RECALLING A NIGHT OF DEVASTATION IN GRIMSBY AND CLEETHORPES

WERE the rumblings of Saturday night's mini-earthquake in North East Lincolnshire, a reminder from Nature of an important 75th anniversary that falls on Thursday  of this week?

The town had mostly been unscathed by World War Two enemy aircraft raids until between 1am and 1.30am on June 14,1943, when numerous bombs of various types were dropped across Grimsby and  Cleethorpes.

According to the records, worst affected areas included the business area of the Fish Docks and residential areas of Freeman Street, Victoria Street, and Cleethorpe Road. 

Some  99 people died and 184 were seriously injured during this attack.

However, news of the raid was censored to prevent the 

Luftwaffe knowing the extent  of death and destruction that had been caused by their high explosive, incendiary and butterfly bombs.

It is not known if this night of tragedy will be commemorated at any church or civic event in the borough.

See also:
http://grimsbynews.blogspot.com/2018/01/a-terrible-night-for-grimsby-and.html

TOLLBAR ROUNDABOUT RUMPUS RUMBLES ON

THE row  over North East Lincolnshire Council's plan to replace the roundabout at Waltham Tollbar with traffic lights continues to blaze.

For part of today. residents were at the scene, displaying placards expressing opposition to the proposal.

Many passing motorists sounded their horns to show their support.

Rewind to November 2016 when the report below appeared in the Cleethorpes Chronicle newspaper. 

CONTROVERSIAL  plans to replace existing roundabouts with traffic lights at three pinch points in North East Lincolnshire  now look unlikely to go ahead.

 After securing  funding  of  £4.2-million from the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership, the council's private sector partner, Engie, had intended to carry  out such works  at:

·        Tollbar

·        Nuns Corner, Grimsby

·        Littlecoates Road/Cambridge Road, Grimsby

But at a meeting of NELC's regeneration, environment, housing and scrutiny panel, members had little faith that  traffic lights would improve existing snarl-ups.

 Chairman Cllr Philip Jackson (Con, Waltham) said: "The perception is that lights will worsen congestion rather than easing it." 

Cllr Andrew De Freitas (Lib-Dem, Park) additionally noted that Nuns Corner was within a conservation area, the appeal of which would be undermined by the installation of lights. 

He continued: "Not one resident I have spoken to favours the replacement of the roundabout with lights." 

Cllr Stan Shreeve (Con, Humberston & New Waltham) said he had ecountered similar antipathy to the Tollbar scheme from residents and parish councillors alike. 

Cllr Kathryn Wheatley (Lab, Croft Baker) was scornful of all three proposals - not least because they focused solely on zones 50 yards from where the lights were earmarked for installation. 

"It is just as important to consider the impact such works would have on junctions further away." she commented. 

The panel's opposition  was a blow to Engie representatives at Tuesday's meeting, especially transport officer Mark Gibbons who is familiar with the traffic problems because, as he pointed out, lives in Park ward and is a former pupil of Tollbar School. 

In his detailed and thorough presentation, for which he was praised by panel members, he stressed  that it was necessary to consider the interests not just of motorists but also of cyclists and of pedestrians seeking to cross the roads. 

He noted that it was also important to bear in mind that traffic would only increase in the wake of forthcoming housebuilding projects at Scartho Top and in New Waltham and Holton-le-Clay - hence the need for action. 

The officer expressed particular concern about the peak-hour situation at Tollbar where there is highway conflict between school pupils and other road-users on a daily basis in term time. 

Agreement came from Cllr James Cairns (Ukip, Yarborough) who called for more rigorous enforcement in no-stopping areas in this location, saying: "Some parents are very very selfish." 

The meeting heard that the installation of a footbridge or pedestrian underpass had been considered for Tollbar, but had been deemed too expensive to warrant further exploration. 

Subject to further consultations between Engie and  ward councillors, some modifications are likely to take place at all three locations, with the mini-roundabout at the junction of Littlecoates Road and  Cambridge Road likely to be enlarged if adjacent land can be acquired. 

It is possible that, in conjunction with retaining the roundabout, lights may still be installed at Tollbar but for operation during peak times only. 

The subject is due to be revisited in the New Year by the council's cabinet who will also be invited to consider at least one residents' petition opposing the installation of traffic lights. Any works carried out are unlikely to cost anywhere near £4.2-million, and any unspent monies may have to be returned to Greater Lincolnshire LEP and thus lost to North East Lincolnshire.

 

Traffic lights not wanted here!

Rallying to the opposition cause!