October 11, 2019 3.33 pm This story is over 53 months old

Local Democracy Weekly: Winners and losers? It’s a matter of perspective

You can please some of the people…
East Lindsey District Council has also announced plans to cancel meetings.

They say in life there’s winners and losers and an £8 million council headquarters and college plan highlighted that this week.

East Lindsey District Council voted by a hefty majority of 35 to nine in favour of a land purchase which could set in motion plans for a £8.25million new college campus and authority headquarters in Horncastle.

The debate, however, showed just how people will cling to and defend their plots of land.

Louth and Mablethorpe councillors found themselves concerned over the future of Tedder Hall and its costs, as well as the increased distance people would have to travel. Further education was provided at Grimsby, so why was that omitted from the reports?

Skegness councillors, while also noting it would be nice to have ELDC’s headquarters in their town, however praised the education side — hoping it would help their young people.

Horncastle councillors were obviously elated, and why not? The move would mean investment in the town both in terms of education and in the effect on the economy of those visiting and working from the council offices. There were some concerns over highways infrastructure, but with investment, help could come in that regard.

It is also hoped health and police services could be based on the site.

The story on social media was just as divisive, with readers in Mablethorpe for instance calling for the money to instead be spent on coastal areas such as the sand dunes and retaining walls.

Horncastle readers, however, called it “wonderful news”, and a “great focal point for the community” though echoed concerns over traffic.

Perception of what constitutes good or bad news is, and always has been, dependent on the view.

The general population in Grantham may look forward to a new relief road to help with traffic, but those in Boston look on with envy as they await further news on the divisive and hotly-debated distributor road.

The old adage: “You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time,” is never more true than in local democracy. — DANIEL JAINES

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