Boston Borough Council

Following the Spring Budget announcement, Boston is to become a new Levelling Up Partnership, led by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced £400m to create 20 new Levelling Up Partnerships which aim to drive growth, unlock barriers to attract inward investment and receive bespoke help based on local needs.

DLUHC will work with Boston Borough Council and partner stakeholders to identify ways to accelerate growth for the benefit of the town, residents and businesses.

Today’s announcement builds further upon the success of the Borough achieving funding bids of £21.9m to deliver Town Deal regeneration schemes; £14.8m announced earlier this year from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund to kick-start regeneration for the Rosegarth Square masterplan; and £2.62m secured through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Rural England Prosperity Fund.

Cllr Paul Skinner, Leader of Boston Borough Council said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Boston as we continue to drive forward investment, create jobs and improve the lives of our residents.

“The Council as part of the South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership is not afraid to be ambitious and we have a proven track record of collaborative working which delivers new opportunities with partners which will have a lasting impact on our communities.

“This opportunity to work even more closely with the DLUHC and other government departments will mean we can really address issues which have historically prevented regeneration and growth.

“The announcement is a fantastic opportunity for the town and the wider benefit for the Partnership, Members and officers from the Economic Growth team are looking forward to working even more closely with DLUCH to make this happen.”

Welcoming the news, Matt Warman, MP for Boston and Skegness, commented: “This government understands that whilst talent is equally distributed, opportunity is not.

“This comprehensive intervention for Boston builds on the £21.9 million Town Deal, the £14.8 million Levelling Up award and the £2.62 million Shared Prosperity Fund and will harness local partnerships and national agencies to break down barriers to growth.

“Boston Borough Council has already demonstrated the power of working in partnership with the private, public and voluntary sector to develop bold ambitious projects like the Mayflower Centre and Rosegarth Square Masterplan.

“This partnership will deliver joined-up thinking from all government departments and local stakeholders to develop a comprehensive plan to unlock Boston’s potential and deliver for local people.”

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Magistrates have supported Boston Borough Council’s decision to serve noise abatement notices on the owners of several cockerels after the Council received a complaint about noise.

The Council’s Environmental Health department had received a noise complaint in relation to a number of cockerels crowing which were being kept at a residential property on Wyberton West Road in Boston.

Following the initial investigation and after talking to the owners, the crowing initially lessened. Unfortunately, this was short-lived and the Council started to receive further complaints.

Noise monitoring equipment was used to record the frequency and the noise level coming from the property where the birds were being housed.

It showed that the frequency of the crowing was excessive with high numbers of crowing events across the day which significantly impacted the neighbours enjoyment of their property.

As a result of the monitoring which established that a statutory nuisance was being caused, the Council as is required by law served abatement notices on the cockerel owners which required the noise nuisance to be abated within 21 days from the issue of the notice.

Following the service of the notices the owners of the cockerels exercised their right to appeal the notices. At a hearing at Lincoln Magistrates Court, the Council robustly defended its decision to serve the notices.

Magistrates upheld the notices without any amendment and the Council was awarded costs of £1,984.84. If in future the noise abatement notices are breached, the owners could face a fine of up to £5,000 on summary conviction in the Magistrate’s Court.

Boston Borough Council understands the number of cockerels at the property has subsequently been reduced and there are currently no issues.

Cllr Deborah Evans, Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services at Boston Borough Council said: “Boston Borough Council takes complaints over all types of noise nuisance seriously.

“Officers follow an enforcement policy where they try to work with people to negotiate a resolution, wherever possible, before resorting to more formal actions.

“Formal action through an abatement notice is in most circumstances a last resort. The council is however duty bound to serve a noise abatement notice when there is sufficient evidence that a statutory noise nuisance exists.

“The decision by the court shows the Council was correct in its actions in serving the abatement notices to protect members of the community who were affected by the excessive noise coming from the property.

“It is encouraging to see that the noise issue has reduced since the service of the notices and the recent court hearing. We all hope this improvement is a permanent one. ”

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