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Press Release - 28 Mar
2006
Robert Fisher replies
to Martin Hill's letter of 22 March 2006 on behalf of the BBEG
Dear Councillor Hill
Thank you for taking the time to reply to our letter - it is
very much appreciated.
I'd like to state clearly to you, here and now, that if you
do actually listen to the people of Boston, and deliver what
is actually wanted, I will personally make sure that full credit,
where credit is due, is attributed to Lincolnshire County Council
and yourself as Leader of the Council.
But, so far, as I stated on BBC Radio Lincolnshire the other
week (click
here to listen to the radio interviews), nothing has actually
physically happened since the public meeting in November 2004.
The traffic situation remains the same - gridlock. Yes, there
has been a lot of talk, a lot of spin, a lot of moving of the
goalposts, as well as a lot of missed opportunities. And then
of course the Transport Study, the results of which we await
with interest to find out exactly how much of our input has
actually been listened to, given the restrictions and limitations
of the study.
The majority of Boston folk do not want another John Adams Way
in the guise of the Southern Economic Corridor, which includes
both the Southern Link Road and the Dock Link Road. The Southern
Link Road has for some time now been considered "dead in
the water" by those in the know at LCC. Only this week,
David Woods is claiming that the Dock Link Road could be used
as part of an improvement to the road infrastructure. How can
a road and bridge, the road being less than a mile long, which
will mean more traffic lights at one end and the other end emerging
onto Skirbeck Road, right outside Boston College, be an acceptable
alternative to a bypass or distributor road? Our MP Mark Simmonds
has stated quite clearly that a bit-part solution is not what
we are looking for. Have you actually seen the unsuitability
of Skirbeck Road and Mount Bridge for yourself? If, as LCC's
own figures show, only 5% of the proposed DLR traffic is destined
to go on the Dock, then by definition, 95% of the traffic will
emerge onto Skirbeck Road!
The LCC Executive Decision
which became effective on 15 February 2006 states that Boston
is to be included in an aspirational
list and that
no work be undertaken on any aspirational schemes during
the LTP2 period because they are "unlikely to be of such
regional importance that they would gain regional backing for
central government funding".
We understand that Boston may not be top of your agenda, but
it is top of ours. Whilst the allocation of £8m for capital
schemes in Boston is more than welcome, it's a drop in the ocean
to what is actually required to resolve Boston's dire traffic
situation. We have been telling you that Boston desperately
needs a decent road infrastructure for some time now. What you're
suggesting is surely the equivalent of another John Adams Way,
rather than a proper solution?
We realise there is much work to do and continue to offer our
group's support in finding a solution that is acceptable. My
colleague Michael Borrill has already recently written to you
suggesting our group meets with you at your earliest opportunity
to discuss what can be done - I genuinely hope that you will
listen to us and that your statement in welcoming our support
is genuinely meant too.
Thank you once again.
Yours sincerely
ROBERT FISHER
Boston Bypass & Economic Growth Pressure Group (BBEG)
www.bbeg.org.uk
28 March 2006
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Martin Hill's letter to the
BBEG
"The County Council has listened to the people
of Boston and abandoned the Southern Economy Corridor
Route ... "
"You are incorrect to state that Boston Bypass
is not mentioned in the second local transport plan
... there is much work to do and I welcome your support
in doing that."
22 March 2006
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