Soon to become house in multiple accommodation? Aavon Court guesthouse |
Soon to become house in multiple accommodation? Aavon Court guesthouse |
Good luck to the Howlin' Jacks record store that has recently opened on High Street in Cleethorpes. Among records featured in the front window this are albums by the likes of Bon Jovi and Tom Petty. The display caught the eye of this young passer-by.
Vulnerable - the bird was first seen on Tetney Road near the junction with South Sea Lane |
AN uncertain fate befell a housemartin chick spotted immobile on Tetney Road in Humberston.
A road carrying fast-moving traffic is no place for a housemartin |
The hanging basket which broke the bird's fall as it tumbled from the air |
With their long bills, godwits are well equipped to probe the mud for tasty lugworms |
That is the message from North East Lincolnshire Council which has gradually come to realise that - particularly in late August and September - this part of the UK is one of the best places in Europe for watching waders and terns (also known as sea swallows because of their forked tails).
Particularly in late August and throughout September, these birds often stop off locally to feed and rest.
Says a NELC spokesman: "These long-legged beasties - curlews, godwits, knot, sanderling, ringed plovers and the like - are a sheer delight.
"They are real tourist attraction, and we need to cherish them and ensure they come to no harm.
"Most of the wader species are particularly conspicuous an hour before and after high tide.
"The rich feeding grounds found in Cleethorpes and the Humber Estuary act like a motorway service station by providing a rest stop for the migrating birds.
"Some pass through on their way to other places whereas others stay for the winter."
It is useful to have a pair of 8x40 or 10x50 binoculars to watch them in close up.
Luckily, Cleethorpes has a shop - Comley's - on St Peter's Avenue, Cleethorpes, which specialises in optical accessories across a wide price range.
* Rarity note: A mega-scarce white-winged lapwing has this week been a magnet to twitchers further up the Humber at the RSPB's Blacktoft Sands reserve.
Terns (also known as sea swallows), foreground, and various wader species on the receding tide near Cleethorpes leisure centre earlier today |
Perched on the buoy is a common tern - pausing in Cleethorpes en route to West Africa |
Mute swans are not often seen on the saltmarsh but this one decided to check in for a visit |
EMERGENCY works are being carried out to fix a sink hole discovered during works on Bargate, between the Abbey Road and Westward Ho junctions.
The northbound carriageway (travelling into Grimsby town centre) will remain fully closed while contractors excavate the sink hole and reconstruct the sublayers of the carriageway, following the collapse.
A full northbound closure is required due to the depth of the sink hole and the extent of the work required to reconstruct the carriageway.
Works are estimated to take seven days to complete, but motorists are being warned that the timescales for repair are unable to be confirmed until the sinkhole has been fully excavated.
Engineers and the contractor will be working as quickly and safely as possible to fix the carriageway and ensure it can be reopened as quickly as possible.
The southbound carriageway will remain open during the daytime and access to Westlands Avenue will be maintained.
Bus company Stagecoach have been informed of the closure and will be continuing to use the diversion route via Westward Ho, Littlefield Lane and Dudley Street when travelling into the town centre.
North East Lincolnshire Council and its regeneration partner, Engie, have apologised for the inconvenience.
Sink holes are daid to occur naturally all over the world and are a usually the result of geological processes.
Remember this chap? Ever-cheerful, he used to stand outside the butcher's shop on St Peter's Avenue in Cleethorpes. Earlier this summer, John Turner folded and its contents went into a liquidation sale. It is not known whether this fine fellow was included in the sales catalogue, but he seems to be as happy as ever at his new home in the front window of a house in Cleethorpes.
How not to impress residents and tourists - the empty planters on North Promenade |
WITH the peak holiday season now drawing to a close, there has still been no initiative by North East Lincolnshire Council to fill the planters at the north end of Cleethorpes Promenade.
They remain empty of blooms despite the authority being beneficiary of substantial grants from the Government's Welcome Back fund whose specific purpose is "to provide beautiful floral displays across the borough".
This week NELC's portfolio holder for tourism, Cllr Callum Procter, insisted: "We are trying to do what we can to help."
