Press Release - 27 October 2006

BBEG write to David Cameron MP, copying John Prescott MP

Dear Mr Cameron

As Leader of the Conservative Party, we would like to ask how your party simply accepts the continuing neglect of Boston in Lincolnshire by Lincolnshire County Council's Leader, Martin Hill, with regard to the provision of a road infrastructure to alleviate the dire congestion we have to endure on a daily basis?

Rather than include Boston in the Local Transport Plan, Boston was placed on an aspirational list and an Executive decision was made by Martin Hill that no work be undertaken on any aspirational schemes during the whole of the LTP2 period. A Transport Study was commissioned for Boston, but the results have been delayed and delayed, and it would seem it has been shown to have not included the necessary data to reach the desired result for the people of Boston, and that it will have to be repeated again in the future to meet Government requirements in justification of a bypass. Tax payers money is being wasted here, it seems. We are still waiting for information about this under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, which by their own admission, Lincolnshire County Council recently breached. We have alerted the Information Commissioner about this fact too.

It seems that all monies are being allocated to Lincoln to the detriment of Boston. A promise by Martin Hill back in March of £8 million to help with some short term fixes, has now been reduced to £6 million as reported in this week's local press, but only then if the Transport Study so indicates? See:
http://www.bbeg.org.uk/martin_hill_22mar2006.htm

Even this announcement in the local press has been made by Martin Hill before the Transport Study results are known or a full discussion with any of the relevant committees - the fact is that he is proceeding with the road alterations he has wanted to do all along, which is against the wishes of the majority of the people of Boston. The Borough Council seems to just accept what he tells them will happen? Have we a democracy or not?

We have an ongoing Formal Complaint against LCC with regard to the fact that the former Leader of LCC (Mr Jim Speechley) was imprisoned for 2 years for re-routing the A1073 to his own financial gain, yet this road is still going ahead. Martin Hill, we believe, was Finance Director at the time of Mr Speechley's leadership.

Our plight has been well publicised on our website - www.bbeg.org.uk - and the pressure groups have been working since October 2004, but it would seem that LCC press on regardless, without any progress being made, other than money set aside (which it now seems is dwindling) to 'patch the congestion up with sticky tape'.

As stated, the Borough Council play a key part in this too. Hence the Boston Bypass Independent Party has been formed, with the aim of putting up a candidate in every ward in Boston next year. 81% of people in Lincolnshire recently voted in a text poll on BBC Radio Lincolnshire that Boston needs a bypass, is the most deserving and must be given a high priority - the most text votes ever received by that station.

Needless to say, that having invested so much time and effort to this cause, none of the pressure groups are giving up and are actively increasing the work being done to change things - democratically.

We would therefore welcome your support in asking for an open and honest investigation to occur at Lincolnshire County Council into the events of the last few years with regards to decisions made about Boston's road situation and how it has been dealt with by Martin Hill's Executive Group at Lincolnshire County Council.

We look forward to your earliest reply.

Yours sincerely

ROBERT FISHER
Chair, Boston Bypass & Economic Growth Pressure Group (BBEG)
www.bbeg.org.uk
27 October 2006

cc: John Prescott MP, Kingston Upon Hull East

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