BBC Parish News

Welcome to the Parish News from your local Council. If you have any enquiries about any of the articles, please feel free to contact the communications team at communications.unit@boston.gov.uk.

Local Government Reorganisation

Upcoming engagement events in South and East Lincolnshire include:

• Louth – Monday 13 October, 7.15pm to 9.15pm: www.greaterlincolnshireforall.org/event-details/engagement-event-louth
• Boston – Wednesday 15 October, 6.30pm to 8pm: www.greaterlincolnshireforall.org/event-details/engagement-event-boston
• Skegness – Tuesday 21 October, 6pm to 8pm: www.greaterlincolnshireforall.org/event-details/engagement-event-skegness

A reminder that information about Local Government Reorganisation, including our public pledges, is available here: www.greaterlincolnshireforall.org/  

Engagement survey: online1.snapsurveys.com/Interview/763e77ef-b5df-48e5-840c-3cab6dc5cd86

Email: hello@greaterlincolnshireforall.org

Less than a week left to enter the Boston Borough Calendar 2026 competition

Have you captured a stunning sunrise over the river? A peaceful park in spring? A lively market scene in the heart of town?

We’re looking for photographs that celebrate the beauty, character, and charm of Boston Borough — month by month, and your image could be featured in our 2026 calendar!

You can submit up to two photos per month, and photos must be taken within the Borough of Boston between 1 October 2024 and 30 September 2025.

Email your entries to: communications.unit@boston.gov.uk and include: month taken, location, description, your full name, and a daytime contact number.

The deadline for submissions is Monday, 30 September at 11:59pm.

More information: https://www.boston.gov.uk/article/28843/Boston-Borough-Calendar-Competition-set-to-return-for-2026

Supporting the vital work of Internal Drainage Boards

Cllr Dale Broughton and Cllr Sandeep Ghosh were at the House of Commons on Tuesday 2 September.

Boston Borough Council is one of 40 authorities from across England who are working together to lobby the Government for a fairer funding system that supports the vital work of Internal Drainage Boards, including those that serve the borough.

The Council is part of a Special Interest Group for Internal Drainage Board Special levies.

A special levy is something the Government imposes on councils in IDB areas like Boston to pay to fund them. Due to rises in such things as electricity that power the pumping stations at times of flooding and sustained heavy rain, the special levy amount has been increasingly significantly in recent years.

This levy is paid out of council tax received from residents, which means less money for essential council services such as waste, planning and environmental health.

The event was a great opportunity to lobby MPs and Government Ministers about the impact of the special levy, and inform than about the impact on services in Boston.

LEAD Team crowned APSE award winners!

Congratulations to the Partnership’s LEAD team who won the Best Community & Neighbourhood Initiative award last night at the APSE (Association for Public Service Excellence) annual service awards in Glasgow!

The award was for the Partnership’s innovative Energy and Retrofit Information Clinic (ERIC) van which has revolutionised community advice and support services in East Lindsey and the wider Partnership. 

The programme seeks to tackle social and digital isolation by taking advice and funding support services to residents in their local communities rather than relying on them finding information by social media or by picking up the phone. 

The team have developed an integrated partner referral network to ensure that they can also address a range of other social issues at the same time.

Rachel Harwood, Project Manager, and Nicola Phillips, Sustainable Housing Officer, attended the APSE annual seminar and collected the award.

The awards are highly competitive and there were nine finalists shortlisted. The team have done amazingly well to gain the well-deserved award for all their hard work and effort.

Congratulations to all the LEAD team members - Alex Handley, Douglas Whitting, John Martin and Tim Wells – on their award!

The Boston Christmas Festival is back for 2025 featuring dazzling ice sculptures and festive attractions

Boston Borough Council is delighted to announce the return of the annual Boston Christmas Festival, taking place from Friday 28 November to Sunday 30 November 2025 in Boston town centre.

The much-loved three-day event will once again bring festive cheer, seasonal shopping and community celebration to the heart of the town.

A major highlight for this year will be the introduction of a new ice sculpture experience aiming to captivate visitors with its artistry and spectacle.

Find out more about what’s happening during this year’s Christmas Festival: www.boston.gov.uk/article/29067/The-Boston-Christmas-Festival-is-back-for-2025-featuring-dazzling-ice-sculptures-and-festive-attractions

More than £140,000 awarded to community projects as Boston Partnership Fund advances

Projects with community at the heart of their work have been awarded more than £140,000 from the Boston Partnership Fund.

Several projects across the Borough, including Centrepoint Outreach, Haven Domestic Abuse Charity and Boston Foodbank, have been awarded grants from the Boston Partnership Fund to continue their invaluable work within the area's diverse communities.

