Last Monday, Better Boston Group Councillor Brian Rush threw down this challenge to Councillor Richard Dungworth."I know of not one single election promise that has been kept, and Councillor Dungworth is challenged to remind me of any."
As we are sure that Councillor Dungworth will not be likely to be taking up the challenge, we thought we would take a look at the BBI's list of promises, and see for ourselves what's been done.
The BBI is not exactly famous for keeping the electors in touch, and the nearest we could come to a list of promises appeared in the one and only blog posted by the BBI on Saturday 12th May 2007 - the morning but one after the landslide election that swept the party into power.
"Boston Bypass Independents (BBI) were elected at the local elections on a manifesto of Getting Boston Moving by getting a bypass built for Boston. We were accused by our opponents of being a single issue party but the electorate soon saw through this political smokescreen, voting the old guard out and a virtually brand new council in to power.
"The BBI firmly believes in having no sacred cows, no person nor issue immune from scrutiny or criticism, and questioning all aspects of the council's work. We want to reflect the views of the electorate and promote Boston as a good place to work and live."
Then came the list of promises - so let's take a look and see how well ... or otherwise ... the BBI has done in the two and a half years that it has ruled the borough.
Short-term traffic-flow improvement. Up to a point. Turning off traffic lights here and there was an idea dreamed up by the previous administration, and has been successful. However, the coming phase of road "improvements" in Queen Street and Sleaford Road promise a year of chaos that will see millions of pounds wasted just to prove that they won't work and that Boston still needs a bypass.
A better bus service. Certainly we have more buses. The passenger figures claimed for the Into Town bus service seem to be plucked out of thin air. Nor do they seem to have had much impact in terms of persuading people to abandon their cars. And the routing of the service through Strait Bargate is indefensible. The disbenefits outweigh the benefits.
A review of car parking charges. Yes, they went up
Better public toilets. This shouldn't need to be a promise, although given the appalling state of the public loos it is an essential one. Improvements may be taking place, but we're also losing one facility.
More recycling. Yes - and about time, too.
Less litter . Our eyes tell us that this promise is not being kept.
Reducing anti-social behaviour . Again the evidence of the local court reports and crime statistics say the issue is getting worse, rather than better.
More off-street parking for residents. We think this must mean charging people for parking outside their own homes. Never a good idea, but as far as progress is concerned ... who knows?
Full investigation of the affairs of the Princess Royal Sports Arena . Ha ha ha.
After that dismal list of non achievements, the BBI pledged:
"This blog will be updated regularly to keep you informed on our progress, the latest issues and developments and also to give you the chance to comment and/or pose questions in an open forum."
Guess what? That blog was the first and the last. No further information has been forthcoming.
And the BBI's BIG promise of a bypass? Just pie in the sky.
Councillor Rush's challenge was made after a meeting of the Policy and Projects Committee. Perhaps it's no accident that in council-speak the Policy and Projects Committee is referred to by the acronym PAP.
Pap is defined by the dictionary as "worthless or oversimplified ideas."
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