THE LONELINESS OF A CLEETHORPES SONG THRUSH

Looking for love - the Cleethorpes song thrush

                                                
SPARE a thought for a lonely Cleethorpes song thrush!

Formerly common in gardens throughout North East Lincolnshire, the species has been lost to most of the 15 wards in the borough.

But this spring, after a 12-year absence, a solitary male has returned to the Croft Baker ward where it has been a regular visitor to gardens in Lindsey Road and Parker Street.

The bird's diet largely consists of slugs and snails.

In the hope of attracting a female, it sings every day from the treetops, but so far to no avail.

Its wait for a mate goes on. . .
---

A HUGE new housing development is on the cards for Waltham.

Full planning permission has been granted to local firm Cyden Homes to build 194 homes on land off Brigsley Road in the village.

Although North East Lincolnshire Council sought to block the application, its refusal decision has  been overturned by independent planning inspector Darren Hendley.

Addressing NELC's objections, the inspector states: "I conclude that the proposal would not be unacceptable concerning the effect on the living conditions of the occupiers of the neighbouring properties on, in particular, Elsham Drive, Chestnut Road and Brigsley Road by way of outlook, visual impact and privacy."  

He continues: "The proposal would be accessed from a simple T-junction arrangement that would be formed onto Brigsley Road. 

"Traffic would be able to enter or leave the site in either direction. 

"Concerning the predicted traffic generation levels, the appellant’s transport assessments acknowledge there would be some adverse effects on key junctions within Waltham and beyond. 

"In order to mitigate these effects, a number of measures are proposed that would aim to encourage the use of transport modes other than the car. 

"These include the provision of a bus stop, a zebra crossing and extending an existing footway. "

Mr Hendley does not believe the development will have an unduly detrimental impact on the character of the site which  currently consists of fields and trees.

As a condition of consent, Cyden Homes will be obliged to make substantial contributions towards the provision of extra classroom space at the nearest primary and secondary schools.
---

CLEETHORPES MP Martin Vickers has boosted his income by accepting a £5,000 donation from a property rental company.

The Hessle-based company, Estates UK, buys houses - mostly in the Humberside region - and lets them privately.

It mostly has a good reputation with tenants, though a minority have posted online unfavourable reviews about the promptness and quality of any required repairs.

It is not known why the  firm has made the donation, nor what it requires from Mr Vickers in return.

The  only other non-parliamentary income the Brexit-backing Conservative MP has received so far this year is understood to be the  £200 fee he received for an article, published on March 3,  in Mail on Sunday Online.

---

THREE new classrooms could be created at a Grimsby school if NELC planners give the  green light.

Old Clee Primary has applied for consent to infill an existing open-air courtyard with two single-storey extensions.

Existing windows and doors will have to be altered to meet the proposed new configuration.

A decision is expected later this summer.

---

A NEW church meeting room and cafe is in prospect for Cleethorpes.

Mark Chapman is seeking planning permission to convert the premises of Barcroft Motorcycles at 77a Barcroft Street in the town.

The application is likely to be determined shortly by a North East Lincolnshire Council case officer without the need for consideration by the borough planning committee.

---

Can this advertisement in today's Grimsby Telegraph really means what it says?

If so, perhaps it's no wonder there's a childhood obesity problem.

---

Don't film it, please!

GRIMSBY MP Melanie Onn has revealed an unusual party trick.

In an interview with House magazine, she confided that she could "make her tongue go upside down".

She told her interviewer: "Do you want to see it? Don’t film it though because it’s quite disgusting."

Impressively (especially for a 39-year-old), the Labour MP can still do cartwheels with almost the same agility as when she was a pupil at Healing School.

PLANNING THUMBS-UP FOR 96-HOME PROJECT ON OUTSKIRTS OF CLEETHORPES

Artist's impression of how the development could look as  'unkempt' arable land opposite the Tesco superstore makes way for  new homes

North East Lindsey Council planners dallied on making a decision on the project at Hewitt's Circus, New Waltham, so Mr Yeung of Liverpool-based YPG Developments Ltd asked the planning inspectorate to intervene.