At the request of the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, this funding has been targeted at initiatives which support community cohesion, integration and services that support Eastern European Communities. This fund sits within a wider package of £710,000 allocated for grants to community organisations.

Find out where the money was distributed to here: www.boston.gov.uk/article/28971/More-than-140-000-awarded-to-community-projects-as-Boston-Partnership-Fund-advances

The Worshipful the Mayor of Boston to support five local good causes during his civic year

The Worshipful the Mayor of Boston, Cllr Barrie Pierpoint, will be supporting five good causes during his year as Mayor.

Cllr Pierpoint received 30 applications from charities and causes. Following shortlisting, Cllr Pierpoint and his fundraising committee have chosen Headway Lincolnshire, Boston Men's Shed, The Support Group for Adults with Autism, Boston Foodbank - Feeding the Children's project, and Centrepoint Outreach.

All funds raised during the Mayoral Year will be divided equally between the five causes.

Crowdfunding workshop announced as East Lindsey Investment Fund boosts support for local projects

The South & East Lincolnshire Crowd has opened its next round of funding, offering even greater support for community-led initiatives across Boston, East Lindsey, and South Holland.

East Lindsey District Council has recently increased its contribution to the scheme by an additional £40,000, bringing the total available funding across the three areas to £130,000 with the help of the East Lindsey Investment Fund.

This funding initiative is designed to support projects that improve the mental and physical health of residents, enhance lives through events and activities, and build stronger, more connected communities.

It also aims to tackle challenges such as poverty, ill health, and social isolation, while investing in vital community facilities and increasing physical activity levels.

Projects in Boston and South Holland can apply for a maximum pledge of £5,000, covering up to 50% of their crowdfunding target. The deadline to apply for this round of funding is 22 October 2025.

To help applicants prepare and succeed, an in-person crowdfunding workshop will be held on Thursday 17 September from 2pm to 3.30pm.

This session will provide valuable insights into the funding available, guidance on creating a compelling project, and support for running a successful crowdfunding campaign. Attendees will also have the opportunity to join interactive breakout rooms for tailored advice.

Please consider sharing details of this session with anyone who may be interested in the local community – registrations can be made here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/south-and-east-lincolnshire-crowd-project-creator-workshop-tickets-1591246644549?aff=oddtdtcreator

New Community Safety Officers join Boston Borough Council to tackle anti-social behaviour

The officers will play a vital role in tackling persistent anti-social behaviour (ASB) through a combination of community engagement, education and enforcement.

Their presence in the town and across the borough will offer reassurance to residents and businesses alike, while also promoting social inclusion, acting as a deterrent and reducing the fear of crime.

The Community Safety Officers will conduct uniformed patrols in Boston town centre and across the wider borough, working in partnership with Lincolnshire Police and other partner agencies.

They will offer targeted support to vulnerable individuals, responding to their specific needs and referring them to appropriate services where necessary. This compassionate approach will ensure that those most at risk receive the help they need in a timely and effective manner.

To uphold local regulations, officers will enforce the Public Spaces Protection Order relating to Alcohol within Boston town centre, which will include issuing Fixed Penalty Notices when necessary.

Finally, Community Safety Officers will actively support community events and collaborate with initiatives such as Shop Watch and Pub Watch to support local businesses and organisations in and around Boston.

Council and Colts kick off new plans for Boston's Garfit's Park

Boston Borough Council and Boston Colts Football Club have agreed a new lease for the future use of Garfit's Park, in a major boost for grassroots sports and youth development in the borough.

The move, which will mean the park becomes home for up to ten of the club's local junior teams, will also see the club have access to the pavilion at the site, to provide vital matchday and training facilities for those attending and playing each week.

The club will create personalised facilities displaying their colours and meeting the needs of players, officials and supports, including changing rooms, showers, kitchen space and a mini club house area.

Whilst there will be increased footballing presence at the park, the existing popular facilities at the site will remain available for the public to enjoy including the play area, multi-use games area and outdoor table tennis tables. The club has considered the need for wider public access to the park's car parking spaces for these facilities on matchdays and will have a staggered fixture list across its teams to help ensure this availability.

More information about Boston Colts FC and how to get involved with the club can be found on their Facebook page, or by emailing bostoncoltsfc@outlook.com

Honouring John Blackwell – “Mr. Boston United”

The Borough flag on the Municipal Buildings was flown at half-mast on Monday 15 September to honour and remember the life of “Mr Boston United” John Blackwell.

The Worshipful the Mayor of Boston, Cllr Barrie Pierpoint, was a good friend to John and was asked by his family to fly the flag at half-mast as the town’s tribute to him to coincide with his funeral.

The service took place at St Botolph’s Church at 1.30pm and was attended by the Mayor as well as the Leader of the Council, Cllr Dale Broughton.

