'Rail visitors to Cleethorpes expect to see the beach and pier - not a line of fast food trailers!'

Planning officer says trailer would 'clutter' North Prom

THERE  has been a setback for a trader who has been keen to operate  a trailer, selling  both hot and cold food, on North Promenade in Cleethorpes.

His application to site The Yummy Truck near the railway station has been refused  consent after a senior planner  at North East Lincolnshire Council deemed that it would "cause harm to the character of the area".

The proposal had sparked several objections, some from other food traders who expressed fears that further competition would put their own livelihoods at risk.

In a submission to NELC, one objector wrote: "The promenade already has an extensive range of food and drink permanent establishments and does not require another unit selling hot food or icecream.

"Visitors to Cleethorpes that arrive by train expect to see the beach and pier, not a line of fast food trailers.

In her report, explaining her decision, NELC case officer Bethany Loring writes: "It is felt that the introduction of another concession space, with a trailer of this nature, would create a cluttered feel along this section of North Promenade especially when viewed in conjunction with the existing operators. 

"The site is also close to the Grade II Listed Buildings, associated with the railway station, positioned to the southeast and west. 

"This clutter and intrusion on the open aspect of the promenade is considered harmful to the visual amenity of the area. 

"Whilst the physical area would be relatively limited, the cumulative impact of the introduction of a further concession within this area would be considered detrimental to the character of the area. 

"As such it is not considered that the design of the proposal is acceptable and would cause harm to the character of the area."  

                                                    

North Prom on a wet and windy day earlier this week

It's beginning to look a lot like appeasement! Auditorium agrees to animal rights group's demands

                                                                 

Grimsby Auditorium - is the management fearful of animal rights activists? 

PRESSURE from an animal rights organisation has prompted the Grimsby Auditorium to agree to withdraw the sale of pork-containing products at a show next month.

The touring production of Peppa Pig is due to be staged at the auditorium on March 3 and March 4.

The organisation, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, maintains it is inappropriate to sell pork snacks at an event where pigs are presented as cute and cuddly.

Perhaps fearing the show might be disrupted by activists, the auditorium  management has acceded to the group in the same way as was done last year by organisers of the Chichester Festival.

So far, management at the auditorium and its operators, Lincs Inspire, have been sheepish about commenting on the pork-and Peppa  issue, but say they will be taking the requested action because they want to be "considerate".                                  

The letter sent to the Auditorium by PETA

A scene from the forthcoming production

NELC poised to hike council tax by 2.99 per cent (plus add-on precept) at town hall budget meeting

                                             

Grimsby Town Hall where councillors are likely to approve council tax rise at meeting next week 

HOUSEHOLDERS in North East Lincolnshire face a council tax increase of 2.99 per cent in the forthcoming financial year.

In addition be a two per cent supplementary contribution towards adult social care.

The measures are likely to be rubber-stamped next week at a full council meeting in Grimsby Town Hall.

The increase would have been higher had it not for a pledge from Whitehall that all local authorities will benefit from a 6.1 per cent in grant aid to help pay for services.

A report to the meeting states: "Continued transformation and targeted change are  essential to ensure the council achieves the right outcomes and maintains financial sustainability over the medium term, particularly in adult social care where both demand and complexity are increasing."

The document also carries a note on ongoing capital projects such as redevelopment schemes in Grimsby's Top Town and on Cleethorpes seafront of Freshney Place which, despite Whitehall funding, have required substantial NELC investment.

It insists these are being "kept under regular review to ensure alignment with current priorities and ongoing viability, particularly in relation to corporate financing costs". 

The report concludes: "Despite a range of social, economic, and demand-related challenges, the administration remains focused on achieving financial sustainability by harnessing the area’s economic potential, expanding the local tax base and delivering efficient, affordable public services."

Olympic javelin-throwing medallist of 1980s was inspirational speaker at Blundell Park conference

                                                      

Former Olympic medal-winning javelin thrower Fatima Whitbread MBE was recent guest at Blundell Park, Cleethorpes, to give a talk to teachers, child pyschologists and others concerned with the welfare and development of children, especially those from difficult backgrounds. Ms Whitbread (64), who won a silver medal at the 1988 Olympics, was abandoned as a baby and spent the first 14 years of her life in institutions with other traumatised children. But by dint of perseverance, she became a great international athlete of the 1980s and, since her retirement from competition in 1992, has championed the cause of children in seeking to achieve their their goals. 