After assessing the merits of the application and conducting a  visit  to the site - which he decribed as 'unkempt land' between the A1098 Hewitt's Avenue and the A1031 Humberston Road - independent planning inspector Darren Hendley gave the go-ahead for construction of 72 houses and 24 apartments.

Addressing misgivings about potential traffic snarl-ups, the inspector stated: "Improvements are proposed to both the Hewitt’s Avenue and Humberston Road (north) arm of the roundabout that are forecast to mitigate the impacts caused by traffic generation, including at peak times when the increases would be most marked. 

"In my view, these improvements would also benefit existing road users with the capacity that would be created, thereby having the potential to reduce queueing delays and the associated frustrations of drivers. 

"With the additional capacity that would be created at the roundabout, this would be unlikely to cause undue concerns arising from its use, in effect, as a U-turn, due to the absence of a right turn out of the access.  As a consequence, the proposal would not result in unsafe manoeuvres to the detriment of highway safety and amenity.

"The mitigation also includes improvements for pedestrians and cyclists in the vicinity of the site.  In particular, the proposed signalised crossing point on Humberston Road would improve the safety of users attempting to cross this road, and a footway would also be provided to a bus stop on Humberston Road (south).

"The mitigation would adequately address potential detrimental impacts on highway safety arising from the additional traffic generation.  Whilst these measures also formed mitigation under the extant permission, the evidence before me does not lead me to believe that the traffic generation from the additional dwellings would tip the balance of acceptability against the proposal as regards the impact on the highway network.

"In relation to the potential for the use of an alternative access, as I find the proposed access arrangement not to be unacceptable, I have not considered this matter further.  The LP policies that I have been referred to in respect of the housing allocation, in any event, do not require the proposal to be accessed in a different way from what is before me as it would deliver the appropriate highway infrastructure for its needs.

"I therefore conclude that the proposal would not have an unacceptable effect on highway safety and the free flow of traffic."

Mr Yeung's firm will be obliged to contribute £20,000 to highway improvements.

Mr Yeung - boss of YPG

In addition, there are requirements that  20 per cent of the new homes meet the so-called "affordable" provision and that "educational contributions" will  be made on the basis of £11,276.44 for every four qualifying houses for primary education and £16,991.48 for every five qualifying houses for secondary education - the monies to be spent, respectively, on schools within two and five miles of the site.

Disappointingly, Mr Hendley has not insisted on any initiatives to enhance wildlife, such as songbirds, maintaining that the habitat is of "low value" and that proposed planting of trees and shrubs will suffice.

YPG's track record has mostly been in seeing through to fruition regenerations schemes, including student accommodation, on Merseyside.

It is not known when work will start on the Cleethorpes project or whether YPG will seek involvement (or sale of the site) from another developer.

EURO-POLL 2019: THE FULL VOTING FIGURES FOR NORTH EAST LINCOLNSHIRE

THE interests of Grimsby, Cleethorpes and Immingham residents are now predominantly represented in  Europe by Brexit MEPs members following last Thursday's poll.

Our area is part of the Yorkshire and Humber region which elected three  Brexit Party candidates - John Longworth, Lucy Harris and Jake Pugh - and re-elected Labour incumbent Richard Corbett. 

The Liberal Democrats came third (after Brexit and Labour) in the region, meaning that Shaffaq Mohammed wins a seat for them, while the fourth-placed Green Party candidate, Magid Magid also wins a seat.

However, there was gloom for Mike Hookem (UKIP), John Proctor (Con) and Amjad Bashir (Con, formerly UKIP) who were all unsuccessful in their re-election bids.

Within North East Lincolnshire, the turnout was 28.65 per cent.

Polling was as follows:

Change UK: 871
Conservative and Unionist Party: 3,224
English Democrats: 445
Green Party: 2,370
Labour Party: 3,444
Liberal Democrats: 2,916
The Brexit Party: 16,895
The Yorkshire Party: 168
UK Independence Party (UKIP): 2,234

Region-wide, the polling (on a 33.3 per cent turnout) was as follows:

Change UK: 30,162
Conservative and Unionist Party: 92,863
English Democrats: 11,283
Green Party: 166,980
Labour Party: 210,516
Liberal Democrats: 200,180
The Brexit Party: 470,351
The Yorkshire Party: 50,842
UK Independence Party (UKIP): 56,100 

The total electorate of the region is 3,867,792.

