LETTER: Regeneration plan for Holbeach little more than buying paint

I thank Coun Worth for his contribution (Mail, April 13) to the debate about who represents Holbeach at Lincoln, because that’s what his letter is about. Maybe a reply is in order and I’ll try to keep it brief, so as not to upset him too much.

He is, in part, personally responsible for the withdrawal of library funding and ran the first consultation, which was later declared unreasonable in the courts. No mention of this was made before the last election, though it was already under consideration.
 
The result, four years later, is a nice but much smaller library, the formation of a new second town centre at the Co-op who will doubtless greatly benefit and more closed shops on the High Street. This has exacerbated an already bad problem. I wonder what will come after May this time?

Take a walk up the High Street and round town Nick, count those empty shops and point out which new community facilities and infrastructure have come over the last ten years, as a direct result of previous building projects on the town’s edge and elsewhere.
What happened to the new medical centre? Who turned the lights off?

His regeneration plans so far consists mainly of buying some paint. It may help but we tried that ten-odd years ago and take up was small.
I’ll believe in promises of outside funding when it happens, maybe his friend at the Lottery fund will come good. I hope he does, though I was not consulted about the idea before it was announced.

How come he did not attempt this years ago, after all, he certainly has been the senior councillor in Holbeach for a long time. Too busy with his various portfolios in Lincoln and Spalding perhaps. I understand, that does tend to happen with professional politicians.

 
On the parish council I simply chair the parks committee. All decisions are taken jointly, we are not SHDC. They will decide how to move forward, not me.

Whilst we are at it, how come he voted for a Brexit motion at Lincoln and against a nearly identical one at Spalding? It’s hardly consistent and usefully indicates how much influence party politics has in our higher councils.
Encouraging traders to use the Boston Road car park was the point of the proposal to reduce long stay charges, since that frees up parking closer to the shops.

Nick will remain the ward councillor for Holbeach Hurn and deputy leader of SHDC whatever happens in May and I hope to continue working with him, so I’ll stop now, he may have the last word if he wishes.
Readers who want to talk about his other points can find me on Holbeach market during the campaign or about town most days and my number is on the council website.

Coun Paul Foyster
District and parish councillor for Holbeach Town ward

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