 |
| This original concept for the redeveloped town centre has had to be scrapped because of a funding shortfall |
DOUBTS have emerged over ambitious cinema-and-shops scheme aimed at revitalising Grimsby town centre.
There had been hopes that Whitehall would stump up a£25-million grant to fund the project - a joint venture between North East Lincolnshire Council and the owners of Freshney Place.
But just £17.3-3 million has been offered, meaning that the two organisations - and the architects - have had to bang their heads together afresh if an amended cut-price scheme is to proceed.
And time is running out.
Unless a satisfactory amended proposal is submitted by the deadline of February 26, Whitehall will pull the plug.
At a special meeting of NELC's economic scrutiny panel, councillors were unable to conceal their disquiet at the absence of concrete proposals.
When so many retailers are closing, they queried whether there was a demand for units.
There are also concerns that arrangements for provision of parking were still indeterminate.
And, worryingly, no cinema operator has yet come forward.
Cllr Ian Barfield described a presentation by officers as "airy fairy".
The lack of detailed information also dismayed Cllr Karl Wilson and Cllr Gemma Sheridan, with the former maintaining it was an unsatisfactory situation both for panel members and for interested members of the public.
A stark warning was sounded by Cllr David Hasthorpe who predicted that, if Marks and Spencer were to pull out of Grimsby, Freshney Place would be a "dead duck".
He continued: "A lot of people go to the branch in Scunthorpe as do I.
"It's a better shopping experience, and parking is free."
* See also: https://bit.ly/36XePgf
No comments:
Post a Comment