COUNTRYSIDE CHARM OF CYDEN'S NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENT NEAR TOLLBAR ROUNDABOUT

HATS off to Grimsby housebuilder Cyden Homes on its latest development - Becklands - on one of the approach roads to Waltham Tollbar roundabout!

Many developers get a bad rap for their careless, insensitive and sometimes brutal attitude to the green environment.

By contrast, such is the extent of trees, shrubs, hedgerows, wildflowers (including borage) and waterbeck features that this project has an almost  romantically countryside feel - as if it were set within its own nature reserve.

What is more Becklands is full of birdsong - wrens, robins, thrushes, blackcaps, whitethroats, blackbirds and more.

All being well, the reedbeds could  soon attract sedge warblers, reed warblers, yellow wagtails and more.

Below is a random selection of on-site photographs taken mid-afternoon on Bank Holiday Monday.

                                         

 

 

 

WILL HERITAGE CONCERNS SCUPPER PROPOSAL TO REDEVELOP FORMER SCHOOL SITE?

The school - seen from the top of Parker Street

UNCERTAINTY surrounds proposals  for a former school and education centre in Cleethorpes to be demolished in favour of a housing development.

A consortium of builders is keen to knock down the Thrunscoe school buildings  off Highgate to make way for 42 homes.

But the buildings have heritage value - they date back to 1932 and the days of Lindsey County Council.

The school closed in 1996 and was more recently, refurbished, then used as a education centre until it closed in 2017.

The buildings are mainly single storey with some two-storey elements two and built of brickwork with slate tile roof and a mixture of timber and upvc windows and doors. 

Although (with one exception) neighbours have been either neutral or supportive, the conservation officer for North East Lincolnshire Council/ Engie, Emilie Wales, has lodged a holding objection.

In a report, she says: "I note the application is total demolition with re-use of stone but with no details of where the stone is to be reused. The application which is for total demolition results in substantial harm.

"No viability statement has been submitted to support the application and there is no evidence that there has been an attempt to first avoid, then minimise this harm.

"Heritage assets are an irreplaceable resource, and should be conserved in a manner appropriate to their significance so that they can be enjoyed for their contribution to the quality of life of existing and future generations. 

"This cannot be achieved though total demolition.

"This proposal does not achieve aspirations designed to sustain and enhancing the significance of heritage assets and put them to viable uses consistent with their conservation."

Ms Wales feels that any redevelopment of the site should make "a positive contribution to local character and distinctiveness.

"Until all reasonable efforts have been made to  mitigate the extent of the harm to the significance of the asset, I recommend refusal."

The only other objector to date has been Christine Wardle, of 42 Wendover Rise, Cleethorpes, who is unhappy about potential removal of trees and consequent loss of birds, bats and other wildlife.

Says she: " This area is host to many of nature's creatures and should continue to be so. 

"It would be reckless to do so without thought for the environment." 

Mrs Wardle favours redevelopment of the site with "a community centre for the homeless - to support vulnerable people, to help the needy and to provide valuable, practical aid for those in desperate circumstances". 

Another neighbour, Mr Kevin Randell , of 44 Lindsey Road, has made a comment about the birdlife.

Says he: "We are visited by long tail tits, coal tits, sparrows, dunnocks and, after an absence of many years, a breeding pair of song thrushes. 

"The sparrow hawk and pipistrelle bat are both seen on a regular basis."

It is not known whether NELC/Engie  planning case officer Cheryl Jarvis will determine the application under delegated powers or whether it will go before the planning committee for councillors to decide.

Below are  pictures of the front of the site, off Highgate, which would provide the access for traffic during and after any redevelopment.

GRIMSBY MP MELANIE ONN CALLS FOR TOUGH ACTION ON HOUSEBUILDERS WHO BREACH PLANNING LAWS

The MP - rules should be adhered to

                                             

GRIMSBY MP Melanie Onn has hit out at housebuilder Persimmon plc  over alleged flouting of planning conditions at its project in Humberston.

