What future farmland behind Pennells garden centre as Manchester conglomerate enters the fray?

                                                         

Ripe for housing? The farmland behind Pennells with Weelsby Woods in the distance

A MANCHESTER- based industrial conglomerate has taken a stake  in the proposal to  build 1,500 homes on farm land between Weelsby Woods and Pennells Garden Centre in Cleethorpes.

Peel Holdings has bought out  one of  the partners in the project - Rotherham-based Harworth Group which hatched up the project with the owner of the land, Brocklesby Estates.

The venture, which would sacrifice a huge expanse of Cleethorpes and Grimsby green space, has horrified many local people.

At present, it is still in the discussion-and drawing board stage, with no submission yet of any formal planning application to North East Lincolnshire Council.

But this could come early next year if Peel and Brocklesby choose to press ahead with the ambitious (and controversial) scheme.

Peel has extensive interests in UK infrastructure and land development projects, including housebuilding.

It used to be at the helm of the former Robin Hood Airport, near Doncaster, and helped build Media City at Salford Quays.

It also owns shopping centre across Britain and operates the ports at Liverpool, Heysham, Dublin, London Medway, Clydeport and elsewhere  

Locally it runs the Humber Bank Terminal, a  key facility for handling and storing dry bulk cargoes such as  as minerals, grain, coal, iron ore and fertilisers.

What to do about rough-sleeping in Cleethorpes cemetery? NELC ponders highly sensitive issue

                                         

Tent among the gravestones - the weekend scene in the cemetery

 

ATTEMPTS were this morning (Monday) being made to persuade rough-sleeping tent-dwellers to depart Cleethorpes cemetery.

North East Lincolnshire Council is acting in response to disquiet being caused to those whose remains lie within the sacred site.

There is sympathy, of course, for the sleepers - especially on wet, cold and winter nights.

They have pitched their tents in a secluded corner at the Bentley Street end of the cemetery.

NELC's leader, Cllr Oliver Freeston (Reform UK) has a particular interest in the situation because the cemetery lies within his Croft Baker ward.

Over the weekend, he posted twice on social media.

An extract from his first message on Saturday reads:

"Quick update: five people were identified at the cemetery. Three have now been accommodated and left last night. We’ll continue trying to locate the other two.

"But I’ve asked the council enforcement team to look at our options if they refuse to leave - the council may need to go through the courts. 

"Families deserve to visit their lost loved ones in peace without seeing people in tents and reports of drugs paraphernalia. 

"We’re working to get this sorted through accommodation, support and, failing that, every lawful enforcement option available."

His second, posted yesterday, reads:

"NELC officers have worked  to support the chaps who have sleeping rough in Cleethorpes cemetery while also addressing residents’ concerns.

"A co-ordinated 48-hour plan is underway, with the intention of ensuring the cemetery is vacated and the area cleared and cleansed by Monday.

"I am grateful to the teams for handling the situation with compassion, while also acknowledging the urgency of restoring the cemetery as a peaceful space to be respected." 

Rough sleeping could be a topical local issue in the by-election for the Croft Baker, with polling on November 12.                                            

Secluded location of two of the tents 

    

Signage at the entrance to the cemetery

                  

Continuing delay on Tesco fuel station refurbishment means re-opening date has been postponed yet again

Still closed - the fuel station was due to have reopened, following refurbishment,  on July 27

THERE has been further a delay in reopening the fuel station at the Tesco Extra store in Cleethorpes.

Word on the shop floor is that the date has been put back from the end of this month to mid-November, causing further frustration for customers and staff who like to buy their petrol or diesel from this particular outlet.

News of the delay has come just after the company offered customers a deal  whereby it was offering 8p per litre off fuel purchases subject to a maximum discount of £8.

Alas, apart from motorists prepared to travel to Tesco in Brigg, the deal is next to worthless - it closes today, October 25.                 

Not worth the paper it's printed on? Closure of fuel station means few can redeem the discount before today's deadline

 

The Aussies are coming - Melbourne-based investment firm set to take control of ports giant ABP

ABP - lynchpin of the UK economy

NEW majority owners are in prospect for one of the Grimsby area's largest employers - ports giant ABP.

An Australian asset management  fund, IFM Investors, has swooped for a 63.9 per cent  stake with an offer of £10-billion which, once due diligence has been completed, is likely to proceed.

Also known as Associated British Ports, ABP was created by the nationalisation of ports in the wake of World War Two before being nationalised by the Government under Margaret Thatcher.

It is reckoned to have been one of the few clear successes of nationalisation and embraces Grimsby and Immingham on the Humber, Southampton and some 20 other ports.

With its slogan, 'Keeping Britain Trading', it handles at least a quarter of the UK's seaborne trade worth an estimated £150-billion a year.  

The Humber ports are also a crucial land hub for Britain's offshore windfarms, with Orsted being one of its main clients.

