Keen competition expected at by-election to fill NELC's Croft Baker ward vacancy

                                           

Tree-lined St Peter's Avenue is in the Croft Baker ward

 

A DATE of Thursday November 12 has been set for the by-election in Cleethorpes’ Croft Baker ward.

The vacancy on North East Lincolnshire Council has been brought about by the resignation through ill health of Labour representative Marian Jervis.

Croft Baker includes St Peter’s Avenue, Pier Gardens and much of the promenade.

The seat - which regularly changes political allegiance - is certain to be contested by the main political parties, and it may be that one or more Independents will also throw their hats into the ring.

For prospective candidates, NELC is holding a briefing session at Grimsby Town Hall at 5.30pm today (Wednesday).

It will cover the following:

* Election timetable

* Qualifications and disqualifications

* Nomination process

* Appointment of election agents

* Voter ID

* Candidates’ expenses.

Says a council spokesperson: "Anyone  thinking of standing as a candidate, particularly if new to the nomination and election process, is strongly urged to attend the briefing session which will last for approximately one hour."

The closing date for nominations to be submitted to the municipal offices in Town Hall Square, Grimsby, is 4pm on Friday October 16.

Croft Baker ward has two other sitting candidates, NELC leader Oliver Freeston (Reform UK) and Malcolm Morland  (Lab) who chairs the authority’s economy, culture and tourism scrutiny panel.

                                        

Modest hammer prices for two historic Grimsby trawler oil paintings at Louth auction sale

 

The relatively subdued market for oil-on-board paintings of historic  Grimsby trawlers was reflected in the hammer prices paid at an auction held today by John Taylors of Louth. Keith Baldock's study (above) of the Lord Beaty fetched £70 while a bid of just £35 was sufficient to secure ASO Moore's depiction of the Prince Philip.

                                                          

Tragedy as emergency services unable to save man found in sea off holiday beach

                                                                 

The inshore lifeboat and air ambulance were both prompt in their attendance

A RACE to save  a man seen floating  in the water off Humberston proved in vain.

After the alarm was raised early yesterday afternoon, emergency services attended the beach of Anthony's Bank car park.

But after he was lifted from the incoming tide, it became evident that, sadly,  the man was lifeless. He was pronounced dead  at the scene.

The man's identity and age have not yet been released, but his family have been informed as has been the Coroner.

An inquest will be held at a date to be fixed.                                   

Despite their best efforts, there was nothing the ambulance crew could do  to resuscitate the man 

The incident occurred on the beach off Anthony's Bank car park

      

Sadness at unexpected death of best-selling novelist and former Lincolnshire MP Jeffrey Archer

                                     

Jeffrey Archer - politician turned best-selling novelist who aspired to be Prime Minister or captain of England cricket team

There is shock and sadness today at the unexpected death yesterday at his home in Cambridge of Jeffrey Archer - one of the most colourful political and literary figures of the past half-a-century. Although he had reached the advanced age of  86, he was one of those characters that you half expect to live for ever. There will still be many local people who will remember when, between 1969 and 1974, he was Conservative MP for Louth at a time when the constituency also embraced Cleethorpes and Immingham. Lord Archer was also a vigorous fund-raiser for several charities including the RNLI.  Earlier this year he completed what he claims to be his "most satisfying" novel, Adam and Eve, which is published today by Harper Collins.  He had been looking forward to publicising it with a weekend engagement at the Cheltenham Literature Festival. In an open letter to potential readers, this is what he wrote:

After 50 years of storytelling, I have decided the time has come to write my final novel.

I first had the idea for Adam and Eve when reading a speech Adolf Hitler made in 1940 that caused Winston Churchill to respond in kind in the House of Commons later that year.

Churchill’s words inspired me to read several more speeches by both war leaders while at the same time seeking advice from two eminent historians, even before picking up my pen to write Adam and Eve.

The idea itself was simple enough: if Hitler had not changed his mind, three times, on 15 September 1940, concerning Operation Seelöwe, could the Second World War have ended within days, and which side would have been the victor? 

If Hitler had stuck to his original plan, would history have taken a different course?

But, as a writer, how do you tackle such a momentous challenge? 

I decided to tell the story through the eyes of two young people who came from totally different backgrounds. 

One was the daughter of an Earl, the other was the son of a shepherd, but they had one thing in common: they were both born on the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918, when the First World War ended.

