Our readers

have spoken ... and Boston Eye will soldier on!

There’s a lot to read today.
We were overwhelmed by the quantity of e-mails we received following yesterday’s blog – and the tremendous support and generous comments expressed in them.
Universally, they implored us to continue writing in some shape or form, and given the depth of feeling expressed, that is what we plan to do.
We will honour our promise to cease blogging as Boston Eye, which me made because we felt that if our identity became widely known, our credibility would suffer – as we were nothing more than an individual – a local David aiming his slingshot at the well armoured and confident Goliath known as Boston Borough Council, but sadly without the success of the original.
But the bottom line is that it doesn’t seem to matter – because over the years our blog appears to have gathered credibility and a reputation which makes it something that our readers do not want to lose.
We thank them for this, and will carry on from a new address – which honours our promise – even though it was enforced through what we consider less than honourable means.
Our new address will be http://newbostoneye.blogspot.com/   and our e-mail will remain the same.
We wrote earlier about the e-mails we have received – and publish extracts from some of them below.
Interestingly a surprising number came from Boston Borough councillors – though as you might expect, they did not include any Conservative members!
Councillor Richard Leggott ,a veteran Independent, wrote to say: “Not that I have ever interpreted your column as pure opposition, but one of the things I do remember from history lessons, many moons ago, is that, in government, the opposition is just as important as the administration.
“A good partnership is not necessarily one that agrees wholeheartedly on everything.
“Yes, I feel you are now part of the local government 'partnership'.
“Under whatever label/ format you find acceptable please continue your good work on behalf of the people of Boston.”
His colleague Councillor Brian Rush, added: “It is a very sad day politically for Boston, if the Eye stands by its decision to cease blogging because someone sets out to “out” the authors.”
Another Independent, Councillor Carol Taylor, told us: “If it wasn't for Boston Eye, I would be bumbling along hoping that I could make a difference for the people of Boston. I no longer bumble because I have received a tremendous education from Boston Eye. The blog has given me information which whet my appetite and then encouraged me to delve further. This has now increased my knowledge base of events, lack of events, political gaffes, the council's sleeping timetable, who dunnit? who could have dunnit but didn't, and to highlight some wonderful sensitive egos. I am always on guard, however, because should I do anything that is not in the public's interest, you would be down on me like a ton of bricks ( provided from Market Place restoration!) and quite rightly so.
“You have created a blog for the people of Boston and, as you say, readers are increasing in numbers, so why give it up? Four and a half years of building up an information and critical appraisal site sprinkled with a bit of satire, laced with conscience pricking, topped with humour but the icing on the cake is FREEDOM OF SPEECH.”
Labour Councillor Paul Gleeson wrote to say: “I for one will regret the passing of your blog, whilst you will not be surprised to learn I did not agree with all that you wrote. I think my world view is somewhat different. I did, you may be surprised to learn, agree with a lot of what you wrote and all your articles were well written with good research.
“Maybe because I have never seen myself as being part of the great and the good, or even considered it a healthy thing to aspire to, I never felt threatened if your blog tweaked my or my party’s nose or even hit us with a big stick. It is only when our thoughts and assumptions are challenged can we ensure that we develop robust cogent policies. One of the issues of being in a political party is that it is full of people who share your beliefs. Whilst that can give you great strength, it is too easy to convince yourselves that your policy is self-evidently correct, it is only when people with a different (albeit wrong !) world view challenge it, will any flaws be revealed.
“I hope you will reconsider, you can’t leave www.bostonlabour.org.uk/news.html  the only daily blog in town, what will we have to live up to?”
Darron Abbott, himself a vociferous campaigner on behalf of Boston and its businesses and a Conservative candidate at last May’s elections, wrote: “I believe is a very dark day in the political history of my town, if indeed it is the last day that Boston Eye publish their blog.
“You may think this sounds a bit dramatic, but I genuinely believe something will be lost. Over the period that Boston Eye has been published, I have learnt a great of what has been happening here in Boston, that the powers that be have tried to keep quiet - or just the fact that I have not had the time or resources to research myself.
“As regular readers will be aware, the blog has allowed me to voice my opinions publicly and, yes, has helped force other parties to take notice, I will be disappointed to lose this facility as Boston Eye have always been prepared to go where the local press have been frightened to go.
“It appears that the author of Boston Eye’s identity has been known for some time. Up to recently this anonymity has been respected as it served its purposes, but now these same people seek to close down the rights of others.
“One person in particular is Councillor Singleton-McGuire, who up to the election in May openly welcomed Boston Eye’s criticism of the BBI and boasted of his submissions to it. It now seems however he and his administration have taken power and received the same scrutiny he feels that the blog is no longer serves his needs.
“As a Conservative candidate at the elections in May, I will now go on record, in how disappointed I am that the administration has taken the course of action they have.
“Whilst I understand the author of Boston Eye feels creditability will be lost, I urge the team to continue to uncover and inform us of that is going on in Boston.”
Other comments sent in just the past 24 hours include:
• “Please continue in some form, as I've only recently discovered  your blog, and it seems the only forum that is holding the local authorities to account.”
• "Boston Eye is a beacon of light illuminating the sometimes strange and murky goings on within our once proud borough, but as an obviously honourable person, unlike most of our politicians, I must respect whatever decision you eventually make - but in the earnest hope that you will continue to give voice to sense, reason, sanity and above all the truth regardless of the poison of political correctness that has so corroded our way of life in this town and indeed the whole country. Obviously the PC brigade are totally unable to handle any meaningful discourse on any subject whatsoever as theirs is the only permitted view in the local and national media. As such Boston Eye with its wide range of views must have been a target for destruction from the word go. “We need the likes of Boston Eye to give an alternative and truthful view of events. Please in some way carry on your freedom of speech/thought blog.”
• “I appreciate that in order to keep to your word, the Boston Eye column may now have to cease. “There's more real analysis of local interest in your column than in all the so-called 'local media' combined. “Accordingly, I would urge you to at least consider the possibility of carrying on in some alternate way. “There continues to be a strong need for your kind of independent commentary.”
• "As a daily reader and past contributor please keep up the blogging - it is a medium that is well-informed and represents and puts to the fore the concerns and views of Boston’s public! Who else would do it if not Boston Eye!!???
• " ‘If you don't have this freedom of the press, then all these little fellows are weaselling around and doing their monkey business and they never get caught. " - Harold R. Medina US lawyer, teacher and judge. An apposite quote, n'est-ce pas? And who is going to tell the citizens of Boston if there's any weaselling going on in Worst Street if Boston Eye is silenced? Local newspapers reproduce the council-speak that is fed to them. Boston Eye uncovers the stories behind the stories, and explains the facts in a way that everyone can understand. Long may they continue to do so”

Whew! What can we say – except see you next week.
And thanks.

You can write to us at boston.eye@googlemail.com  Your e-mails will be treated in confidence and published anonymously if requested.