SNOWY SCENES IN CLEETHORPES ON THE LAST DAY OF FEBRUARY

Pupils at Signhills Academy play snowballs under a threatening sky

A blackbird struggles to find a peck to eat

All the fun of toboganning in the country park

A true angler - one keen to  fish in all weathers

 

A view down Bradford Avenue

Scene of stillness in the country park

                                                Dark skies above the boating lake
                                               

Gulls at rest on the icy surface of the boating lake

                                                                                                                                                                   

A view up Hey Street

CLEETHORPES KFC HIT BY SHORTAGE OF SOMETHING RATHER IMPORTANT - CHICKEN!

                                           
LIKE some 700 other restaurants in KFC's 900-strong UK chain, the branch (pictured) opposite Cleethorpes Boating Lake has been hit bya delivery shortfall in  its most important commodity - chicken.

Earlier this winter, the parent company awarded the supply contract to Rugby-based DHL after dispensing with the services of Bidvest, butDHL  has failed to meet the challenge. It has literally been unable to deliver.

It is thought that the Cleethorpes branch is a franchisee and its operator will thus probably  be entitled to compensation from DHL (which is owned by the German company, Deutsche Post).

KFC's on-the-bone chicken is all sourced from British producers, while its boneless chicken comes from various European countries, plus some further afield such as Brazil and Thailand. 

It is not known when normal service will be resumed.

A sign on the door blames "teething problems" for the limited menu

CRUNCH PLANNING DECISION SOON ON RESORT'S PROPOSED NEW LIFEBOAT STATION

                                                 

The proposed structure will transform the look of the seafront

A PLANNING decision is due to be made soon on a proposed new lifeboat station for Cleethorpes.

The proposal for a larger, more modern premises first surfaced in October 2014, but it is only now that Decision Day looms.

If approved the venture (designed by Lancaster-based Thomas Associates Architects) could transform the look of the resort's central foreshore  by virtue of  a  new elevated structure and slipway running over the top of what is one of the most popular parts of the sandy beach.

One of the consultees is Natural England which has expressed misgivings both about the health and safety of beach-users and the potentially adverse impact on the knot, sanderling, godwit and other wading birds for whom the intertidal habitat provides a vital feeding habitat, especially in winter and at migration times.

However, there have been few objections from the community who acknowledge the importance of the RNLI and their brave work in going to the aid of those in peril on the sea.

Full details of the proposal have been posted on the planning page of North East Lincolnshire Council's website, and members of  the public are welcome to submit responses during the course of this month.

It is not yet known if the decision will be made  by an NELC/engie officer under delegated powers or by NELC's planning committee.

TOWN LIBRARY TO REMAIN CLOSED INDEFINITELY BECAUSE OF 'DAMAGE' TO THE BUILDING

BAD news for booklovers in Immingham.

The town's recently-closed library will stay closed until further notice according to its operators, Lincs Inspire.

This is a consequence of "damage" to the building, but neither the extent of the damage, nor the cause of it, have been revealed.

A member of staff has been been deployed  to the premises to collect any returned books or other items between 9am and 5pm.

Says a Lincs Inspire spokesperson: "We apologise to customers for any inconvenience caused."

OVER-WINTERING GULL HAS FLOWN TO UK FROM NORWEGIAN CAPITAL

THIS black-headed gull that has spent winter at Cleethorpes - either at the boating lake or at  the Buck Beck car park  - has Norwegian orgins.

This has been established by the data on the separate  rings on its legs.

According to researchers, it was ringed as a young bird in the Oslo area in  2011.

The birds has rings on both legs

Data on the rings establishes its Nordic origins

GRIMSBY TOWN SACK MANAGER

GRIMSBY Town FC have today sacked manager Russell Slade.

This afternoon, the club announced that it had "parted company" with Mr  Slade after a recent downturn in results.
 
Its statement reads: "The Board of Directors would like to place on record their disappointment with this outcome, but believe there is little choice but to move forward with a new management team.

"The Board acknowledge that the team have been extremely unlucky in recent weeks, but football is a game of fine margins and a results-driven business.

"As highlighted in recent weeks, this is not a decision we have taken lightly. 

"While the Board continued to back Russell throughout the season and the recent transfer window, yesterday’s 3-0 defeat at CrawleyTown and a winless run of 12 games cannot be ignored. 

"Despite speculation to the contrary, Russell was on a six-month rolling contract, allowing the club the flexibility to make this decision.

"We now believe moving forward with a new manager will help ensure the club’s consolidation in the Football League for the remainder of this season."

The statement continues: "The Board would like to thank Russell for his efforts and hard work and are bitterly disappointed that this did not turn out differently. 

"He had a strong working relationship with the Board, and all involved are disappointed to see a good, hardworking and honest man, who cared intensely about the club, lose his job.

"We wish Russell all the best for the future and thank him for some of the improvements he has implemented on and off the field.

"Paul Wilkinson will take temporary charge of first team affairs until a replacement is found. 

"A local man and a legend as a player, Paul acknowledges the opportunity and huge pride that comes with managing the club. 

"He should be supported whilst the club search for a suitable replacement. Dave Moore and Andy Warrington will remain part of the coaching staff.

"A competitive recruitment process will now take place to find suitable replacement.

