Major drainage works required ahead of construction of new amenity building on Cleethorpes seafront

    

Work on construction of the proposed new amenity building on Cleethorpes seafront  faces a hitch after it emerged that major drainage works are required to service the three-storey property off Sea Road. This is expected to result in lane closures on Central Promenade for as long as eight weeks. Rather than carrying out the installations this month and next, which is peak holiday time, contractors Lindum say this part of the project will be carried out  in autumn. Meanwhile NELC says: "There will be no delay to the construction  timetable nor extra cost." There has been no word yet on whether any commercial organisation has agreed to take space in the building which is due to be completed in spring.

NELC in new marketing drive to sell off former playing field off Davenport Drive in Cleethorpes

       

Offers are again being sought for the seven-acres former playing field off Davenport Drive, Cleethorpes, and to the rear of Bursar Primary Academy. The site's owners, North East Lincolnshire Council, secured planning consent for construction of  58 homes some years ago, but it has been unable to entice developers. The authority now says other uses might be considered for the land. Anyone interested in making an offer can do so through the agents, PPH Commercial (tel: 07710 344602).

                                                        

Late intervention by lawyers scuppers Pleasure Island redevelopment scheme - at least for time being

                                        

Wait and see! It is still not known whether Pleasure Island redevelopment will go ahead

THERE has been a late twist in the great Pleasure Island redevelopment saga.

Lawyers have entered the fray.

Just hours before councillors were due to determine the proposal at this morning's planning committee meeting in Grimsby Town Hall, North East Lincolnshire Council received at least one - possibly two - lawyers' letters, warning them not to proceed.

The contents of  the letter(s) were not read out at the meeting, so those members of the public in attendance were left in the dark. 

But the message was plain. If the committee were to approve the application - as recommended by senior planning officer Cheryl Jarvis - then a legal challenge might be pursued in the High Court.

Following a new recommendation, this time from NELC's legal team, the committee resolved to defer deliberation of the application pending further consideration of the application.

Deferment was backed by committee chairman Cllr Matthew Patrick (Lab, Heneage) with support from both from Cllr Henry Hudson (Con, Wolds) and Cllr  Hayden Dawkins (Con, Humberston & New Waltham).

It subsequently emerged that one of the letters has been written by the law firm representing Tesco which is unhappy about the prospect of a Lidl discount supermarket opening on a patch  from  which its Cleethorpes superstore draws many of its customers.

It is possible that the Pleasure Island  application might be determined at the August meeting of  the planning committee, but it seems just as  likely that the new wrangling could drag on into next year and possibly beyond.

The Grimsby News says: This matter has been handled unsatisfactorily by NELC. The legal correspondence had missed the deadline for submissions and so should have been  disregarded. Failing that, it should have been read out to the committee so that members could have formed their own judgement on whether it represented  a vexatious, delaying tactic  by opponents of the scheme or if it has genuine merits. The temptation now for the applicants will be to bypass NELC - on the grounds of non-determination - and submit their proposal direct to the independent national body, the Planning Inspectorate.

Who does Grimsby and Cleethorpes MP Melanie Onn think she is? Donald Trump?

 

                                           MP says how it is - or how she thinks it is

IS Grimsby and Cleethorpes MP Melanie Onn trying to emulate the American president?

Just like Donald Trump, she has sought suspension of a red card for  player  sent off in the World Cup - in this case, the one showed to England's Jarell Quansah in Sunday's match against Mexico.

In a letter on - 'Commons notepaper - to international football's governing body, FIFA, she calls for the suspension to be rescinded.

"I encourage FIFA to give this matter the careful consideration deserves," writes Ms Onn.

The Grimsby News says: Our MP does herself no favours with this ill-conceived and frivolous gesture. Her knowledge of  football governance is next to nil, so her attempted intervention comes across as nothing more than  showboating at its embarrassing worst. With so many constituency matters of pressing priority, Ms Onn must learn how to allocate her time in a less wasteful way.

Why Pleasure Island redevelopment project could put visitor squeeze on Cleethorpes Country Park

The country park - beautiful but fragile 

CLEETHORPES Country Park is set to face increased visitor pressure if the Pleasure Island redevelopment project goes ahead.

It has emerged that a proposed cycle-hire scheme will encourage holiday visitors to follow a route from the lodges to the country park via an existing grass path that runs between the Premier Inn and Cleethorpes Golf Club.

The proposal comes in the wake of a stipulation from Natural England that lodge residents should be discouraged from cycling or walking along the foreshore for fear of causing disturbance to Knot, Dunlin, Curlew and other at-risk shorebirds.

Whether this initiative is wise is open to question.

The country park is already a popular destination for both residents and visitors, but it is a fragile environment where the wildlife is just as vulnerable to human and canine disturbance as that on the sandflats.

It used to be a breeding site for species such as Grasshopper Warblers and Great Crested Grebes but not in recent years.

The redevelopment application is due to be considered at a meeting in Grimsby Town Hall tomorrow morning, July 8.

Prospective Pleasure Island lodge visitors will be encouraged to follow a cycle route that leads to Cleethorpes Country Park

A  Newcastle design firm, One Environments Ltd,  has come up with this concept of how an 'improved' path might look 

Might increased visitors alongside its course be of concern to Cleethorpes Golf Club - especially near the 12th hole which is adjacent to the path?

