Week ending 14th January

Our Friday miscellany

of the week's

news and events

Rough with the smoothie …We are sorry to see that – after triumphing over the petty planning rules – Boston’s smoothie bar in Dolphin Lane seems to have closed. Certainly, when we passed by the other day it appeared to have been completely cleared of fixtures and fittings. Doubtless a glass of something stronger than milk is being raised in Worst Street. The apparent closure comes just as Dolphin Lane was starting to look very presentable – apart, that is, from the atrocious display which is part of Poundstretcher. Perhaps a word in the store manager’s ear might improve things?  STOP PRESS - this morning decorators moved into the shop, so we are hoping for a refit rather than a replacement owner.  Watch this space...
Take once weekly ... Now that Boston’s binmen have won praise from a government minister for battling the elements to carry on working during the recent heavy snow, we wonder how the Borough will react to reports that ministers are to encourage councils to abandon fortnightly rubbish collections and revert to weekly ones. Then we remembered that back in August the portfolio holder for bins, Councillor Dave Hobson, reminded us that he was “encouraged” by the “support” of local people for the fortnightly scheme. We wonder who he asked!
In your own time … After our comments last week on postal deliveries in Boston and the long absence of service over the Christmas and New Year period, we heard of one household where seventeen items were delivered on Friday 7th January – four of them subscription magazines which are never published simultaneously. Is Boston unique in having such a poor postal service? It does seem that Royal Mail delivers to suit itself, rather than the customers.
Whipping up debate … Another piece last week referred to the letter to the local “newspapers” from Councillor Alison Austin who joined other councillors in protesting how easygoing the BBI is, and that members are never forced to vote in a way that they don’t want to. A reader commented: “This letter seems to mean different things to different people. The only comment made to me regarding her letter indicated that many readers are interpreting her words as an acknowledgement that, although BBI includes the word Independent, members are, in many instances expected to vote en bloc whatever their independent views. Is this, or is it not, a form of whipping?”
International relations … An e-mail comes all the way from South Africa where a Boston Eye reader is keeping up to date with his old home town.  "As much as I try, I am unable to get rid of the image of Councillor Austin kneeling before a growing hole in the dyke whilst his finger seems to grow ever smaller. I wonder whether the Boston of the future (if it survives that long under the present regime) will not regard the current flood of Boston Borough Council incompetence as more damaging than that of the more comprehensible flood of 1810? Just an idle deliberation on Boston's vulnerability to unhindered swells.”
Cashing in … Another e-mail, this time from a local business, comes up with an idea for raising funds locally in these straitened times. “Your piece on red traffic light jumpers struck a chord with me. Considering the amount of assistance Boston Borough Council gives to the local police with CCTV and the recent musings on overseeing the May Fair, why don`t we record these jumpers and agree a 50/50 cut of the fines? We could even apply a rate of return for the odd prison absconder or miscreant acting badly, and it is obvious there must be a fortune to be had for illegal parking on constant double yellow parking along the length of West Street day and night. Whilst we’re about it, why don’t we check vehicles for invalid tax discs and out of date MOT`s, faulty lights, or bald tyres? We could really go private and set charges to seek out lost pets, stolen bikes, shoplifters, unfaithful partners. What about getting a cut of the price of all the private car sales along old High Street?”
Tomb it may concern … The irrepressibly dead Herbert Ingram bounces back from beyond with an observation on how Boston marks historic events. An e(ther)-mail says: “I note with interest that there was an exhibition of the anniversary of Boston being flooded but there is to be no celebration of the 200th anniversary of my birth in May 1811 here in Boston - self trumpet blowing was one of my ‘skills.’ Boston Borough Council was made an offer that volunteers (including Ingram family members, Illustrated London News Group and the Boston Victorian Cemetery Trust) would happily organise an event and that the council would not be asked for funding, only practical in-house support. There was absolutely no response. They responded to queries about tidying up my grave in the Victorian Cemetery and said they WILL NOT be doing anything because I am now officially a ‘nature so reserve.’ So my position as Boston's ‘Old Man’ is now redundant......as if I never contributed to this town’s growth and improvement. Does Boston have a possible contender for the position? Mr Austin perhaps? Might I nominate, from the beyond, him for his own role please? - Herbert Ingram Esq. Deceased and in Disgust...still.
VAT boiling over … After a welcome absence for a couple of issues, the Mouth of the Haven is back in the letters column of both the Boston Standard and Boston Target, with an attack on the former Labour government and the coalition increase on VAT – described as enforcing “their real New Year resolutions on the people of Boston.” Although the letter is signed “Councillor” Ramonde Newell of the BBI, we cannot for the life of us think what this frothing fomentation of political invective has to do with local politics or the BBI. It’s just another way to get this councillor and his party’s name in the papers – which sensible editors should recognise as the cheap campaigning ploy it is and consign the letter to the bin.
Watch this space ... A new blog  called Watching Lincolnshire County Council has hit the internet to keep an eye on our masters in Lincoln. If you want to take a look you’ll find it by clicking here 
‘Old on – that’s a good idea … Stephen Glover devoted his entire column in yesterday’s Daily Mail to an attack on the BBC and the corporation’s attitude to older staff. He concluded: “The BBC’s Creative Director Alan Yentob, who at nearly 64 is himself no spring chicken and perhaps a candidate for retirement, has said: ‘What we’ll be saying to Miriam O’Reilly is if she wants to, we’d like to talk about further opportunities for employment.’ Oh yes? I expect she will be offered a job reading the news on Radio Lincolnshire.” Speaking for many listeners to our local station, Boston Eye would be grateful to hear someone on Radio Lincolnshire who can actually read a news bulletin.
Last word - but the wrong one ... Finally, we are grateful to the Boston Target for this week’s misuse of English contribution. Beneath the headline: “Help Pilgrims to find their new mascot an win VIP match day treat as prize” the papers asks “Do you have a flare for names and an eye for design?” If you do, perhaps you might consider redesigning the much-loved flared trousers of the sixties – for which you would need flair.


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