COUNCIL SAYS THANK-YOU TO BUSINESSES OWNERS FOR SPRUCING UP THEIR PROPERTIES

Above is a selection of the properties which have undergone a facelift

 

A VOTE of thanks has been cast by North East Lincolnshire Council to property and  business owners who have spruced up their premises on Grimsby Road and Cleethorpe Road.

They have responded to calls to renovate buildings as part of Operation Gateway, a project launched last August to improve the street scene on the A180 

Focused on the stretch between Riby Square in Grimsby and Isaacs Hill in Cleethorpes, the Council has been encouraging owners of street-facing properties to make improvements.

Some had already started making changes or had them planned before the project started, but others have yet to make improvements.

Says a NELC spokesperson: "This has been done through a combination of education, advice and, if needed, enforcement action. 

"The council’s aim with the project is to grow business confidence."

In the first phase of the project, officers contacted property and business owners between Riby Square and Humber Street and parts of Freeman Street and Kent Street where there are 61 properties in total.

So far, works are complete at 20 properties and in progress at another 15.

Among the Phase One properties to have undergone transformation are:

* The Gym
* F Rogers Electrical
* Clover Construction
* Elegant Lighting
* Riby Square Takeaway
* Pizza Plus
* Titanic Pizza
* Cottees Bar
* Willsons Printers

Phase Two of the project has been focused on the area between Humber Street and Park Street where there are more residential properties.

NELC wrote to 44 properties and have received 40 responses so far.

Thirteen have already completed the works they were asked to carry out. 

Other works are in progress, with  some owners arranging for improvements to be made after winter when the weather improves.

Phase Two property owners that have completed improvements  include:

* National Auto Tyres & Care
* Carpet Express
* Payless Tiles
* Spartana Health Studio
* Jams News LTD
* Urban Property Development
* Lincolnshire Housing Partnership
* AA Property Developments

Says Cllr Ron Shepherd, NELC's portfolio holder for Safer and Stronger Communities: “I am thankful to all the property and business owners who have responded positively and started making improvements to their buildings and land.

“Many buildings are already looking better. We want to work with other property and business owners to make a difference to the street scene.

“We aim to repeat this early success in the remaining phases of the project.

"This is an area with great potential - it is the gateway to the town with huge amounts of passing trade and we need to make a good impression.”

Cllr Callum Procter, portfolio holder for Economic Growth, Housing and Tourism, comments: "The response to the scheme so far has been very positive, and we are  grateful to all those who are already smartening up their premises.

“We have big ambitions for North East Lincolnshire, and the A180 is a key route through the borough.

“Property and business owners have an important role to play when it comes to attracting investment and making the area an attractive place to visit .

“If everyone does their bit and brings their buildings up to scratch, it will bring benefits to the whole neighbourhood and make it a place to be proud of.”

Most property owners take care of their buildings, but a small number of properties are neglected and pose a risk to the wider area.

Problems include windows almost falling out of their frames, shrubs growing in brickwork, missing gutters and drainpipes and vegetation in the gutters and on the roof.

Not only are dilapidated buildings an eyesore, they can also pose a risk to passers-by, harm the value of surrounding properties, and become beacons for criminality and anti-social behaviour.