NELC's cabinet backs proposal for 150-place Grimsby school for children with special learning challenges

'Best way forward' - Cllr Cracknell (left) and NELC's director of children's services, Ann-Marie Matson

PLANS for a new school on the site of former high-rise flats off Freeman Street in Grimsby are being backed by North East Lincolnshire Council's cabinet.

The proposed school will be for up to 150 pupils with special needs.

Welcoming the endorsement, portfolio holder for children and education Margaret Cracknell said: "We know how many families in our area and across the country struggle to find appropriate education settings to support their children.

 "In Cabinet, we agreed that plans for a  school for children with social, emotional and mental health challenges in North East Lincolnshire are the best way forward."

Meanwhile, NELC's leader, Cllr Philip Jackson, commented: "This is not just an opportunity to support a group of children who will benefit from a new school, but also offers the possibility of prompting wider regeneration.

"A development like this creates skilled jobs and increases the number of people in that part of town thereby supporting local businesses."

The development is subject to planning consent which may prove a challenge given that the site is vulnerable to flood risk - with £2.2-2.3-million required to reduce the threat.

Assuming the venture goes ahead, capital costs funding would come partly from NELC and partly from Whitehall.

* At the same cabinet meeting, members agreed to invest in new electric cremators at Grimsby Crematorium and to press ahead with a scheme for a new bus station (to be known as a 'transport hub' - it sounds grander) off Osborne Street, Grimsby. 

The site off Freeman Street which has been earmarked for a new school

Grimsby and Cleethorpes MP in new blast at Corporation Road Bridge repairs delays

                                             

Melanie Onn: 'It's an absolute disgrace' 

GRIMSBY and Cleethorpes MP Melanie Onn has again vented her fury at what has become known as the "Corporation Road Bridge fiasco".

In her monthly question-and-answer session on the social media platform, Facebook, she fumed: "My goodness, what an absolute disgrace - the amount of money that has gone down the drain on this project is ridiculous."

The MP said she had been disturbed to be told that repairs had been delayed "for months"because staff employed by the original contractor had been working on other projects elsewhere.

Since then, a new contractor has been appointed by North East Lincolnshire Council, but there is still no word on the likely reopening date, nor on the prospective size of the final bill.

Ms Onn noted that the repairs were being funded largely by NELC and Whitehall and that "public money was hard to come by".

Her understanding was that NELC was seeking reimbursement for some of its expenditure but she had no further detail on this.

She said  that, henceforth, there should be no "wriggle room for delays".

"There has to be appropriate scrutiny and management," she insisted.

* During the 30-minute Q&A session, the MP confirmed that she had attended this week's  meeting of  Labour MPs and had given her support to Sir Keir Starmer continuing as Prime Minister for the sake of stability.

Suspected Monkey Pox case in patient at Grimsby care home proved to be false alarm

A SUSPECTED case of  Mpox (Monkey Pox) in a Grimsby care home turned out to be a false alarm.

The scare occurred when the elderly male resident, though otherwise well, presented with a widespread rash.

Mpox was first identified in laboratory monkeys in 1958, with the first human case occurring in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 

Since then it has spready globally with a particular surge in 2022. However, it is very rare in the UK.

The flu-like symptoms and rash are unpleasant but the condition is usually 'self-limiting' - it clears up after a few weeks.

A report on the Grimsby 'case' states: "There were no known factors that would have suggested that this patient, nor anyone else in, or associated with, the care home was a plausible risk for Mpox. 

"Despite epidemiology suggesting that Mpox was highly unlikely, four independent clinicians raised concerns and so the patient was admitted to a hospital isolation unit for further investigation. 

"He remained in hospital for an extended period due to  swabs being missed and late reported results.

"Unfortunately, he went on to acquire a healthcare associated infecton, HCAI, extending his admission further.

"Results eventually confirmed the absence of Mpox, and a diagnosis of viral rash was given."

The report goes on  identify a number of concerns about the case including: 

• Timeliness of testing and results 

• Communication challenges between involved agencies 

• Primary Care response to care home patients 

The case was circulated to the wider health system and review meetings took place with partner agencies in order to understand and share learning points and identify any potential issues in the system with regards to the Mpox response.