Boston gets government aid to smarten up town shops

Even though you might have expected to have read the news on Boston Borough Council's website or the websites of our two local papers by now, it appears to be up to us to break the news that Boston is the recipient of a tasty chunk of government largesse.
The town is to receive £52,632 from a £3 million kitty set up by the Department for Communities and Local Government to help the 57 "hardest hit areas" in the recession to find creative ways to reduce the negative impact empty shops are having on the high street, and re-open them as facilities for communities.
Communities Secretary John Denham said many high streets in areas of high deprivation are seeing empty shops boarded up because of the downturn, which is damaging consumer and business confidence.
"We know that the downturn has really hurt high streets in areas of high deprivation across England," he says.
"These grants will help to transform and re-open empty shops as part of our real help to keep town centres vibrant and combat the recession.
"Those councils will now be able to use our funding to come up with their own creative ideas to transform their boarded up shops into something useful like a learning centre, meeting place for local people or showroom for local artists.
"There is no need to see unused shops on our high streets going to waste, especially when we know that it doesn't take a lot to turn a vacant shop into something beneficial for the community.
"The top tips and new support in our town centre revival guide are already helping small businesses during this difficult time. Together these steps will help high streets continue to be vibrant places that remain at the heart of the community throughout the downturn."
We're not holding our breath on this one as Boston Borough Council is not renowned for its creativity and inventiveness, and we fear that the money will be frittered away on a series of twee little projects that will be more of an embarrassment than an asset.
It's ironic to recall the council's Dear Leader, Richard "Papa Dick" Austin's declaration in his New Year message that ... "because our local economy is based on the food industry I am confident that Boston is better placed than most to weather the global storm."
It seems as though the government doesn't agree, and as Papa D has never been known to be wrong before, this comes as something of a shock.
Ironically, whilst John Denham is giving Boston Borough the cash to tart up its empty shops, neighbouring East Lindsey is getting £57,000 to make small interest free loans to families to help them through the recession.
As well as loans to families who are struggling to pay their mortgage or rent and likely to become homeless, the council, in exceptional circumstances, can also make small grants to families for the same reasons.
The council will be able to recycle the loaned money as its paid back, to support other families facing difficulties.
It's hard to decide which use of money is the better, but we sincerely hope that Boston will use its cash imaginatively and wisely to make the town a brighter, more cheerful place.

You can write to us at boston.eye@googlemail.com Your e-mails will be treated in confidence and published anonymously if requested.