Council confident computer users in four local libraries will benefit from machine upgrades

Computer upgrades ahoy - Grimsby Library

                                                              
NEW, faster and more reliable public network  desktop computers are to be installed in four public libraries - Cleethorpes, Grimsby, Immingham and Waltham.

The need for an upgrade was one of the issues highlighted in responses to a  consultation exercise which took place between January and March this year.

The new devices will not only be faster and more reliable, but they will also have the latest software and  larger screens.

Each library will also have one 34″ monitor and a larger keyboard for the benefit of visually impaired or disabled users.

Says North East Lincolnshire Council's portfolio holder for culture and heritage, Cllr Hayden Dawkins: "These new PCs will give our customers a much better experience, with faster speeds and greater reliability."

There will be no access to the public network in any of the library branches, which are operated by Lincs Inspire, on Monday and Tuesday, November 25 and 26  so that the installations can take place.                                                                                          

Cleethorpes Library

Waltham Library

                                               

North end of Cleethorpes takes a clobbering from unforgiving high tides and the winter weather

Higher than normal tides and strong currents have this week resulted in battering for the north end of Cleethorpes, with shingle lifted on to the promenade near the old Wonderland building. These pictures were taken shortly before 9am today.

Real Christmas trees from Louth and the West Midlands will soon be Grimsby's star attractions

                                                              

What a beauty! The 23ft high Nordmann Fir that will soon stand proud in Grimsby's St James' Square  

WITH the dark nights drawing in and temperatures dropping, North East Lincolnshire Council officials have selected their festive trees for Christmas 2024.

One will be a 23ft high Nordmann Fir that has been grown by Strawson Woodland at Little Cawthorpe, near Louth.

It is being paid for  by a generous donation from Newlincs Development Ltd, NELC's  waste management contractor. 

Meanwhile, here will be an even taller tree -  40ft -  to mark the first Christmas at the new-look Riverhead Square.

This will be a Norway Spruce, grown in the West Midlands and  selected from Real Christmas Trees in Birmingham.

A smaller tree - of about 12ft - will be installed at Grimsby Community Recycling Centre. This has also been handpicked from Strawsons.

More details about the festive switch-on ceremonies are due to be announced later. 

Consortium seeking to build 3,500 homes in Freshney Valley pledges to safeguard wildlife and landscape

                                                                 

Is this the future for the Freshney Valley? The image above reflects the sort of development favoured by the Harworth Group. 

THE consortium seeking to build some 3,500 new homes close to the River Freshney has pledged to safeguard and enhance the existing wildlife and landscape.

The Rotherham-based Harworth Group, along with local management company M.F. Strawson Ltd  and planning consultants Pegasus, are eager  to develop the leafy outskirts of west Grimsby.

Their 'vision' is for 3,500 new homes, two community centres, sports fields, a primary school and a new road to  connect the A46 Grimsby Road, Aylesby Road, and the A1136 Great Coates Road.

The trouble for the consortium is that their 'vision' is not one shared by many people in this part of Grimsby who dislike the prospect of countryside near their homes being urbanised.

However, the consortium insists it will provide compensation in the form of a 'Freshney Valley country park' which will "will look to create a mosaic of different landscape types".

It says these will include:

* Woodland 

* Grassland 

* Wildflower meadow 

* Wetland meadow 

* Ponds, swales and water features 

* Scrub 

* Parks and squares

It states: "A new Freshney Valley Country Park will be created that will protect the  chalk stream with a protective buffer which will include a wildflower meadow and native planting. 

"The creation of a two-stage river channel with vegetated riparian and marginal habitats will provide improvements for both flora and fauna. The existing widths of the river channel will be retained and its water quality protected.

"The creation of additional ponds and wetland meadow will also attract more wildlife and improve overall biodiversity. Improved footpaths and opportunity for natural play will seek to achieve the right balance between nature and public access."

The so-called Grimsby West project has been in the pipeline for a couple of years, and now the consortium is determined to make it a reality.

In advance of submitting a planning application in the New Year, it is currently in the process of distributing promotional leaflets (with feedback form) to households which might be affected.

It will also hold a public consultation exercise at the  Pelham Suite on Cambridge Road between 4pm and 7.30pm on December 3. 

The Freshney Valley - the prospective developers say they will create a "mosaic of different landscape types"'

                             

The yellow areas are where the new homes are proposed

The layout of the proposed country park

Strange encounter! Scarce wading bird wasn't in the least alarmed by 200-plus country park runners

The great white egret seemed hardly to notice  the runners

                                                          


UNLIKE little egrets which are common, great white egrets are seldom seen in Cleethorpes.

Normally, it is a timid species which takes flight at first sight or sound of people or dogs.

But one remarkable bird, which has spent most of this week at the country park, has proved remarkably fearless.

Even with 200 runners jogging past, during this morning's Park Run, it scarcely batted an  eyelid.