" This is one of the most important appointments in the long history of the club and cannot be rushed, but it is important that we move swiftly with a new leader to turn around the current form.

"We will make a statement at the earliest possible convenience and will not be making any further comment until such time."

MARINERS FANS IN NOISY PRE-MATCH BLUNDELL PARK PROTEST

                                               

EMOTIONS ran high before this afternoon's League 2 match between Grimsby Town and Cheltenham Town.

 Disgruntled by The Mariners' lacklustre recent performances, a group of just over 100 fans staged a noisy protest before kick-off outside the club's Blundell Park stadium.

There were chants of: "We Want Fenty Out and "14 Years, We've Had Enough" - a reference to the time that business entrepreneur and local councillor John Fenty has been in charge of club affairs.

The protestors also want manager Russell Slade to be sacked.

Meanwhile, a splinter group stuck posters to car windscreens, shopfronts, bus  stops and other street furniture to reinforce the message.

But only a small minority was involved in the protest - most passing fans seemed unimpressed by the clamour.

Said one: "This demonstration can only be counter-productive - at a tough time like this we should all be getting behind club and team." 



* Below: More pictures from today's protest demo 

                                            

 

                                          

                                                                 

GRIMSBY TOWN FC UP FOR GRABS

WANTED! A deep-pocketed benefactor willing to take over Grimsby Town FC.

It will be a tough challenge because The Mariners are currently both struggling in the lower half of Division 2 and making painfully slow progress in their hopes of relocating from Blundell Park, Cleethorpes, to a new site off Peaks Parkway, Grimsby.

The club today put out a statement inviting serious offers.

It reads: "As recently outlined and widely publicised, the Club have taken numerous steps over the years to attract outside investment including hiring external consultants to lead this process.
 
"These efforts have thusfar failed to attract viable interest.

"The Board reiterated today that the Club remains open to further external investment to work with the current Board.

"Alternatively, we invite any interested parties who feel that they have the wherewithal to take over the financial and operational running of the Club without the existing directors to approach the Club to discuss the process.

"Such approach may be by an individual, consortium or appropriate organisation.

"The existing Directors’ loans and shareholding would not be a barrier to any interested parties subject to the usual due diligence taking place. Interested parties should approach the Club."

Disenchantment both with the directors  and with  the manager, Russell Slade, are set to spill over  before tomorrow's home fixture with Cheltenham Town FC.

A group of about 40 fans are planning to stage a protest at 2.30pm in the car park of the McDonalds restaurant adjacent to the ground.

GREEN LIGHT FOR OUTDOOR DINING AT THE COUNTING HOUSE IN CLEETHORPES

OPERATORS of The Counting House bar-restaurant in Cleethorpes have been given the planning green light to site tables and chairs on the paved area outside the premises.

Vincere Hospitality Ltd say the initiative for the converted HSBC bank  is in response to customer demand and will add to the vibrancy of Sea View Street.

North East Lincolnshire Council granted consent despite concerns from the owners of other nearby businesses - notably Davinia Lacey, of JKs, and David Holland, of   the Bettle, Miles and Holland estate agency which is next door.

However, a precedent has been set because outside dining is already well-established at Marples restaurant on the opposite site of the road.

A condition has been imposed that the consent only applies between 10am and 9pm each day.

THE LADY WHO WILL HELP FLY THE FLAG FOR CLEETHORPES TOURISM

                                                

MEET Joanne Blakey - the woman appointed to spearheaded tourism in Cleethorpes.

Jo is a business advisor with the firm, e-factor, which won the grant-aided contract to provided a "visitor economy specialist" for the resort.

From her base at the e-factor offices in St Peter's Avenue, she will have a responsibility to support existing tourism-related businesses and encourages start-up enterprises. There will be clearly-defined targets

Her background is in retail - she worked for Lloyds Pharmacy.

Jo, whose appointment was welcomed this morning at a North East Lincolnshire Council tourism scrutiny panel meeting, will be invited to give a presentation to one of the panel's  forthcoming meetings.

She is expected  to work closely with the current tourism manager for NELC, Sophie Wignall (below)

SHORTER OPENING HOURS IN PROSPECT AT LIBRARIES - ANNOUNCEMENT SOON

STAFF at libraries in North East Lincolnshire  are bracing themselves

for reduced working hours.

The premises are run by the company Lincs Inspire which is expected to cut services in response to a reduced grant from North East Lincolnshire Council.

The libraries in Cleethorpes and Waltham may even close for at least one day between Monday and Friday.

Lincs Inspire is due to publish a report outlining its intentions within the next few weeks.

At today’s NELC leisure scrutiny panel meeting, chairman Cllr Keith Brookes insisted that the panel should be kept updated.

There has been speculation that paid professional librarians might be replaced by volunteers, a change that the chairman would resist.

“It is important that we retain professional staff with appropriate expertise,”he declared.

Coun Tim Mickleburgh said that, if there were to be cuts in staffing, bosses at Lincs Inspire should be required to take a pay cut.

“After all, they will have less responsibility,”he said.

NELC’s finance portfolio, Cllr Matthew Patrick, replied that Lincs Inspire was an autonomous organisation responsible for determining how much its executives were paid.