People should stop scaremongering about 'miracle chemical', says NELC's environment porfolio holder

Cornflowers, poppies and  daisies used to be common on roadside verges and on the edges of playing fields, but now many, if not most, have fallen victim to NELC's application of Glyphosate

CONTROVERSY  has bubbled up anew over North East Lincolnshire Council's extensive use of  a poison that destroys the vegetation that provides habitat for bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects.

As well as in parks and on verges, NELC sprays Glyphosate on pavements and in road gutters in order  to eradicate any plants it deems to be 'weeds'.

But some residents fret that, as well as destroying plantlife (that, after all, is its purpose), the poison also poses a health risk to humans and their pets.

At a scrutiny panel meeting this week, the council's portfolio holder for the environment, Cllr Henry Hudson (Con, Wolds), banged the drum for continued use of the controversial chemical.

He said people had been "getting silly" about use of Glyphosate (also known as Roundup).

"There's been too much scaremongering," he declared. "Glyphosate is not dangerous - it is totally safe.

"It is a miracle chemical!"

Support for this view came from cabinet colleague, Cllr Ron Shepherd (Con, Scartho), who runs a popular market garden in Bradley, with produce sold to the public at the gate.

He revealed that, under licence, he buys a more potent version than that available in shops and garden centre.

He insisted it was invaluable in killing the wild plant, horsetail, which otherwise would grow as much as three foot in a single season.

"It is also effective against dandelions, nettles, brambles and, to a lesser exent, thistles."

However, misgivings were sounded by some panel members not just about Glyphosate but also about the adequacy of last year's consultation exercise with the public.

"The process was too complex,"claimed Cllr Kevin Shutt (Lab, Heneage).

Worries were also sounded by Cllr Kathryn Wheatley (Lab, West Marsh) who said there were parts of her ward - notably Duke of York Gardens - where she certainly would not wish to see poison applied,

"I don't want chemical run-off entering watercourses which are important for otters and swans," she said.

Following a debate, which was sometimes fractious, the panel voted in favour of a Glyphosate-free six-month pilot exercise in six of the borough's wards to assess both the impact and the response of the public.

Although Glyphosate will not be used, there will be nothing to prevent councillors or the public from removing weeds by hand or tool if, for instance, their growth is deemed to pose a hazard.

"What's's the harm in that proposal?" commented panel chairperson Nicola Aisthorpe (Lib-Dem, East Marsh) who went on to remind colleagues: "Some weeds look quite nice".

Nowhere for wildlife - the base of trees could provide precious habitat for wildflowers and butterflies but it has been destroyed in favour of sterility in many parts of the borough including this verge on Taylors Avenue (above).

The Grimsby News says: If Glyphosate is "totally safe" why is is it a requirement for NELC operatives to wear protective clothing when applying it to open spaces? The portfolio holder is too gung-ho in his approach. There have been numerous examples, in previous years, of chemicals being deemed safe - only to be withdrawn later as their danger becomes apparent. And there is the wider question about the impact of this chemical on biodiversity - wildflowers and the bees, butterflies and birds that depend on them. Better for NELC - and for the community -to be safe than sorry.

Anxious time for Grimsby-area folk currently working or on holiday in Middle East

                                             

There are reckoned to be 300,000 UK citizens currently working or on holiday in the Gulf states (map: Wikimedia Commons)

THE flare-up in the Middle East has created worry for dozens of Grimsby-area folk currently working or on holiday in the region.

There are deadly missiles in the sky, and the situation will only get more dangerous if Iran and its allies continue to expand the conflict.

One member of Grimsby and Cleethorpes RSPB Group is on a fortnight’s birding holiday with a wildlife tour company in Oman.

There have only been reports of two drone strikes - both on Oman's commercial port of Duqm - but the UK Foreign Office is urging Britons not to go with 100km of the city of Salalah, the designated location of the last four days of the holiday.

Because airspace has been closed, many Britons wanting to fly home may have to wait longer than intended.

Meanwhile, in North East Lincolnshire  as elsewhere, consumers are waiting to ascertain the extent, if any, of the conflict on fuel prices and imported fruit, vegetables and other foodstuffs.

Only ten years left before Fuller Street footbridge falls down, claims councillor

 

The footbridge is said to be little used, especially after dark, except by foreshore dog-walkers. However, it is sometimes helpful to the police for crowd control when they are ushering away fans from Grimsby Town matches to Cleethorpes railway station.  

AN uncertain future beckons for the Fuller Street footbridge in Cleethorpes.

At a North East Lincolnshire Council meeting this week, Cllr Ron Shepherd, told colleagues: "It is  in a poor state - it has only ten years left before it falls down."