Most of the runners had other things on their minds, but at least one seemed to spot the magnificent bird which, incidentally, stands taller than a heron.

Wow, what's that? A runner glances back at the unusual bird 

                                                                       

And the egret seems to acknowledge his  interest

The rest of the runners carry on their merry way

Proposal to name island in Cleethorpes Country Park in honour of former NELC ecology manager

                                                             

Cleethorpes Country Park - with the island in the background and the dog bathing area on the right. The wading bird is a great white egret. 

THE island in the lake in Cleethorpes Country Park is soon likely to be named the Mike Sleight Island.

This would be to commemorate North East Lincolnshire  Council's former ecology manager  who was instrumental in establishing the park in 1988.

The proposal is likely to be rubber-stamped by councillors at a meeting next week.

A report seen by the Grimsby News states: " Mike, who sadly died in September, worked tirelessly to promote, protect and enhance the country park so that it could be of benefit for both nature and people. Mike.

"He was personally responsible for planting thousands of the trees that now grow within the park. 

"His passion for our local environment and wildlife  have contributed to the lives of generations of people in our borough."

                                             

Mike Sleight who sadly died aged 73 in summer

In addition, a section of the path from Martin Wragg Way, near the main entrance, to Links Road could be named Sleight Way.

At the same meeting, councillors will be asked to approve a management plan for the country park which will run to 2026.

Stated aspirations for the park include "improving the dog swimming area to provide a quality green space suitable for community recreation".

Also proposed are  improvements to existing paths and installation of interpretation boards around the site "to showcase the biodiversity and thereby educate the community".

Earlier in the year, there were complaints about the upkeep of the country park but some of these have been addressed - for instance, repairs to footbridges and fishing platforms plus extensive sedge clearance".

A heron admires the view from one of the newly-repaired footbridges

                                   

Overgrown reeds and sedges have recently been cut back to encourage improved water flow 

              

What future Grimsby's main post office - and its staff - if parent company decides to call things quits?

                                                              

It's almost like part of the family but shadow of uncertainty now looms over Grimsby's main post office

AN uncertain future for the  main post office in Grimsby's Top Town.

According to widely circulated reports, it is one of 115 directly-owned branches earmarked either for transfer to a retail partner or closure.

UK-wide, more than 1,000 jobs nationwide are at risk.

The branch on Victoria Street is seldom less than busy, so any reduction - or loss - of services would be a huge blow to  customers.

Unless a retail partner takes on - and rejuvenates  - the business, efforts to regenerate this part of Grimsby would also be undermined.

According to the Communication Workers Union, this is the list of premises at risk of closure:

* Bangor 

* Belfast City

* Edinburgh City 

* Glasgow 

* Haddington

* Inverness

* Kirkwall 

* Londonderry

* Newtownards

* Saltcoats 

* Springburn Way 

* Stornoway 

* Wester Hailes

* Barnes Green 

* Bransholme 

* Bridlington 

* Chester-le-Street 

* Crossgates 

* Eccles

* Furness House 

* Grimsby - 67-71 Victoria Street, DN31 1AA

* Hyde 

* Kendal 

* Manchester 

* Morecambe 

* Morley 

* Poulton le Fylde

* Prestwich 

* Rotherham 

* Salford City 

* Sheffield City 

* South Shields

* St Johns, Newbury

* Sunderland 

* The Markets, Leeds 

* Birmingham 

* Breck Road , Liverpool

* Caernarfon 

* Didsbury 

* Harlesden 

* Kettering 

* Kingsbury 

* Leigh

* Leighton Buzzard 

* Matlock

* Milton Keynes

* Northolt 

* Old Swan 

* Oswestry 

* Oxford 

* Redditch 

* Southall 

* St Alban

* Stamford

* Stockport

* Wealdstone 

* Barnet 

* Cambridge City

* Canning Town 

* Cricklewood 

* Dereham 

* Golders Green 

* Hampstead 

* Romford

* Kilburn

* Kingsland

* Lower Edmonton 

* Bethnal Green

* South Ockendon

* Stamford Hill

* Dunraven Place 

* Gloucester 

* Liskeard 

* Merthyr Tydfil

* Plymouth

* Bristol

* Newquay 

* Paignton 

* Port Talbot 

* Stroud 

* Teignmouth 

* Yate Sodbury 

* Baker Street

* Bexhill on Sea 

* Cosham

* Great Portland Street

* Kensington 

* Knightsbridge 

* Melville Road 

* Paddington Quay 

* Portsmouth 

* Raynes Park 

* Romsey 

* Westbourne 

* Windsor

* Worlds End 

* Aldwych 

* Brixton 

* Broadway

* City of London

* East Dulwich

* Eccleston Street 

* High Holborn 

* Houndsditch

* Islington

* Kennington Park

* London Bridge

* Lupus Street

* Mount Pleasant 

* Vauxhall Bridge Road 

Further information is awaited.