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| OS Ecology has included this photograph of the Pleasure Island lake in its comprehensive report |
A WARNING has been sounded that amphibians could be put in jeopardy by proposed redevelopment of the former Pleasure Island theme park in Cleethorpes.
The firm, OS Ecology, was commissioned by redevelopment consortium partner Lidl to investigate the park's expansive lake for the possible presence of Great Crested Newts.
The survey, carried out on Tuesday of last week, found none.
However, the firm notes that its research in previous years have thrown up records of Common Toad, Common Frog and Smooth Newt.
The toad is of special significance because it is classified by Natural England as a "priority species" in the wake of its decline in recent years.
Says OS Ecology'sreport: "The likely impact, without appropriate avoidance measures mitigation and/or a compensation scheme, is risk of harm to amphibians, including the national priority species common toad, during site clearance and construction works."
Although the firm was not briefed to survey the birds, fish and plants living in the 140-metre x 30-metre lake, it notes: "The waterbody is fringed by common reed and great willowherb.
"The water quality appears to be good. The lake supports coarse fish and large numbers of waterfowl."
The likelihood, of course, is many of the amphibians are falling victim, very early in their lives, to the fish and the birds.
What should be done to allow development to proceed without eliminating the wildlife?
OS Ecology proposes the following:
• Retention and enhancement of sections of the lake on site for biodiversity, if possible.
• Retention of areas of suitable terrestrial habitats for amphibians within the development if possible.
• If retained, measures should be undertaken to protect sections of the lake from increased disturbance following the development.
• No surface water drainage to be allowed to flow into the lake on site.
• Appropriate pollution prevention controls to be implemented during the works on site.
It also calls for the landscaping scheme for the site to include areas of scrub and grassland.
The Common Toad is no longer common so safeguarding their habitats is vital if they are to survive
Additional lighting and CCTV are in prospect for the Linden Club at the junction of Clee Road and Weelsby Road subject to planning consent from North East Lincolnshire Council. Say the club's agents: "This measure will increase safety of the site. Especially when night matches are held, the surrounding areas of the changing rooms and entrances become poor in visibility. Supporters, playing and non-playing staff will benefit from this application increasing surveillance of the area."
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| Coming soon to Pier Gardens on Cleethorpes seafront |
A GYM doesn't have to have four walls.
That seems to be the message from North East Lincolnshire Council which has today released images of the exercise equipment soon to be installed in Pier Gardens, Cleethorpes.
Says a spokesperson: "Centred on calisthenics, otherwise known as strength training, the structure focuses on people using their body weight as a form of resistance when carrying out their exercise.
"Without the need for expensive or specialist equipment, this accessible gym is something that can be used by anyone and everyone.
"From pull-ups to press-ups, there is a range of exercises for all abilities."
Although it will retain the name Pier Gardens, there will be less of a focus on lawns, shrubs and trees, many of which have already been removed.
Instead, there will be more hard surfaces and a skate park plus play and ornamental structures.
The spokesperson adds: "Residents and visitors will love the new 'gym' coming to the Pier Gardens development.
"With 10 different workout stations there is plenty to do when you’re visiting the resort.
"The new look Pier Gardens will be a space for people of all ages to play and enjoy."
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| Pier Gardens as it was last summer - the lawns, shrubs and many of the trees have been removed some of them to make way for hardsufacing and exercise equipment |
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| What might be? Does Government post beckon for local MP |
IF the pundits are correct and Andy Burnham takes over as Prime Minister, could promotion from the Common's Back Benches be on the cards for Grimsby & Cleethorpes's Labour MP, Melanie Onn?
If she is offered and accepts a post in the Government, it will be a late birthday present for Melanie Onn who was 47 last Friday.
Although she has never served in Government, Ms Onn has Front Bench experience.
When Jeremy Corbyn was Labour's leader, she served first as shadow deputy leader of the Commons, then as shadow minister for housing.
In those roles, she got to know Sir Keir Starmer who went on to become Prime Minister after the General Election in July two years ago.
He was an admirer, and it was a surprise to some when he appeared to overlook her for his governmental team.
Ms Onn is a very capable political operator - personable, flexible of thought and comfortable in the company of people from all walks of life and with the media, both traditional mainstream and social.
She is a superb communicator and has an engaging sense of humour even if its sometimes requires a degree of self-deprecation.
And she has one other priceless political gift - when people turn nasty (as not infrequently happens online), she knows how to ride the punches.
When the MP, lost her seat to Conservative opponent Lia Nici in the 2019 General Election, she soon landed a new job as deputy chief executive of windfarm lobby group Renewable UK for whom she worked before stepping down in 2023 to rejoin the political fray.
This experience could stand her in good stead, especially if Mr Burnham chooses to transfer Ed Miliband to a different Cabinet position from his present role as Environment Secretary.
Failing that, housing is known to be an interest of Ms Onn - not least because, as a teenager, she was a beneficiary of support from the charity, Doorstep, which helps young people who become homeless.
However, Ms Onn may choose to recluse herself from crunch discussions about Britain's future relationship with Europe.
Her heavy defeat in the 2019 General Election is largely attributed for her having been a Remainer when most of her constituents were in favour of leaving the European Union.
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| Leafy but perhaps not for much longer - the development site off off Hewitts Avenue on the outskirts of Cleethorpes WORK could start later this year on converting a leafy spot on the banks of the Buck Beck to an industrial site. Knaresborough-based Harmony Energy secured planning permission last summer to install heavy duty electricity storage batteries on the plot next to the Northern Powergrid electricity sub-station near the junction of Hewitt's Avenue and Altyre Way. But it had to rethink the project when Anglian Water pointed out that, beneath ground, was one of its sewer pipes which would have been rendered less accessible by the presence of industrial batteries. However, it emerged this week that Harmony has agreed, subject to planning permission, to reduce the size of the development from 0.44ha to 0.37ha so that it would no longer sit above the sewer. It says it would partially compensate for having fewer batteries - eight pairs rather than 18 - by increasing their size from 4 metres to 4.3 metres. In addition these units will now be green rather than white. The company is set to procure the batteries from a third party supplier. However, before the project gets underway, Harmony will also have to provide safety and access reassurances to two other utilities companies, Cadent Gas and Fulcrum, as well as to Northern Powergrid which have infrastructure assets in the vicinity.
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