In February last year, a 15-year-old boy was questioned after a woman claimed she had been raped at the site of the bridge.

It is understood, there was no subsequent prosecution, but media coverage of the allegation prompted calls by Cleethorpes and Grimsby MP Melanie Onn and others for installation of floodlighting and CCTV.

However, following research on prospective costs, this will not happen.

The council has taken the view that it would be money squandered because crime statistics for the bridge are very low and, in any case, it is seldom used because, on its estuary side, access to the walkway is extremely difficult.

Continued Cllr Shepherd: "I am 6ft 2in, and I found it a challenge because access to the walkway is blocked by a wall.

"Particularly after dark, there is also a risk of trips and falls - and the ground sometime resembles a dog loo."

Instead of incurring expense on lighting and CCTV, the council is thus likely to install "advisory" signage, recommending  that those seeking to cross the railway track should use the purpose-built Suggits Lane, 560 metres away.

This structure is both illuminated after dark and monitored by CCTV.

* A  survey by Equans in April, 2024, noted that the bridge  is "not showing signs of stress, nor fractures, and is in fair condition though there is  surface rusting and moderate pitting due to its location and age". Any remedial work - at an estimated cost of £40,000 - would be centred around removing the paintwork, blast-cleaning  all rust and providing a suitable coating to all areas.

NELC faces £10,000 bill after arsonists strike at two Grimsby park play areas

 

North East Lincolnshire councillor Ron Shepherd at Quantock Park where a swing was damaged

TWO Grimsby have been damaged by flames after wheelie bins were set alight.  

At Barretts Rec, on Scartho Road, flames from three bins caused damage to the Tarmac near the swings and scorched part of an adjacent hedge.

At Quantock Park, in Scartho, a basket swing was destroyed after a bin was placed underneath it was ignited.

It is thought repairs will cost about £10,000.

Anyone with information is urged to phone  Humberside Police at  101 quoting the crime reference number 26000023827 for Barretts Rec and 26000004863 for Quantock Park.

Council mulls whether to designate two 'under-the-radar' locations as Local Wildlife Sites

A designation as official Local Wildlife Sites could be in prospect for these two locations -  bat-friendly Ainslie Park (above)  in Grimsby and a wildflower-rich patch of grassland (below) off Kings Road in Cleethorpes.  Both sites are regularly surveyed by North East Lincolnshire Council's ecology unit and volunteer naturalists.    

                                                            

       

Another week, another new housing estate application - this time for 250 homes on outskirts of Scartho

Artist's impression of how the development (which includes a 'woodland fringe') might look

A FIELD on the southern edge of Scartho has been earmarked for a new housing estate.

A consortium of builders - Humberside Land Developers - has applied to build up to 250 homes on 13.6-hectares of arable farmland off Louth Road with proposed access via Side Lane which is currently just a gravel path.

Surely, this will lead to loss of precious wildlife?

Not so, says Kevin Johnson, the ecologist commissioned by the applicants to carry out an onsite survey?

In a report, he says no evidence was found of nestings birds, nor amphibians, nor reptiles.

What about mammals such a foxes, deer, badgers, water voles, hares or rabbits?

Again, nothing at all apart from one wood mouse -  which was dead.

Nearby residents are being invited to comment on the proposal in advance of the proposal being determined by North East Lincolnshire Council.                                                  

Up to 350 homes could be built on field if NELC grants planning consent

                                                         

How safe is Fuller Street footbridge in Cleethorpes - and has time come for its removal?

                                              

The footbridge enables pedestrians to cross from Fuller Street to the Humber North Wall

OUGHT North East Lincolnshire Council to be doing more to make the Fuller Street bridge and North Wall area in Cleethorpes safer?

Yes, according to Independent councillors Steve Holland and Paul Henderson who are pressing for release of 

* Updated crime data

* Evidence of community consultation

* Input of police intelligence

There is a proposal for signage to  be installed warning people not to cross at night and to use alternative routes, but the two councillors believe this is insufficient.

They are also calling for  more steps to "safeguard people using the bridge, beyond advising them not to use it as it is dangerous".

They add: "There needs to  a robust plan to avoid the area becoming a no-go part of Cleethorpes."

At a communities scrutiny panel meeting on Thursday afternoon, it is possible that Cllr Henderson will expand further.

Meanwhile, another more controversial option is doing the rounds - that of removing the bridge which is believed to have been installed in 1975.

A report compiled by a NELC officer states: "As it is not a recognised Public Right of Way or Highway Structure, restrictions do not apply - only any historical legal agreement that may exist between the council and Network Rail. 

"Of note is  the close proximity of the new Suggitts Lane footbridge which could be used by the public as an alternative access to the sea wall area should this option be progressed."