Boston Bypass Independents
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Logo of the Boston Bypass Independents

The Boston Bypass Independents were elected to Boston Borough Council at the 2007 local elections campaigning on the single-issue of getting a bypass for the town of Boston.

The party contested all the Boston-area wards, taking 25 of Boston Borough Council's 32 seats to become the first party ever to take overall control of the council since the borough was formed in 1972.

According to its Electoral Commission records, it had income of £6,639 (including £460 subscriptions), and expenditure of £6,248, for the year 2007, in which it contested the local council elections. In the year 2006, it had an income of £656, and an expenditure of £340. [1]

Formation

In 2006, and in response to campaigns from the Boston & District Bypass Pressure Group (BBPG) and the Boston Bypass & Economic Growth Pressure Group (BBEG), Richard Austin founded the 'Boston Bypass Independents', a political party with the aim of campaigning for a bypass in a Lincolnshire town. Frustrated by a perceived lack of support from Boston Borough Council, Lincolnshire County Council and the government, its supporters hoped that if they put up candidates to contest the local elections, their plans for a bypass would receive greater endorsement.

Inspired by the success of the Kidderminster Hospital Campaign, which won 16 of the seats on Wyre Forest District Council in 2004, supporters of the Boston Bypass Independents believed electoral success, could bring forward a new road scheme for the town by many years.

Election performances

Boston Borough Council elections, 2007

The party's slogan for the 2007 local elections was "Getting Boston Moving". The Boston Bypass Independents won the election in a landslide victory with 25 seats, the first party ever to take overall control of council since the borough was formed in 1972. All the Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors lost their seats, with only five Conservatives and two Independents also elected.

Policies

Other policies favoured by the Boston Bypass Independents are:

• Short-term traffic-flow improvement
• A better bus service
• A review of car parking charges
• Better public toilets
• More recycling
• Less litter
• Reducing anti-social behaviour
• More off-street parking for residents
• Full investigation of the affairs of the Princess Royal Sports Arena

References

• Boston Bypass Independents website
• Boston Bypass Independents to contest elections
• Bypass group wins race for Boston
• Political 'earthquake' shakes council