Now playing at

Community Rooms

 - a Boston farce!

We have to say that we’re less than happy with the way the so-called Empty Shops Grant Funding scheme is working in Boston.
We mentioned last week that what sounded like the first interesting exhibition by a local photographer had not started when advertised, and noted at the weekend that although it had been scheduled to begin on Saturday, it was to be closed again yesterday.
The venue is in the former card shop next to the former Sketchley’s, and has by some strange miracle of ownership become “The Giles School community arts space” - although sixteen other organisations expressed an interest in making use of it.
Not only that, but the “gallery” had barely opened when it acquired low level tables and chairs - hinting at the re-establishment of the creche facilities that help doom the hapless Haven Gallery - and for which the current premises are far too small.
Next door, the so called Community Rooms now look worse than they did when the shop was empty.
The windows are randomly plastered with leaflets - many of them identical, and most likely there to give some privacy to the volunteers who work therein ... but they make the place look as ragged and untidy as it did before.
At least it was peaceful.
But now volunteers have complained of being roughed up by the borough’s chief snake oil salesman, anxious to promote the “Boston 200” exhibition which “celebrates” the great flood of 1810 and combines it with a display about the history of Boston’s drainage and flood defence works.
By all accounts this would not appear to be going as well as expected, and the leader has clearly felt the need to drum up some enthusiasm for it
Staff at the community rooms - and let's not forget that these people are volunteers - were recently honoured with a visit from Councillor Richard Austin in “Papa Dick” mode and apparently ordered to move their office furniture to clear space for his display boards.
Not only that, but it’s also alleged that he had the impudence to command that they re-arranged appointments with clients so as not to clash with his silly sideshow.
Given the man involved, none of this surprises us, but it further underlines his inability to organise a booze-up in a brewery if he is struggling to create interest in an exhibition about flooding in a borough which is one of the most at risk in the country.
But back to the community project itself.
It was funded by a government grant of £52,631.58 to Boston Borough Council who promptly shrugged the job off on to Boston BID, who messed it up.
A total of £30,000 was allocated for the gallery and community hub.
Short term measures costing £12,000 to improve the outside of the shops and use graphics to decorate their windows do not seem to have happened.
Nor has there been any mention of longer term plans costing £10,000 to establish a grant scheme to offer new retailers occupying empty shops, funding towards business rates for their first year.
At this rate, when this mismanaged scheme comes up for review in March next year it looks as though there will be loads of money left over.
And guess what?
A report to the council on another pet project favoured by a small elite can easily take care of that should the inevitable occur.
“The NHS Healthy Eating Café project is currently being developed and already has significant committed funding; however further funding may be required for fit out costs. This project meets objectives of the Empty Shops Grant Funding and should be considered as a potential future project if all funding is not allocated.”
Expect no surprises!

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