In a Commons debate yesterday , she accused the company of "complete disregard" for regulations by chopping down trees without permission.

She continued: "It  will now have to replant all those trees, but they should not have been removed in the first place."

The MP is calling for "much more enforceable action on these big build companies to ensure that they adhere to the rules that are laid down in the first place".

NELC has not yet said whether it will take enforcement action or prosecute Persimmon which is the UK's largest housebuilder.

* See also previous post

BLACK MARKS FOR HOUSEBUILDER OVER DESTRUCTION OF HUMBERSTON GREENERY

Entrance to the site of the Persimmon development in a leafy part of Humberston

THE UK's largest housebuilder, Persimmon, appears to be doing its reputation no favours with its development off Humberston Avenue in  Humberston.

There has been a stream of complaints about mud being deposited on the highway as  the 385-home project progresses.

In one case, it has been claimed, the mud caused an  accident when a child skidded on his cycle, lost control and fell to the ground.

Enforcement officers at North East Lincolnshire Council say the complaints have been investigated, but it has taken no action, preferring to issue reprimands.

The latest allegation is that up to 260 trees and an 80-metre hedgerow have been uprooted without consultation - let alone consent.

Although Persimmon  has not held up its hands to any breach of regulations, nor expressed regret, it says it will undertake "landscape replacement".

But precious habitat has been lost, and songbirds have left the site just as they were establishing nesting territories.

Any new planting will take years to mature, and, in the meantime, many of the saplings may well perish.

Persimmon plc is a FTSE 100 company with deep pockets and powerful influence.

As with the mud on the road, it remains to be seen if the council will take any enforcement action against a company of such considerable clout.

So far, all that NELC has said is that it is "continuing discussions". 

The Grimsby News says: If Persimmon has flouted planning regulations with  destruction of trees and hedgerow, NELC must take appropriate enforcement action. A don't-do-it-again rap on the knuckles would be a totally insufficient response. What sort of message would  that send out to other developers in the borough? That the council is willing to turn a blind eye to transgressions that damage the environment.Firmness is essential. Otherwise, residents will reach a double conclusion - first, that there is one law for the rich and another for the rest of us, and, second, that NELC planners are spineless in protecting precious green habitat.

How the Grimsby Telegraph reported the removal of trees and shrubs

 Below: More pictures of the development site

UNCERTAIN FUTURE FOR IMPRESSIVE FRAMED PRINT WHEN BANK CLOSES NEXT MONTH

A section of the impressive pier-and-gulls print which is familiar to customers at Barclays in Cleethorpes 

WHEN the Cleethorpes branch of Barclays Bank closes on June 28, what will happen to the framed photograph that has long been an impressive feature above the length of the three-cashier counter?

The image depicts the town's pier with  black-headed gulls wheeling in the foreground.

It is not known who the photographer might be, but the picture was obviously taken in autumn or winter because the gulls are in non-breeding plumage - their heads are not black.

What is more, black-headeds are  relatively scarce in Cleethorpes in summer because they breed elsewhere - many in Norway.

According to staff, no decision has yet been taken on what might happen to the bank's fixtures and fittings, but several customers have made inquiries about the print and whether it might become available.

One option the bank might consider is to invite customers to submit bids for the picture, the money raised going to charity.

AN IMPORTANT STEP UP THE POLITICAL LADDER FOR MARINERS SUPREMO JOHN FENTY

                   

John Fenty - the council's new second-in-command 

A NEW responsibility beckons for Grimsby  Town FC boss John Fenty.

He has accepted an offer to become deputy leader of  North East Lincolnshire Council.

His special focus will be on hastening the pace of economic regeneration and seeking new inward investment.

Cllr Fenty, who represents the Humberston and New Waltham ward, will be right-hand man to the new NELC leader, Cllr Philip Jackson (Waltham).

Following the local election polls of earlier this month, the Conservatives have wrested control from Labour.

Subject to confirmation at the council's annual meeting next week, the full list of members of the new cabinet, along with their portfolio responsibilities,  are listed below.