 

Long-legged, curve-beaked wading bird proposed as 'mascot' for Pleasure Island redevelopment project

                            

On the prowl for something to eat - a Curlew on Cleethorpes beach

A CURLEW could be adopted as the "mascot" if the proposed redevelopment of the former Pleasure Island theme park goes ahead.

The idea has been put forward by Lichfelds, the agents acting on behalf of the scheme's applicants, as part of an initiative to keep planners and  conservationists sweet.

Among the latter are Natural England and the RSPB who have expressed concerns that Curlews and other declining shorebirds could face increased disturbance if the Cleethorpes coastline becomes target destination for thousands of boisterous  holidaymakers.

Another proposal is for the redeveloped site to have its own dedicated Coastal Ranger  "for the lifetime of the lodge development".   

Subject to the organisation's  agreement, the appointee would be employed by the Humber Nature Partnership who would receive a financial contribution of approximately  £22,264 per annum - to be increased in line with inflation - to subsidise the role.

The intention is for the Ranger not just to monitor the shorebird bird population, plus incidents where they are disturbed, but also (good luck with this!) to "educate" holidaymakers about the importance of conservation.

The draft job description for the role outlines the main responsibilities thus:

1. To undertake programmes of ornithological and disturbance monitoring in accordance with agreed monitoring and reporting protocols.  

2. Monitoring and reporting any disturbance events or issues to stakeholders to enable continual review of the role and findings. 

3. To provide advice to holiday park and recreational users concerning the value of the coast to wildlife and how they can undertake their activities while avoiding disturbance.  

4. To support with effective public engagement programmes, including guided walks, educational programmes and help deliver compelling social media campaigns. 

5. To support holiday park engagement activities which may include the coordination of partners, local recreational groups, local industry and community groups to share the message about the importance of the Humber Estuary and connect people to the natural environment.   

6. Participate in the delivery of informative, engaging, inclusive and participative engagement programmes that connect people and place through storytelling, participation and learning, inspiring and helping to build capacity. 

7. Support the work of the partners, local community groups, the community and recreational user groups to share understanding of ecological issues and the place.  

8. Support with the delivery of important initiatives to conserve important wintering and breeding bird populations and their habitat.  

9. Undertake such other duties as may be reasonably expected at this level.

The site's redevelopment will be recommended for approval at a meeting on Thursday, but it is unclear whether any of the above will be included as a formal planning condition of consent.

Ornithological note: Probably fewer than a dozen pairs of Curlews nest in Lincolnshire, but none anywhere near Cleethorpes. A few non-breeders linger in the Humber Estuary over summer, but most depart our shores in spring to nest in Scandinavia, chiefly at sites in Finland, thereafter to return to our beaches in autumn and winter.

The Grimsby News says: Cynics might see the Curlew mascot idea as an attempt at "greenwashing". It reflects what has happened widely across increasingly built-up North East Lincolnshire where housing estates have been given names which include the words "fields", "forest" or "meadows" and where new streets have been named after  birds, trees or wildflowers. It is uncertain if the applicants have the slightest interest in the welfare of Curlews, but, to give them their due, the idea of one being one used as a logo is bright. In addition, the appointment of a Coastal Ranger would certainly (assuming the duties are fulfilled) do no harm.  

New council leader's rejig proposal for Cleethorpes Market Place scheme has put officers in a bit of a tizz

                                                         

What happens next? It's anyone's guess

     

SENIOR NELC officials  have warned of the risks that loom if the Cleethorpes Market Place pedestrianisation scheme is re-jigged.

New council leader Oliver Freeston (Reform UK, Croft Baker) has put the cat among the pigeons by seeking amendments even after the contractors have started the project.

For the benefit of traders and their customers, he  favours the retention of 12 short-term parking places in winter when there are likely to be fewer pedestrians.

But his proposal - described as 'recalibration' - has flummoxed  officers who warn of  the following risks:

* Loss or clawback of Levelling-up funding if delivery requirements are not met 

* Reputational risk arising from perceived inconsistency or change in direction 

* Project delay

* Public dissatisfaction where expectations differ 

The administrative cost of changing tack would be £10,00-plus 

The council leader also favours waiving short-term parking charges at the sites off St Peter's Avenue and behind the Old Vic pub - moves that could, says officers,  cost the authority £72,500 per annum in lost income.

It has also emerged that, whatever course is pursued, a barrier-bollards installation is being proposed. How ugly will that be!

The issues are due to be thrashed out on the morning of Friday, July 10, at Grimsby Town Hall.

The public are welcome to attend the meeting which starts at 9am.

The Grimsby News says: Whatever  the  advantages and disadvantages of the proposal and counter-proposal, NELC has got itself into a muddle of its own making. The previous Conservative administration is to blame for this. In its deliberations, it should have been open and transparent from the outset. Instead meetings were held in private between interested parties, project board officers and cabinet portfolio-holders with next to no attempt to engage the public. Regrettably, it has been exactly the same secret approach around the corner from the market place at Pleasure Gardens where a similarly controversial project is underway. As has often been said, democracy dies behind closed doors. The new leader is to be commended in seeking to bring light and fresh air into how NELC conducts its affairs.