COUNCIL DELIGHTED AS SPRUCE-UP CAMPAIGN YIELDS POSITIVE RESULTS ON BUSY ROUTE

   

SOME 90  buildings on one of the main roads through Grimsby and Cleethorpes have been smartened up in response to  a North East Lincolnshire Council campaign.

Property owners have responded positively to calls to spruce up their buildings as part of Operation Gateway.

NELC launched the campaign in June last year  to improve the street scene on the A180 Cleethorpe Road and Grimsby Road.

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

Big changes can now be seen on scores of buildings in Cleethorpe Road.

Some of the problems put right include damaged window frames, broken or missing render, flaking paintwork, shrubs growing in brickwork, missing gutters and drainpipes and vegetation in the gutters and on the roof.

Some had set an example by already making changes before the project started, but many responded to calls from NELC to fix up their properties.

The council’s aim has been to stimulate business confidence in this part of town by encouraging property owners to make physical improvements to their buildings and make the area more attractive.

In the first phase of the project, officers contacted the owners of 75 properties between Riby Square and Humber Street, along with parts of Freeman Street and Kent Street.

So far, improvements are finished or are in progress at 64 of the properties. Of the 11 remaining buildings, four have been served legal notices to complete specified works.

Phase two of the project is focused on the area between Humber Street and Park Street.

Officers identified 44 properties that needed improving and works are complete at 26 of them. Work has started at five of the remaining properties.

The team is now writing to all property owners in phase three and have identified 108 properties in need of works. This will help smarten up the appearance of Grimsby Road between Park Street and Lestrange Street/Suggitt’s Lane.

Enthuses Cllr Ron Shepherd, NELC's portfolio holder for safer and stronger communities: “Operation gateway has had a fantastic start and we’re already seeing big improvements along a key route through the borough.

“For the owners of 90 buildings to get behind what we’re doing and improve the street scene is an excellent result.

“We are pursuing resolutions with owners of a small number of neglected properties who have yet to start making improvements.

“I’m grateful to all those who are responding positively to the initiative and making a difference to the area.”

Adds Cllr Callum Procter, portfolio holder for economic development, housing and tourism: “I am  pleased to see so many property and business owners taking their role seriously and making the place look better.

“Fixing up rundown buildings makes the area more attractive to investors and will bring benefits for the whole neighbourhood.

“We have already seen new enterprises opening in the areas targeted first by the campaign. This is a positive sign and shows that by working together we can build business confidence and make it a place to be proud of.”