Cllr P Jackson: Leader (no portfolio but with overall Cabinet responsibility for the Town Deal)

Cllr J Fenty:  Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Skills and Housing
Economic strategy
Inward investment and business support
Regeneration
Assets (corporate, commercial, community) and estate management
All aspects of housing 
Skills and employability

Cllr S Shreeve: Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources 
Financial strategy and corporate governance 
Revenue budget and capital programme
Digital strategy, inclusion and development
Shared services and commercial development
Financial inclusion

Cllr S Swinburn: Portfolio Holder for Environment and Transport 
Planning, development control, highways and transportation
Traffic management, parking and regulation
Climate change and the green agenda
Waste, recycling and environmental management
Neighbourhood services, street scene, parks, open spaces 

Cllr M Cracknell: Portfolio Holder for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care
Adult social care
Health and adult social care commissioning and provision
Public health and health inequality
Health and care partnership and integration 

Cllr C Procter: Portfolio Holder for Tourism, heritage and culture

Tourism and the visitor economy
Leisure, sport and recreation
Culture, Borough heritage, museums and the arts 

Cllr I Lindley: Portfolio Holder for Children, education and young people
Statutory Lead Member for children’s services
Safeguarding of children and young people
Corporate parenting, care leavers and family support
Early help 
SEND
School improvement and education (schools, FE and HE)

Cllr R Shepherd: Portfolio Holder for Safer and Stronger Communities
All aspects of local authority enforcement and regulatory services
Environmental health, food safety, pollution control, trading standards and licensing 
Community safety and anti-social behaviour 
Voluntary and community sector
Equalities, diversity and inclusion

GRIMSBY SCHOOL HOPEFUL FOR PLANNING GREEN LIGHT ON NEW PROPOSAL FOR ALL-WEATHER SPORTS PITCH

A GRIMSBY school has revived its plan to establish an all-weather sports pitch to be surrounded by perimeter fencing to a maximum height of 2.4 metres.

Lisle Marsden School abandoned a previous proposal following neighbours' objections.

However, following positive discussions with neighbours, it has submitted a revised scheme which it hopes will be approved by NELC planners. 

The academy-status school, which is located off Lansdowne Avenue, seems to have bent over backwards to address the concerns of neighbours and has submitted this statement in support of its application.

"We originally submitted a planning application in May 2018 for a Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) to be sited along on an open grassed area on our northern boundary.  

"Unfortunately, the term ‘MUGA’ has many anti social and negative connotations associated with it, and many of our neighbours assumed these would apply to our facility.  

"Also, despite our plans stating that we would not be installing floodlights and that it was only to be used by Lisle Marsden pupils during school hours, many people objected to what they perceived would be an increase in noise and traffic during evenings and weekends.  

"In addition, many residents were unhappy with the chosen location which was sited on the boundary of neighbouring properties.  After many objections we eventually took the decision to withdraw the plans.

We then revised the plans, consulted in writing and invited members of the local community to a public consultation and held a separate meeting with four  of our closest neighbours. 

"They indicated that the proposed location still did not meet with their approval.  

"At the public consultation, two neighbours attended who were in favour of the application.  

"Following these meetings, and at the suggestion of our closest neighbours, we made further revisions to our plans and agreed to relocate the new facility to the eastern side of the academy, at the rear of our buildings.  

"This new location is significantly further away from people’s homes and will be less disruptive to our closest neighbours.  The new facility will now be 24 metres away from the nearest bungalows. 

"It will be sited partly on the existing academy playing field and also on a grassed area that is currently used by children for PE, games and at playtimes and lunchtimes.  

"Plenty of ‘green space’ is still available to the children and will have no adverse impact on their play.  

The statement continues: "The new location meets the essential operational needs of the academy to provide access and to monitor the children to ensure their safeguarding and wellbeing."
 

"We wrote to all neighbours whose properties are in close proximity to the new facility, inviting them to visit the academy to view the proposal and to contact us with any concerns.  

"Following further correspondence and personal visits to the residents living in the bungalows, neighbours have indicated that they are in support of this new location.

"As part of the construction, we will amend our existing fenced area to fully accommodate the new facility inside the secure fenced area of the academy site.  