Cllr Pierpoint said: "I met John Blackwell when he was the General Secretary of Boston United Football Club and I was asked to go to the club in the early 2000s as a Consultant on behalf of a business consortium to undertake a business audit and due diligence, as they were interested in purchasing the club as it was going through some difficult times.

"John had Boston United in his veins, he had worked for them for many many years and virtually ran the club single handed he did everything and was well respected by the fans, staff, players and management. He became Mr Boston United FC due to his commitment, dedication, hard work and loyalty to that club through it's years of ups and downs.

"In 2007 John and I worked together on a campaign to save the club as it was about to go bust, however a property developer stepped in and took the club over.

"Later when John retired from the club he was appointed their honorary president and also he became a volunteer driver with Boston Community Transport where I was Chairman of that charity and we reconnected our friendship again in the mid to late 20s for several years.

"I had great respect, admiration and gratitude for John who wore the club on his sleeve, he was very friendly, sociable, highly motivated and a hard worker with passion. He worked tirelessly for the community transport scheme helping many people get from home to their destination. who were disadvantaged or not able to use public transport.

"As the Worshipful The Mayor of Boston it is my great privilege, honour and duty having been invited to John's funeral to say my goodbye to a great friend, club and community ambassador. John will be sadly missed."

New Rosegarth Square flythrough video

A new fly through video has been created, showing the latest developments on the Rosegarth Square project: https://www.facebook.com/BostonBoroughCouncil/videos/1229669815583563

Lindum Group are progressing on the construction of the Public Realm and Crown House building along with new artwork, seating areas, flexible retail spaces and much more allowing this space to become the gateway to the heart of Boston.

While construction is happening, you can keep up to date here - https://rosegarthboston.co.uk/

Dolphin Lane transformation

Thanks to the incredible work of our Street Scene crew, Dolphin Lane has had a well-deserved clean!

Councillor Callum Butler, Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services at Boston Borough Council said: “It’s fantastic to see Dolphin Lane looking so clean and well cared for.

“The difference is clear to anyone walking through, it’s a real boost to the town centre’s appearance.

“My thanks go to the street scene team for their ongoing works including in Dolphin Lane and Church Street to make them more inviting to residents, businesses and visitors.”

A huge thank you to everyone involved.

Safety Advisory Group – Remembrance Parades

If you’ve planned or helped organise events in the past, you may have come across the Safety Advisory Group (SAG). The SAG is a nationally recognised coming-together of multiple agencies to help and support organisers in planning, running, and reviewing events. There are two SAGs which cover the Partnership, East Lindsey and Boston/South Holland, and access to this group for help with planning your event is free.

The current members of the Safety Advisory Group include the following, and more:

• Environmental Health
• Licensing
• Building Control
• Police
• Fire and Rescue
• The Ambulance Service
• Highways
• Emergency Planning

At this time of year many of you may be involved with the supporting or the organising of Remembrance Parades, and many view the parades as not events, however they are.

Remembrance Parades may require road closures, which must have the appropriate traffic management arrangements in place, including Traffic Management Operatives who are CSAS accredited directing traffic. It is not acceptable for event stewards/volunteers who are not accredited to stand in the road and direct traffic - this not only puts them at risk, but also those attending the parade and the Organisers should something occur.

Due to the nature of the event, the Police strongly recommend that those organising the parades undertake the free Government ACT Training which is accessible via the following link: Getting training and advice on counter-terrorism - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). This is essential so the organisers can gain the awareness and understanding of what to look out for, consider and actions to take in relation to counter terrorism.

Further information on Safety Advisory Groups can be found on the following Council webpage: www.boston.gov.uk/SAG

Community Resilience News for Summer 2025

The latest Community Resilience Newsletter, provided by the Lincolnshire Resilience Forum, can be found attached to this newsletter.

Amplius delivers over 100 homes in Boston

Amplius celebrated a major milestone recently as more than 100 affordable homes have now been completed at their flagship development, 'The Leas', on Toot Lane in Boston.

Councillor John Baxter, portfolio holder for housing, was in attendance to recognise the achievement, saying:

“It’s amazing to see so many new affordable homes being brought to the borough, which are vital to give our residents their first steps onto the housing ladder.

“It’s so important that we have a wide variety of quality homes on offer, so there is something for individuals and families of all shapes and sizes here in Boston. This combination of one, two, three and four-bed homes, alongside the choice of different purchase and rental options, will help ensure that as many people as possible have the opportunity to find a house they can call home.

“This is all due to the hard work our officers put in to encourage developers to build in Boston borough. We are so grateful to all the developers for putting their trust in the borough and recognising that Boston is an excellent place to live and invest in.”

You can read more about the milestone and The Leas development itself at Landmark reached in construction of affordable development in Boston - Amplius.