Although the original concept of the Cuckoo Land Community Project was my personal idea, I stood back from the CLCP committee because it was better that people living alongside the land took control of the initiative.

Since being elected to the Borough Council in 2007, I have taken every opportunity to further the project.

It will be recalled that in November 2007, Wyberton Parish councillors Tebbs and Cory proposed Cuckoo Land as a site for affordable housing. A proposal to develop up to 50 per cent of the land for this purpose is still being explored through the democratic processes. This has potentially delayed the project by at least two years.

My actions have included: Strong representation of the views of the community at every council committee meeting concerning Cuckoo Land from late 2007 onwards; Regular contact with Borough officers to monitor progress; Updating residents at a meeting of the CLCP in St Thomas' Church in April 2008; Liaison between the Council and the CLCP committee; Calling a meeting of residents, held in St Thomas' School in December 2008, to which every household in the eastern half of South Ward and also Tytton Lane East received a hand delivered invitation. At this meeting I openly explained the situation as it then was and listened to the views of those present; Regular communication at a personal level with ward members by e-mail, telephone and face-to-face; Taking part in a round-table discussion with interested housing providers, CLCP committee members and council officers in February 2009, when I firmly presented the views and concerns of the residents; Ongoing discussion with environmental officers from Lincolnshire County Council to designate this land as part of the local Green Infrastructure; A workshop with wider representation is being planned.

I shall continue to represent the local residents and fight to retain Cuckoo Land as informal green, open space – so that it can provide 'time-out' land for all.

Coun Alison Austin
Councillor for South Ward
Boston Borough Council