Public come up with 80 ideas to transform Boston - and attract up to £25m of Government funding

The Boston Town Deal, set up to develop a town investment plan to bid for as much of that Government cash as possible, asked people to come up with schemes and proposals to develop the town for it to look at.

And there has been an incredible response, with a total of 80 ideas being put forward for Boston on the Town Deal website.

Of the 110 towns selected to bid for the cash, only one town – Millom in Cumbria – has a better response rate with 148.

Boston’s 80 still puts it well ahead of any of the other towns in terms of responses on the Government’s My Town website, set up to give people the opportunity to say how they want to spend the money.

Now, the Boston Town Deal Board, which is made up of a number of people in public life and business in the Boston district, will formulate a Town Investment Plan.

Led by Boston College CEO and principal Jo Maher as chair, the board also includes MP Matt Warman, Boston Council leader Paul Skinner, Finance Director of Oldrids & Downtown, Peter Isaac among others.

Ideas put forward include creating a permanent high tide effect for the River Witham to allow waterside developments, more cycle lanes, improved lighting, a permanent legal graffiti wall, pavement water fountains, and a food court.

There are also suggestions to restore the LaScala theatre, with a community hub/café area downstairs, an indoor specialist market at the old Marks & Spencer store, developing Central Park, more sports facilities, and repurposing Market Place to benefit the day and night economy.

The ideas can all be found on the website https://mytown.communities.gov.uk/town/boston/ - and more ideas can still be added.

Jo Maher said: “As a Board we are hugely impressed with the enthusiasm the Boston community is demonstrating by coming forward with so many ideas.

“I know there are still lots of conversations happening, and I would encourage those to continue, to ensure we can capture the breadth of potential projects.

“We are still in the consultation phase of the Towns Deals to inform the Investment Plan for Boston and there is still time for us to capture ideas and feedback.”

Deputy Chief Executive of Boston Borough Council and council lead for the Boston Town Deal Board Michelle Sacks has tweeted some of the ideas out and encouraged people to come forward with more. She tweeted: “Brilliant Boston people have suggested 80 ideas on #MyTown #levellingup.”

The next Town Deal board meeting, which is open to the public, takes place at The Granary, Elms Farm, Boardsides, Hubberts Bridge, Boston at 10am this Friday (28 February).

Find out more about the Town Deal at bostontowndeal.co.uk/