Grimsby News: DEPUTY LEADER URGES SUPPORT FOR TOWN REVAMP

Hard, cold edges, bare rooves and very little 'softening' greenery - the revamp proposal

The deputy leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, Cllr John Fenty, has written an open letter to businesses and other organisations seeking their support for the authority's proposed makeover of part of Grimsby's Top Town. Below are his letter, more information about the proposal and the Grimsby News response.

Dear Interested Party

I am writing to share details of of our first phase of plans for the regeneration of of Grimsby Town Centre and would ask for your support for the scheme the council and owners of Freshney Place

have developed for the western end of Victoria Street.

The proposal will be submitted to Government in a bid for £25m of Future High Streets Funding later this month.

The purpose of the funding is to provide infrastructure investment, helping to renew and reshape town centres and high streets in a way that improves the experience, drives economic growth and ensures

future sustainability.

Cllr Fenty - ambitious

I have attached a vision document to share some of the detail and artist impressions of the development.

I hope you can share in our enthusiasm for these ambitious plans and offer your support to them as a local business with an interest in the regeneration of our town.

I would appreciate your emailing me at john.fenty@nelincs.gov.uk with your comments which I can then pass on to the project team to send as supporting information with the bid.

Yours sincerely

Cllr John Fenty

GRIMSBY: AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CHANGE - A UNITED VISION TO RESHAPE AND REVIVE OUR TOWN CENTRE

NEW LEISURE, RETAIL ANDFOOD & DRINK OFFER

QUALITY PUBLIC REALM, LANDSCAPE AND NEW TOWN SQUARE

ENHANCED MARKET AND FOOD HALL

IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THE TOWN CENTRE

A NEW MEETING PLACE FOR GRIMSBY

A GATEWAY ANCHOR FOR FRESHNEY PLACE

REJUVENATED RETAIL SPACE

A CATALYST FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL REGENERATION

• North East Lincolnshire Council and Freshney Place have partnered to apply for £25million of central Government funding, via the Future High Streets Fund .

• The partnership, supported by a professional property consultancy, is developing a town centre vision focusing upon finding new opportunities which, if achieved, will deliver transformational change - putting a beating heart back into the centre of Grimsby. The bid will be submitted next month and focuses upon change to attract a new leisure and family audience, whilst remaining loyal to our existing retailers and traders.

• A strong new leisure and entertainment offer lies at the centre of the vision, along with the development of attractive public space. Both partners wish to see a cinema as a key feature, along with quality food and beverage outlets. An improved Top Town Market and the creation of a New Market Square is also an ambition - providing a platform for entertainment and retail alongside a revitalised Freshney Place.

• After in depth analysis, the western side of Victoria Street was chosen as the prime area for our vision, incorporating the former BHS building, Flottergate Mall, Top Town Market and Old Market Square. This location was selected after looking at factors such as the overall space, the building condition and the evolving masterplan for Grimsby Town Centre which aims to improve the flow from the station, up through St James’ Square and into Freshney Place and along to the Riverhead.

• Where past plans have stalled due to economic viability and market forces, the Government has created the FHSF with the specific objective for it to be used to re-invigorate high streets and town centres. If we do get the funds needed to make the vision real, we should hear this autumn and we will be back in touch when work begins on the detail. It is our intention to take everyone with us on a journey of re-invention and success.

The Grimsby News response

The proposed design is an improvement on what exists, but, regrettably, both it and the accompanying statement lack freshness and originality - they could have been compiled 25 years ago.

There is nothing in the concept that is likely to make it stand out as exceptional or superior to any of the other bids, many already submitted, from other councils.

Terms such as "vision", "revitalise", "rejuvenate", "reinvigorate", "beating heart", "journey of re-invention", "catalyst for transformational regeneration" are cliches.

They are classic Orwellian examples of officerspeak - employed partly to disguise lack of imagination and partly to bamboozle the public, including councillors.

Even if the partners were able to attract a cinema, the best that it will pull in is the sort of fast food chain eateries that are seen up and down the land - not the speciality cafes and bars that give a town individuality, charm and personality.

It would be preferable if the proposed ‘cinema’ were to be an arts building incorporating a screen, a theatre, a gallery, a cafeteria and even a small museum plus gift shop. That would at least provide some diversity and variety.

Perhaps this might also attract sponsorship from a deep-funded commercial player such as ABP or Orsted.

However, the main deficiency in the proposal is its absence, apart from a few token trees, of any ‘nod’ to the value of a ‘green’ environment.

There is not a single reference to green landscaping in the statement.

As such, the concept lacks both inspiration and aspiration. It falls a million miles short of what is being developed by more creative town planners in many European, American and Asian towns and cities.

Even in crowded American locations such as Boston and Manhattan, planners have been sufficiently imaginative to incorporate greenery - ie plant-covered walls and trees/shrubs/flowers on roof space - into town designs. And they look very impressive!

A redesigned town needs to more than just bricks, mortar and ornate paving slabs. It needs beauty - serenity as well as vibrancy - then people will be inspired to want to visit and to stay.

What is more, they will be proud of their town.

Time is short and the deadline for submitting bids is looming, but NELC urgently to benchmark with other European towns and cities to see how they have enhanced their towns for the benefit of their residents and visitors

Whatever you decide, good luck with the bid!