Passionate Boston residents have had their say on how a grant of over £1 million to help migrants integrate should be spent.
A £1.39 million grant from central government’s Controlling Migration Fund was awarded to Boston Borough Council on Thursday, November 9, and was given the backing of local MP Matt Warman.
The funding will be used to help promote community cohesion with local chairs and organisation as well as access to English lessons and improving advice services.
Funds from the grant will also go towards tackling rogue landlords and anti-social behaviour in the Boston area.
The announcement generated huge interest, with over 500 comments when Lincolnshire Reporter posted the article on the Boston the People Facebook page.
Vicki Dow supported the idea of helping the migrants improve their English skills.
She said: “Getting migrants into college to learn English would be an area I’d like to see some [money] go towards.”
Many residents wanted the funding to go towards educating people about the history of Boston, and to make the town more business-friendly.
Amanda Holland said: “Promote the history of Boston so people are proud and we get more visitors and then maybe we will get some business people to invest in the town.”
Keith Kirk added: “We need to make Boston welcome to businesses and organisations so that Boston can be a great town again.”
Other oft-quoted areas for additional investment were again suggested by residents.
Melanie Jane South said: “Pay for extra doctors! I can never get to see one nowadays, always a nurse.”
Jude Coulter added: “Spend on more police, educate Lincolnshire County Council and remind them that Boston is a large town and start promoting and supporting it.”
The debate was so thorough that Boston and Skegness MP Matt Warman even joined in on Facebook, responding to a comment from Neil Down suggesting that the money could be used to pay for flights back for foreign criminals.
The Conservative MP said: “We already pay for that from a different national budget.”
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An investigation has been launched after a person died in a house fire in Boston on Monday afternoon.
Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue said six crews from Boston, Spalding, Horncastle and Donington attended the scene to extinguish the fire on Tooley Street at 12.17pm on May 10.
The fire service announced the tragic news on Monday evening, saying: “Emergency services in Lincolnshire are sadly reporting the death of a person following a house fire in Boston earlier today (Monday). Fire and police investigations into the cause have began and are ongoing.”
They added that a man was also treated for smoke inhalation.
The cause of the fire is not yet known.
A video captured at the scene shows smoke billowing out from badly damaged windows at the property, while a road was closed for some time causing traffic to build up in the area near Skirbeck Road.
The Prime Minister has confirmed the third step of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown will go ahead from May 17, including indoor mixing with other households and eating and drinking inside restaurants and pubs.
Most legal restrictions on meeting others outdoors will be lifted – although gatherings of over 30 people will remain illegal. Indoors, the rule of six or two households will still apply, and maintaining a distance is advised.
Pubs, restaurants, cinemas and other venues will be able to operate indoors and foreign holidays will also not be restricted any more, with the introduction of the traffic light system.
University students will be able to have face-to-face lessons so long as they are tested twice a week and care home named visitors will increase from two to five.
College and secondary school students will also not be required to wear face coverings in communal areas.
Boris Johnson speaking on Monday.
Up to 30 people will be able to attend weddings, receptions and wakes, as well as funerals — and this will also apply to other types of events including bar mitzvahs and christenings.
Step four will not begin until at least June 21, where all limits on social contact are set to be lifted and all remaining premises, including nightclubs, will be able to open.
In Monday’s Downing Street Press Conference, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “Today we are announcing the single biggest step on our roadmap, and it will allow us to do many of the things that we’ve yearned to do for a long time.”
He added: “We remain on track to move to step four, on June 21.”
A barber shop in Lincoln was broken into over the weekend with CCTV footage showing an someone using a tool on a step ladder to try and gain access into the property where windows were smashed.
Razvan Ionut Georgescu runs The Barbers House at 58 High Street near the corner of Cranwell Street, which was broken into at around 2.20am on Saturday, May 8.
He told The Lincolnite that two people broke his window glass and took a piggy bank containing around £20 before running away.
He also thanked police for attending and making the window safer using a piece of wood.
A spokesperson for Lincolnshire Police said officers are investigating the incident of criminal damage.
No arrests have been made at this stage, but anyone with information is being urged to call police on 101 quoting reference number 21000251925.
The Lincoln Pride event has been cancelled for a second year running due to COVID-19.
The event was cancelled in 2020 and organisers said the 2021 event will not go ahead either.
Organisers said in a Facebook post: “We understand this will be a huge disappointment to many. However, safety is our main priority and holding such a large event in uncertain times is not something we believe to be viable.
“Our event is costly and takes many months to plan. Without the guarantee we can go ahead with the full event as normal, and having been unable to conduct our usual fundraising this past year, we do not feel it is possible to put the event on this year.
“We are happy to announce that we are working with the local council and authorities to bring to you some smaller events later in the year to keep the Pride spirit alive in Lincoln, and we are already well under way with planning Lincoln Pride 2022!
“Take care, stay safe and we will see you in 2022, when we expect Lincoln Pride to be fully restored to its former glory! ❤️🧡💛💚”
Commenting on the announcement, Tracey Twist said: “Just means next year will be even more amazing.”
Darren Thorius commented: “Understandable given the circumstances, just gives us more reason to make 2022 the biggest pride yet.”
Megan McMahon agreed and said: “So sad to hear this, but right decision.”
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