Emergency lifesaving equipment to be installed on external wall of building society's Grimsby branch

                                           

                                               

THE Nationwide Building Society's Grimsby branch is to have emergency lifesaving equipment installed at its branch in  Grimsby.

It states: "We are committed to supporting the communities we serve.

" As part of this commitment, we plan to install an external defibrillator and bleed control kit at our branch in Victoria Street.

"Each piece of equipment will be housed in its own dedicated, secure external cabinet and will be installed on an external wall."

It continues: "The cabinets need to be in a prominent location where they can easily be seen and, at a height where they can be reached in case they are needed in an emergency.  

"We have proposed that the cabinets are fixed in locations that, while prominent, have limited impact on the appearance of the conservation area." 

It is understood the building society has taken advice from St John Ambulance.

Don't dilly-dally on the way! NELC leader urges greater project urgency from utility companies

 

It angers residents and road users when closures are enforced for unnecessarily long periods

THE Leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, Cllr Oliver Freeston, has this week written to major utility companies calling for greater care and consideration over roadworks and traffic management arrangements.

Letters have been sent to the following:

* Anglian Water

* Northern Powergrid

* Cadent

* Openreach 

* Virgin Media 

His missive comes in the wake of ongoing concerns about temporary traffic lights remaining in place while little or no work appears to be taking place, as well as, in some cases,  breaches of permit conditions.

Utility companies are responsible for their own traffic management arrangements, and NELC has limited enforcement powers. 

In certain circumstances, a fixed penalty notice of £240 can be issued.

Says Cllr Freeston (Reform UK, Croft Baker): "Residents are fed up with unnecessary disruption on our roads. 

"We all understand that essential utility works have to take place, but traffic management should be properly managed and removed as soon as it is no longer needed.

"At present, the penalties available to councils are simply not a sufficient deterrent for large utility companies.

"I have written directly to the major firms involved, asking them to show greater care and consideration."

The council leader says he will also be making representations to local MPs, Melanie Onn and Martin Vickers  for tougher penalties, giving councils the powers they need properlyto  enforce permits and minimise disruption.

He continues: "Our roads are already under significant pressure. Where disruption can be avoided or reduced, it should be.”

                                                                     

Many tributes to "kindness and laughter" of soft-spoken and caring Cleethorpes funeral home owner

                                                  

Joyce Schofield - a delightful lady who will be greatly missed

THERE have been many tributes to Cleethorpes funeral home director Joyce Schofield whose death was announced earlier this week.

Joyce was owner and partner at Mashfords Funeral Home located near the seafront.

She died unexpectedly, at her home in Laceby, on September 13, aged 74.

In her professional capacity, she was known to many hundreds of Mashfords customers for her soft voice and warm, kindly and comforting  attitude to those recently bereaved.

As the death notice in the Grimsby Telegraph rightly says: "The love, kindness and laughter Joyce brought to so many lives will never be forgotten, and she will be deeply missed by all who knew her."  

She leaves husband Phill, daughters Claire and Rachel, sons-in-law Kieran and Craig,  grandsons Sam and James, sister Carole and cousin and friend to many.

A celebration of Joyce's life will take place at Grimsby Crematorium on Thursday  October 1 at 12 noon.

There is a request for family flowers only, and donations, in Joyce's memory, if desired, may be made to the British Heart Foundation. A collection box will be available at the service.

At the request of Joyce's family, mourning dress is optional.

Revealed: NELC is proceeding with contentious Pier Gardens revamp without benefit of planning consent

                                                   

Pier Gardens as it looked in late summer a couple of years ago

                                                                                

WITH the project already so far advanced, it is unlikely that North East Lincolnshire councillors will support a 1,041-signature petition calling for a pause on reconfiguration of Pier Gardens on Cleethorpes seafront.

But the petition - to be debated at Thursday's full council meeting -  will provide an opportunity for councillors to debate the wisdom of the scheme which has dismayed many residents.

Apart from the installation of play structures, it is understood there is no planning permission for any aspect of the controversial scheme.

The administration, then led by the Conservatives, decided to skip this process, thereby denying the public - and its own officers plus statutory organisations - the opportunity to lodge formal comments which would have been open for public scrutiny.

