Planning green light for four homes to be built on green and leafy site off Humberston Avenue

                                                    

These greenhouses on the site have evidently seen better days

THE planning go-ahead has been given for four homes to be built on land to the rear of  33-35 Humberston Avenue in Humberston.

There had been opposition to the project from some nearby residents and the parish council, but the outline application from Louisa Pungi enjoyed the support of North East Lincolnshire Council's planning committee.

NELC's trees officer, Paul Chaplin, had expressed initial concern, but has withdrawn his objections after receiving assurances about the safeguarding of mature pine trees, which are covered by a protection order, to one edge of the site.

A planning condition has been imposed that two bat-roosting boxes and two bird-nesting boxes should be installed either on the buildings or on neighbouring trees.

A note on the bird boxes stipulates that these should target a variety of species such as Redstart, Nuthatch, Spotted Flycatcher, Wryneck, Blue Tit, Great Tit and House Sparrow.

It is many years since Spotted Flycatchers and Redstarts have nested in North East Lincolnshire, and probably more than a century (if ever) for the Wryneck which is now thought to be extinct as a breeding species in the whole of Britain.

Details of the types of houses have not yet been divulged, but it is understood that they are likely to be built by a firm based in Fotherby, near Louth.

There has been a growing trend in applications for so-called backland developments in the large gardens behind many of the houses on Humberston Avenue.    

Could new use be in prospect soon for former St Peter's Avenue home of Lloyds Bank?

                                             

High hopes that the former bank could soon have new occupants

THE premises that used to house the Cleethorpes branch of Lloyds Bank could re-open in time for Christmas - as a shop.

A planning application has been submitted to rejig the interior of the building on St Peter's Avenue.

The applicant is Mr M. Nunn, but no details have yet been about what sort of goods might be on sale.

Given that the agent is Grimsby-based Ross Davy Associates, it is thought that the business might be an independent rather than a national chain because the big retailers typically engage their own agents.

There had been speculation that would-be restaurateurs had been running their eyes over the property, but, if so, it seems nothing has materialised.

Assuming planning consent is granted by NELC, more information is likely to be forthcoming shortly.  

   

To support the application, agents Ross Davy Associates have submitted this plan of the proposed indoor layout 

After-dark tennis - including in winter - now an option at Cleethorpes courts after installation of floodlighting

 

After-dark  tennis has become an option at the Barretts Recreation Ground in Cleethorpes following the installation of six floodlights by locally-based  electrical specialists Townsend. The courts are operated by the company, We Do Tennis, and can be booked via the website https://wdtvenues.co.uk/nelincs-parks

NELC committee reckons outside space at Cleethorpes Library needs a little more love and care

 

Are there ways in which the outside space at Cleethorpes Library could be improved? A North East Lincolnshire Council libraries committee thinks an enhancement initiative could have a positive impact on the 'visitor experience'. This reflects a change of thinking from that of not many months ago when there was talk of transferring the books to the leisure centre and selling off the site for redevelopment.   

Major drainage works required ahead of construction of new amenity building on Cleethorpes seafront

    

Work on construction of the proposed new amenity building on Cleethorpes seafront  faces a hitch after it emerged that major drainage works are required to service the three-storey property off Sea Road. This is expected to result in lane closures on Central Promenade for as long as eight weeks. Rather than carrying out the installations this month and next, which is peak holiday time, contractors Lindum say this part of the project will be carried out  in autumn. Meanwhile NELC says: "There will be no delay to the construction  timetable nor extra cost." There has been no word yet on whether any commercial organisation has agreed to take space in the building which is due to be completed in spring.

NELC in new marketing drive to sell off former playing field off Davenport Drive in Cleethorpes

       

Offers are again being sought for the seven-acres former playing field off Davenport Drive, Cleethorpes, and to the rear of Bursar Primary Academy. The site's owners, North East Lincolnshire Council, secured planning consent for construction of  58 homes some years ago, but it has been unable to entice developers. The authority now says other uses might be considered for the land. Anyone interested in making an offer can do so through the agents, PPH Commercial (tel: 07710 344602).

                                                        

Late intervention by lawyers scuppers Pleasure Island redevelopment scheme - at least for time being

                                        

Wait and see! It is still not known whether Pleasure Island redevelopment will go ahead

THERE has been a late twist in the great Pleasure Island redevelopment saga.

Lawyers have entered the fray.

Just hours before councillors were due to determine the proposal at this morning's planning committee meeting in Grimsby Town Hall, North East Lincolnshire Council received at least one - possibly two - lawyers' letters, warning them not to proceed.

The contents of  the letter(s) were not read out at the meeting, so those members of the public in attendance were left in the dark. 

But the message was plain. If the committee were to approve the application - as recommended by senior planning officer Cheryl Jarvis - then a legal challenge might be pursued in the High Court.

Following a new recommendation, this time from NELC's legal team, the committee resolved to defer deliberation of the application pending further consideration of the application.

Deferment was backed by committee chairman Cllr Matthew Patrick (Lab, Heneage) with support from both from Cllr Henry Hudson (Con, Wolds) and Cllr  Hayden Dawkins (Con, Humberston & New Waltham).

It subsequently emerged that one of the letters has been written by the law firm representing Tesco which is unhappy about the prospect of a Lidl discount supermarket opening on a patch  from  which its Cleethorpes superstore draws many of its customers.

It is possible that the Pleasure Island  application might be determined at the August meeting of  the planning committee, but it seems just as  likely that the new wrangling could drag on into next year and possibly beyond.

The Grimsby News says: This matter has been handled unsatisfactorily by NELC. The legal correspondence had missed the deadline for submissions and so should have been  disregarded. Failing that, it should have been read out to the committee so that members could have formed their own judgement on whether it represented  a vexatious, delaying tactic  by opponents of the scheme or if it has genuine merits. The temptation now for the applicants will be to bypass NELC - on the grounds of non-determination - and submit their proposal direct to the independent national body, the Planning Inspectorate.