The plot thickens:

Council blamed as

cemetery plans hit dead end



The original 1855 cemetery area

Yet again comes evidence that Boston Borough Council says one thing and does another on matters involving the town’s heritage. Among the few jewels in the town’s crown is part of the cemetery. The grounds opened in 1855 have been on the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Historic Interest since 2003, and the surviving cemetery chapel was Grade II listed by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport in 2006.
The Boston Victorian Cemetery Trust had ambitious plans for this, but has now been forced to withdraw from a project which it hoped would turn the cemetery into a magnet for visitors and family history enthusiasts.
In a letter to Councillor Jim Blaylock, the cabinet and portfolio holder for Parks, Amenities and Rural Communities, and Phil Drury, “Strategic Director” and Deputy Chief Executive, the Trust expresses concern at "the lack of interest in the heritage and history the cemetery represents for Boston that the council and its officers seem to show.”
The Trust said that from the outset, its plans for the cemetery were based on the original 1855 site and the late Victorian extension - including the buildings still existing.
But despite several requests, information was not provided concerning tenancy of the gatehouse and the fact that the occupants most probably are now likely to have rights to the entire building – including the former superintendents office
“This was despite assurances that members of the local Family History Group had used this portion for a number of years which led us to believe we could incorporate this side of the building into plans for a Genealogy Centre as part of our financial sustainability programme,” says the BVCT – and after taking legal advice they were advised “not to touch the situation with a barge pole.”
“Throughout the negotiations we had the distinct impression that whilst we saw the project as the site and buildings as a whole, the council officers seemed only to concentrate on the surviving chapel and its restoration.
“Based on our proposal we had an assurance from the Architectural Heritage Fund that we had a good chance of funding provided the project was seen as a whole. “However we feel that the council was attempting to push the trust into restricting our plans to the chapel and taking on a commitment to do works that the council is obliged to carry out whilst retaining control over the grounds management as a wildlife reserve and the gatehouse as a potential 'sell off' property. This we were not prepared to accept.”
Earlier this year, the Trust organised an open day at the cemetery but say they would not like to repeat the exercise – “particularly given the aggressive stance of council officers with regard to health and safety issues …
“There is a lot of interest in the cemetery and its heritage and history from the people of Boston but there is an obstructive element amongst 'animal conservation' minded individuals within the council staff, and local groups that oppose further access to the site for the vast majority of members of the public.
“This is not in keeping with the way a local authority should manage its public assets.
Heritage Lincolnshire has asked the Trust to organise a Heritage Open Day next September but the letter says “given the current attitude and experience of dealings with the council we are not happy at attempting to help with this suggestion ...which we feel is a great pity and loss for the tourism of Boston.
It concludes: “We recently had to cancel well developed plans for a Herbert Ingram exhibition at the Assembly Rooms for much the same reasons.
“We feel that there is little commitment from council officials and members to promote the heritage and historic attractiveness of Boston as a place to visit and that 'wildlife groups' maintain a single-minded stranglehold on attempts to include the ordinary people in organising attractions in this town.”
Boston Eye says: What a shame that in these difficult times a dedicated group with different ideas who want to help make Boston more attractive are brushed off in such a cavalier fashion.

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