Again, disregarding its moral, if not legal, obligations,  it went ahead with the felling of hundreds of healthy trees which were protected by virtue of growing in the coastal conservation area.

If any householder in a conservation area did likewise - even by felling  a single tree - he or she would face the prospect of prosecution. 

Thursday's meeting starts at 7pm, and members of the public will be able to attend at Grimsby Town Hall or watch proceedings online.

The dedicated wildlife area at the north end of Pier Gardens has now been destroyed

Council planners turn down BT application for 'street hub' on St Peter's Avenue pavement

                                                         

An example from elsewhere of what BT had in mind for St Peter's Avenue

THERE has been a setback for BT in its proposal to set up a two-sided digital advertising display board - described as a "street hub" - outside 61 St Peter's Avenue in Cleethorpes.

According to the company, the installation would also have enhanced mobile phone reception, counted pedestrian footfall and provided generous amounts of advertising opportunities for North East Lincolnshire Council. 

However, planning consent has been refused by the authority on the grounds that the sign would  "impede pedestrian movement and prejudice public and highway safety given the limited adopted footway width which would remain following installation".

                                                                

The site earmarked (unsuccessfully) by BT for its sign

After Parkway cinema, Starbucks and Nando's, who next will sign up for Freshney Place leisure project?

                                    

The Freshney Place site where so far only three tenants have signed up for a slice of the action - but could more be on the way?

THERE are hopes that another restaurant or pub group - maybe more than one - might sign up for Grimsby's Freshney Place leisure project before the end of the year.

Up to now, interest from prospective tenants seems to have been scant.

The Parkway cinema will be a very important anchor tenant, but, otherwise,  only Starbucks and Nando's have so far signed up.

Starbucks is already well represented with existing premises  in and around Grimsby, and it seems doubtful if the coffee house chain and Nando's will, between them,  provide much of a magnet.

However, a North East Lincolnshire Council update on bookings progress strikes a note of encouragement.

It states: "Principal negotiations have now been concluded for further well-known leisure-based anchor tenants which will complement the previously signed deals with Parkway Cinemas, Starbucks and Nando’s. 

"The rental levels are as in line with predictions. 

"Work is continuing on the finer details of the quantum of landlord works / landlords capital contributions.

"It is  hoped that the council will be in a position rapidly to exchange contracts which would further build confidence with existing tenants of Freshney Place and other potential occupiers." 

It was hoped that the situation would be clarified at a Freshney Place sub-committee meeting yesterday evening, but, at short notice and for reasons that have not been explained, it was postponed to a later date.

Until there are signatures on the dotted line, the identities of  interested parties are being kept under wraps.

Council and Anglian Water in talks on how to tackle challenge of population increase of sewer rats

                                        

Rat on the run - sewers are a favourite abode because they provide food and a predator-free habitat 

AN apparent explosion in North East Lincolnshire's rat population is being addressed by the council.

The authority does not have its own rodent eradication team  so it has been in talks with Anglian Water, which maintains the sewers, about a joint approach.

There may also be a role for a private contractor - and possibly other local authorities -  in any forthcoming initiative.

Says a council memorandum: "Our Officers have commenced a review of potential pest control service options, including engagement with local authorities, the National Pest Technicians Association  and others to understand delivery models, resource requirements, associated responsibilities and operational challenges." 

Turning to the option of  sewer baiting, the report continues: "Discussions with Anglian Water have secured an outline commitment to explore partnership working subject to the council developing a robust evidence base to demonstrate need and identify infestation hotspots. 

"Benchmarking is also being undertaken to understand approaches adopted by local authorities and water companies, particularly in relation to responsibility for sewer baiting activity. 

"The council does not currently have the specialist expertise required to deliver pest control or sewer baiting services directly. 

"Should partnership discussions with Anglian Water not lead to an agreed approach, specialist external provision would need to be procured." 

The report concludes: "Officers will continue to strengthen the evidence base and progress discussions with Anglian Water to determine the most effective and sustainable approach to managing rodent activity across the borough."

Rats seems to have fared well in the hot summer, and they also benefit from takeaway meals being part-discarded on streets and the feeding of gulls with bread scraps on Cleethorpes foreshore.