Today’s series on the parties seeking your vote for the Boston Borough Council elections starts with the Boston Bypass Independents – the party in power for the past four years.
We asked for a manifesto from a senior party member, but – as has so often been the case when we have contacted the BBI in the past – we did not receive a reply.
However, we do have copies of the leaflets being issued by candidates, and we presume that these form the basis of the party’s campaign.
In terms of a battle slogan, we have a choice of two.
The first declares the BBI to be “The Most Improved Council.” The capital letters are theirs, not ours.

But elsewhere  in the leaflet – perhaps just in case someone decided to challenge this sweeping claim, the leaflet is slightly more cautious.
In small print (what else?) the boast is prefaced by “claiming to be…” the most improved council.

Aside from this, the leaflet is largely retrospective – listing the BBI’s achievements rather than its plans for the future.
The bypass pledge that swept them into office has now been diluted to “bypass/distributor road plans…” with the promise that the party is working with developers on what is hoped to be the first stage of a distributor road for Boston, and that “we expect plans to be announced soon” (our italics.)
The regeneration of the Market Place is mentioned - but acknowledged as an all-party agreement.
The party also promotes its drive to persuade the Environment Agency to be less draconian in its opposition to development on the grounds of flood risk.
Beyond that, the leaflet details the party’s past achievements - but not its proposals for the future, despite the claim that it is “Moving Boston Forward.”
Again, where claims are made, they are sometimes difficult to recognise.
The party says it has “listened to people’s concerns” about anti-social behaviour, fear of crime, litter and drinking in the streets, and as a result established stronger local communities in areas where there has been “tension between different groups of people.”
We guess that this refers to the Placecheck scheme – but wonder whether residents would recognise themselves and their streets from this description. Placecheck is a national concept, and the areas chosen in Boston have always seemed largely random - and could have been substituted for an alternative five areas with no perceptible difference.
Then there is the claim of a “big” reduction in crime; “some” car parking charges reduced; “more recycling” (the green collection service has just ceased due to lack of funding); and finally the contentious decision not to raise council tax.
Taken as a whole, the reader is almost forced to conclude, that little, if anything of any great importance has occurred during the BBI’s watch, and the same is true of the future.
Interestingly, in a subtle piece of self-aggrandisement, the BBI has abolished the definite article in its title, and now refers to the party as “BBI” rather than “the” BBI.
Unless a few rabbits are to be pulled from the political hat in the next few days, we don’t see much on offer for the next four years….
Tomorrow, our series continues with a look at what the Conservatives are offering the voters of Boston.


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