lights in this way!
Quote of the week comes after the decision to use the Cuckoo Land site at Wyberton as allotments. According to Councillor "Helicopter" Jim Blaylock: "Growing your own is being encouraged nationally and demand is rising. There's never been a better time to grow your own - it helps keep you fit and healthy you get great produce and it saves you money. The council has a duty to provide allotment land .... "
Obvious question of the week ... if the above is the case, why are once well-used and productive allotment sites at Broadfield Lane (which were designated as such just after the First World War) now producing nothing but weeds? Answer: the allotment holders were evicted by the borough council so that a minor local charity could cash in on selling the site to Longhurst Homes, who now seem to have gone very cool on the idea. The reason could be that no-one is currently building much in the way of new housing, and also that Boston Mayflower fancied putting in a bid for the land, which means that Boston Municipal Charities became even greedier. Either way, the council has neglected one duty whilst being keen to support another. Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose.
Taking the rich tea biscuit award. Boston Co-op is to give our fearless boys and girls in blue free drinks and use of their staff rooms in a bid to "strengthen links." A spokesman said: "They haven't got to return to the police station, which should save them time. And of course not being able to return to the police station can be the difference between perhaps them getting a break or not." A Lincolnshire Police spokesman said: "This offer from one of our leading retailers is gratefully received as being a constructive and positive commitment from local business to the wider community." We don't doubt that for one minute. Now police at whatever level - real PCSO, special, volunteer - know that if they ever depart the nick, they're guaranteed a free cuppa. Usually these days, when they do leave the police station, it is behind the wheel of a sponsored car, or on donated bicycles for a tough "meet the public" session at Tesco or Asda - that's if they leave the place at all. What next? Sponsored rickshaws for the few who manage to drag their overweight frames out of the office?
Living in glass houses award goes to Councillor Major (Ret'd) Ramonde Newell for his letter in this week's Boston Target. It's a self serving rant against the excesses of the previous administrations in charge of Boston Borough Council. Aside from being completely pointless and lacking any sort context in the current debates, it assumes that the current administration is fault free and running a financially tight and well run ship. It's the sort of letter that makes one question the credentials of the ruling party rather than the reverse
Lookalike of the week. Have you noticed the strong similarity between the Boston Standard's "Brighter Boston" logo and that of Rentokill's flower design advanced fly trap (pictured below)?
Speaking of the "Better Boston" campaign, after an initial fanfare, we're disappointed to see that this week's Standard has only one feature in this week's paper. Going through a sticky time, perhaps?


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