You can follow their lives, from their birth on that day, to September 15, 1940, when they caused Hitler once again to change his mind.

This not only changed their lives, but possibly all of our lives.

I have pent many happy hours over the past 50 years since writing Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less in 1976, Kane and Abel in 1979  and more recently, from 2018, The William Warwick series.

However, Adam and Eve has now proved to be my most satisfying writing endeavour, and I can only hope you will feel the same way.

Allow me to end by thanking all my readers from around the world, in 119 countries (translated into 51 languages) from Sydney to Toronto, from Buenos Aires to New York, from Mumbai to Tokyo, while not forgetting my homeland which has allowed this simple storyteller the privilege of spending so many hours in your company.

I should have been Prime Minister, captain of the England cricket team or won an Olympic gold for the 100 metres, but then we can all dream. . .

As the French novelist, Marcel Proust, once reminded us: "We always end up doing the thing we’re second best at."

I can only hope that you’ve discovered what you’re second best at.                                       

The former Lincolnshire MP's last novel is published today

– Jeffrey

Was it the duck that did it? Surprise as developers pull plug on 300-home scheme outside Scartho

                                                 

Teal - the drake (right) has particularly striking head plumage

A TINY species of duck may have helped scupper plans for a housing development on the outskirts of  Grimsby and Cleethorpes.

When a bird survey was conducted last winter on the site off  Louth Road in New Waltham, no fewer than 84 Teal were counted.

If the 300-dwelling project had gone ahead, the Teal  would have  been displaced.

This was one of the factors - not the main one - that, in April this year, prompted North East Lincolnshire to refuse the planning application submitted by agents on behalf of Strathmore Estates and Cyden Homes.

As expected, an  appeal was lodged.

But at a hearing on Friday in Grimsby Town Hall, the appeal was withdrawn by Strathmore Estates.

The decision will delight the numerous residents who have long  objected to the scheme.

But its downside is that the borough will miss out on precious new homes.

In addition, the scheme, if approved, would, over a five-seven year period, have generated an estimated 2,289 construction jobs  plus ancillary employment and other economic benefits to the local economy. 

Although the welfare of the Teal -  a very beautiful duck - came into the reckoning, what mostly prompted NELC's refusal was the potential impact on open countryside.

In a pre-appeal statement, the authority said: "The project would extend into the rural landscape between Scartho, Waltham and New Waltham, resulting in a visual intrusion which would be detrimental to the character and value of this countryside location. 

"Due to this extension into the rural landscape, the housing and its extent would be more prominent and dominant when compared to what exists now. 

"This landscape has a sensitivity to change. It is a pleasant landscape with rural qualities which risks being undermined by the likelihood of  creeping urbanism

It is not known why Strathmore decided to withdraw its appeal.

The fact that the land - on the west side of Louth Road outside Scartho - is not earmarked as a development site in the Local Plan may also have weighed heavily in its deliberations.

NELC councillor steps down from role as portfolio for safer and stronger communities

                                                 

James Sawkins - the Waltham councillor has stepped down from the cabinet

A MEMBER of North East Lincolnshire Council's cabinet has "stepped away" from his his responsibilities for personal reasons.  

James Sawkins (Reform UK, Waltham) has been portfolio holder for safer and stronger communities.

Says council leader Oliver Freeston (Reform UK, Croft Baker): "I have agreed with Cllr Sawkins that  he will step away from his cabinet post. 

"Given the sensitive personal circumstances he is dealing with, I believe this is the right and responsible approach."

The leader continues: "The responsibilities he has  held will  be temporarily shared between existing cabinet members, saving council taxpayers' money. 

"As leader, I oversee all portfolios and will ensure everything remains properly covered as I have done since granting compassionate leave a few weeks ago. 

"I will set out longer-term arrangements in the next couple of weeks." 

This is the second cabinet surprise in recent weeks and follows Cllr Freeston's sacking from the  portfolio of culture, heritage and tourism, Tanya Brasted, who now sits as an Independent in the West Marsh ward.

Shorebirds retreat to the safety of the outer sands as dogs today return to Cleethorpes central beach

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With September over, dog-owners have  today been taking the first opportunity since before Easter to walk their dogs on the central beach in Cleethorpes. Meanwhile,  shorebirds, such as the Knot pictured,  have retreated to the outer beach where they are generally free from being chased.