"We will also plant hedging on the edge of this new fencing to improve the view and to act as sound absorption."  

The statement goes on: "It is important to stress that this area will only be used by Lisle Marsden pupils for sports, games and play during normal academy hours.  

"We will not be installing floodlights and will not be hiring out the facility during evenings and weekends.  These guarantees are clearly stated in our planning application. 

"Residents will not experience any additional traffic or noise from this new facility outside of school hours.  

"Also, we will not be allowing ball games to be played on the grass in front of the bungalows within the existing fenced area. 

"Ball games will be confined to the new sports area or the larger field."

A decision is expected to be made by planners later this summer.

SOUND OF THE CUCKOO AGAIN BEING HEARD IN AND AROUND CLEETHORPES

Cuckoo on Cleethorpes sea buckthorn

IS the cuckoo making a welcome comeback in Cleethorpes?

After several years in which this iconic bird has seldom been heard, there have been several reports this spring of its presence in and around the area.

Locations have included the country park, the former Pleasure Island theme park, woodland behind the golf course at Thorpe Park, Humberston, and Tetney Lock.

The bird is notoriously difficult to see but one briefly made itself conspicuous atop a sea buckthorn bush on Cleethorpes outer beach.

However, it flew off inland after being mobbed by skylarks which may have mistaken it for a sparrowhawk.

Elsewhere on the twitching scene, another migrant from Africa - the whitethroat - has arrived back in healthy numbers.

                               

Whitethroat - summer visitor from West Africa

It is often to be seen warbling its scratchy song from the top of hedgerows or even from other structures such as signposts.

Same bird - different perch

NELC'S FINANCIAL NIGHTMARE OVER TOLLBAR ROUNDABOUT FIASCO

                                    

Escalating cost of Tollbar roundabout furore 

NORTH East Lincolnshire Council faces near-crippling penalties  if it seeks to block the controversial traffic lights scheme for the Waltham Tollbar roundabout.

A Norwich-based firm - Monmouth Properties - has secured planning permission to build up to 400 homes on adjacent farmland.

Although its application was refused by members of the borough planning committee, the decision was overturned by planning inspector Jonathan Price.

As his decision letter makes plain, he imposed a crucial condition - that "no dwelling shall be occupied until signal controlled junction works to the Toll Bar roundabout have been completed and are operational". 

Legally, the council is thus obliged to ensure that the traffic lights are installed.

Their only get-out would be to seek to pay off the developer.

But, even if agreed by Monmouth, compensation would run into millions of pounds - money that the cash-strapped authority cannot afford.

New council leader Cllr Philip Jackson has reportedly put a block on the traffic lights scheme pending a review.

But delaying the project has already cost the council many thousands of pounds - a further hold-up could ramp up the bill even higher.

The situation has been a seemingly never-ending nightmare for NELC's chief executive, Rob Walsh, himself a qualified lawyer. 

It seems likely that it was his advice that persuaded the previous Labour administration to proceed with installation of the lights in the face of massive borough-wide opposition.

Earlier this year, events surrounding the controversy led to the resignation of the then leader of the council, Ray Oxby, who had been the target of personal abuse.

And in last week's local elections, Labour's surprise defeat - and forfeiture of political control of the council - was attributed to the Tollbar debacle.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that the council had to pay Monmouth Properties' appeal costs, as well as its own, after its planning committee refused the initial application. 

The figures have not been divulged, but NELC is unlikely to have seen much change out of £100,000.

The appeal inspector was unimpressed that councillors had rejected the advice of their own planning expert, Rachel Gennery, who came down in favour of lights after talks with the developer's traffic consultants.

In her report, Ms Gennery expressed confidence that the new traffic arrangements would ensure "congestion is reduced and safety increased"

She stated: "Discussions have been ongoing for many months to secure improvements so that the traffic from the proposed scheme does not have a severe residual impact on the highway network."

Having served as chairman of the council's planning committee for many years, Coun Jackson is experienced on planning controversies and the legal issues they can throw up.

But, just like Brexit, it is hard to see a solution that  will suit all parties - unless, by some miracle, he can conjure a white rabbit out of the hat.