Press Release - 07 Mar 2006

BBEG write to the Editor of the Boston Standard

Our original intention was to form a new group after the Local Transport Plan was made public, but due to information that came to our notice, we decided that we could not wait any longer, as our patience was exhausted at the lack of progress towards a solution to Boston’s dire traffic situation.

Since our activity started in the middle of January, we have been working tirelessly to put across the message to all concerned in authority that the people of Boston have had enough of excuses and lack of enthusiasm to push towards a solution for Boston, that will give benefit to the prosperity and wealth of the area by way of diminishing the congestion that is a blight on out town.

We have ample experience between us to take on Officials and Councillors who seem to use many excuses or reasons why a traffic solution is not a possibility. We will challenge any Councillor who states one thing one minute and something different another; we are not a political group, and any one who does not see a bypass (or distributor road, ring road, etc.) as a possible solution will be challenged.

From the first announcement of the doomed Southern Economic Corridor in 2002 we had been actively involved in objecting to the road and route, and we attended the Dock Link Road Public Inquiry - a whole week’s worth of voluntary time given to this - being actively involved putting objections forward and opposing evidence put forward by the Officers of Lincolnshire County Council. Our members have attended meetings with the Councils and have also been actively involved in both the Stakeholders Reference Group and the Transport Study, of which we gave a good deal of input, recommending amendments and suggestions.

Over the last few weeks our activity has covered a wide spectrum. We have challenged Officers of both Councils on decisions, and last Monday we attended a Full Council meeting of Boston Borough Council to ask three public questions and three supplementary questions (please see our website www.bbeg.org.uk). The full responses to these are awaited. We have also written to the leader of Lincolnshire County Council, Cllr Martin Hill, and await his response. Our MP, Mark Simmonds, has been updated on developments and we are working on a way forward – he will keep us informed of progress. A letter has also been sent to the MP for Grantham, Quentin Davies, as we have suggested the A52 should be looked at as a possible way forward.

We have contacted various road hauliers and distributors and hope that the information they give us will enable us to provide further proof to Westminster that our case is worthy of consideration. Brian Rush spoke live on BBC Radio Lincolnshire last week (see right), to respond to the new Chief Executive of Boston Borough Council, Mick Gallagher, stating that, “Boston Borough Councillors must at every opportunity put more pressure on Lincolnshire County Council to deliver”, and that, “a lot of Lincolnshire vegetables are distributed round the whole country - these roads that pass through Boston are helping to feed the mouths of the UK population”.

BBEG member Brian Rush spoke live on BBC Radio Lincolnshire on 02 Mar 2006 to respond to Mick Gallagher, the new Chief Executive of Boston Borough Council. Brian stated, "Boston Borough Councillors must at every opportunity put more pressure on Lincolnshire County Council to deliver." He continued, "A lot of Lincolnshire vegetables are distributed round the whole country - these roads that pass through Boston are helping to feed the mouths of the UK population." 02 March 2006

We have met with the Federation of Small Businesses, thanking them for their offer of support. This, together with the encouragement of numerous members of the public over the last month, has given us the impetus to carry on the work.

Within a few days of forming, our web site was up and running, www.bbeg.org.uk – the site is kept up to date with the latest developments almost hourly on certain days. It has a comprehensive display of our actions, including impressive aerial photographs of the gridlock over Boston, to highlight that nothing has changed in over 15 months of campaigning.

A link and contact has also been established with WASBO, Waddington Against the Southern Bypass Option, in Lincoln. This group is not against the bypass in principle, but is against the way that Lincolnshire County Council prefers a route to cut the village in half, against the wishes of the majority of people. Another John Adams Way in the making?

Our group membership is growing all the time as we gain momentum. Many people also support us, but are unwilling to put their name to becoming an actual member. That is not a problem – in fact it’s a reassurance to those who feel they need to speak out, but don’t want their business to be affected. We maintain the confidences of all those who wish to remain anonymous. If anyone is interested in joining us by becoming an active member, passionate in doing something to resolve Boston’s dire traffic situation, please visit our web site www.bbeg.org.uk or telephone 08452 607 608 (local rate call).

We will continue to ask the questions that need answering, in order to help find a solution to Boston’s traffic chaos.

MICHAEL BORRILL, BRIAN RUSH & ROBERT FISHER
Boston Bypass & Economic Growth Pressure Group (BBEG)
www.bbeg.org.uk
07 March 2006