It is many years since ABP has been listed on London's Stock Exchange and it is currently understood owned by other investment funds of diverse nations including the Canadian Pension Fund with a 33.9 per cent stake.

The prospective new owners, IFM Investors, are based in Melbourne and controlled by 15 Australian pension funds.

The full list of ABP locations in the UK is as follows:

* ABP Cromarty Firth Energy Park

* ABP Helm

* Ayr

* Barrow

* Barry

* Cardiff

* Fleetwood

* Garston

* Goole

* Grimsby

* Hams Hall Rail Freight Terminal

* Hull

* Immingham

* Ipswich

* King's Lynn

* Lowestoft

* Newport

* Plymouth

* Port Talbot

* Silloth

* Solent Gateway

* Southampton

* Swansea

* Teignmouth

* Troon

Its services include the following:

* Agribulks

* Bulk Energy

* Containers

* Dry Bulk

* Liquid Bulks

* Project Cargo

* Ro-Ro and ferries

* Marinas

* Automotive

* Construction

* Cruise

* Forest Products

* Offshore Wind

* Rail Freight

* Steel and other metals

* Defence

* Critical Minerals

ABP's chief executive for the past eight years has been Henrik Pedersen who comments: "A bold new chapter now opens for the company.

"Attracting investment from a fund managed by IFM Investors is a powerful endorsement of our business, our people and our strategy.

" We are excited to unlock further growth opportunities, together with IFM Investors and our other shareholders, continuing ABP's long-term investment benefitting our customers, our local communities and the UK."

The deal is expected to complete in the first quarter of next year.

Immingham is one of the most important ports in ABP's portfolio

Sadness at death of Cleethorpes councillor who had been stalwart of trade union and Labour movement

                                                           

Janet Haggis - represented Sidney Sussex ward 

GRIMSBY and Cleethorpes MP Melanie Onn today paid this tribute to North East Lincolnshire councillor Janet Haggis 

"I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Janet Haggis

"She was a Labour Party stalwart and a committed and respected trade unionist who brought countless new members into the trade union movement throughout her career. 

"Janet was so immensely proud of her role as a representative of the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW)  and was highly respected for her deep knowledge of the retail sector and her tireless representation of shop workers.

"Despite facing serious illness, Janet continued to fight for the people of the Sidney Sussex ward in Cleethorpes. 

"She was a tireless representative of her community, and her dedication will be remembered by all.

"My heartfelt condolences go to Janet’s family, friends and all those who knew and loved her. 

"She will be sorely missed."

There is now likely to be a by-election to fill the Sidney Sussex ward vacancy, though this may not be before the end of the year.

Below is the tribute paid by the North East Lincolnshire Labour Group.

                                           

Six candidates put their names forward in by-election to fill NELC's Croft Baker ward vacancy

Six candidates have thrown their hat into the ring for the be-election prompted by the resignation of Marian Jervis (Lab) for personal reasons. Only one will be elected. Voting will be between 7am and 10pm on Thursday November 12. 

Back in Grimsby - lensman who captured last-known photo of a bird that has since become extinct

                                                             

Chris' famous last photograph of a bird alas now extinct

IT will be back to home turf  on Monday for a former Grimsby man who took the last known photograph of a bird that has subsequently become extinct.

Chris Gomersall grew up in Gloucester Avenue and went on to enjoy an adventurous career in wildlife photography - first as a staff man at RSPB, then as an award-winning  freelance. 

In spring,  this year he was on board the ill-fated Dutch cruise ship, MV Hondius,  which made global headlines for the unhappiest of  reasons.

A total of 11 of the 27 on board contracted Andean Hantavirus while voyaging in the Antarctic. Three subsequently died and one became seriously ill.  

Chris escaped being infected, but the expedition had been interrupted in the most tragic of circumstances.

What is more, in common with fellow-passengers and crew, once back on dry land, he had to undergo hospital quarantine for three weeks before being allowed back to his home in Bedfordshire.                                     

Chris - award-winning photographer grew up in Grimsby

Because of  the continuing sensitivities, particularly for those who lost oved ones, Chris is unlikely to say much about  what happened on the MV Hondius in the illustrated talk he will be giving  at Holy Trinity parish  hall on Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes (DN35 7LH),  on Monday October 19.

Instead, he will describe other aspects of his career - most notably his mesmerising encounter in Morocco with the now-extinct Slender-billed Curlew - a smaller relative of the Eurasian Curlew, the latter being a  species regularly seen in autumn and winter on mudflats on both sides of the Humber and sometimes on school playing fields and golf courses.

That encounter was back in February, 1995, since when the decline of this wading species has culminated, in November two years ago, in its being officially  declared extinct.

Much-travelled Chris will also describe many other highlights of his career in what what promises to be a captivating presentation.

The event will be an historic  first joint-meeting of Grimsby RSPB group and the Lincolnshire Bird Club.

However, it is also open to non-members of either group  with an admission charge of just £5 including a tea/coffee and biscuits during the interval.

The meeting starts at 7.30pm.