Meanwhile, NELC environment Lisa Logan said: "We’ve been lucky to secure funding for this year.
"Flowers are a great way to brighten up areas, but they also cost a lot of money to purchase, install and maintain."
"We welcome business sponsorship as we work to keep the areas in bloom all year round."
On the plus side, NELC has introduced flowers to planters elsewhere - for instance, on Cleethorpes promenade, St Peter’s Avenue, Cleethorpes Market Place, Grimsby Flyover, Grimsby Top Town and Weelsby Road.
If anyone is interested in taking on planters, hanging baskets or floral displays, including business sponsorship, please contact Lisa.logan@nelincs.gov.uk.
Correction - the council did manage to find one flower |
From Singapore to the North Sea. This is the sub-station from which Danish company Orsted's Hornsea Two windfarm, set to be the world's largest, will be maintained when it starts operating next year. It is expected to be in place 55 miles of the Yorkshire Coast by the end of the month. It has been manufactured by Singapore-based Sembcorp Marine which supplied the photograph.
There was drama on a busy Cleethorpes seafront shortly after 6pm today as the inshore lifeboat was launched just as the tide was coming in. There was speculation that the crew was responding to the crew of the yacht, in the picture below, but this had not been confirmed as of 6.30pm.
FOUR families fleeing Afghanistan are soon set to be starting a new life North East Lincolnshire.
The council confirmed today that temporary accommodation and support will be provided for those who have worked closely with British Armed Forces in Afghanistan.
This is in response to a Government request to local authorities across the UK for help with a resettlement initiative.
Says NELC leader Cllr Philip Jackson: "It is the right thing to do - these people took a tremendous risk when they supported our soldiers in Afghanistan."
Backing has come across the political spectrum
Comments Labour leader Cllr Matthew Patrick: "We are fully supportive of resettlements efforts."
Agrees the Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Steve Beasant: "These families will be tired, scared and confused.
"We in North East Lincolnshire can offer them support as they start their new lives in a strange country.
"I am really pleased that the council has agreed to support
those that have shown the same kindness to our troops."
The families will be offered temporary accommodation
and support with finding employment, school places for children and
English language skills for women and children.
To donate items of clothing, contact www.gov.uk/help-refugees.
This sign has been installed today on the central beach near Cleethorpes Leisure Centre. The North East Lincolnshire Council initiative has been in response to continuing problems with both mess and out of-of-control canines causing anguish to other beach-users, including families with young children. Problem is that dogs now have to be taken to other locations such as Lakeside and the foreshore nature reserve where they can also cause nuisance. Dogs have had a bad press this week in the wake of an incident in Grimsby where two large animals mauled to death a much smaller one, causing heartbreak to its owner.
A few weeks ago, these sanderling were in the Arctic Tundra. But this evening they were in Cleethorpes. They may stay all winter or they may fly further south, possibly even as far as Africa. That's the wonder of migration. Although only about the size of starlings, these delightful little shoreline wading birds are strong fliers and can make journeys of several hundred miles without stopping.
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Austin Mitchell - stalwart MP |
FORMER Great Grimsby Labour MP Austin Mitchell died in Leeds General Infirmary this morning, aged 86.
Before becoming a parliamentarian, Bradford-born Mr Mitchell worked as an academic in New Zealand and as a broadcaster with spells on regional TV programmes.
During his time at the BBC, he recruited Peter Levy, current anchorman of Look North.
At ITV's Calendar, he famously interviewed, in 1974, a frosty dialogue between two football managers with an intense mutual hostility - Don Revie and Brian Clough, both also now long dead.
It was particularly challenging for him because he knew next to nothing about football.
One of the first to pay tribute to him was Melanie Onn, who, in 2015, had succeeded him as Grimsby's MP.
She described him as a "larger-than-life character" who had secured pensions compensation for the last generation of Grimsby's fishermen.
However, he lost another political battle when his staunch opposition of the transfer of North East Lincolnshire Council stock of council housing to the arms-length housing association, Shoreline (now part of LHP), proved unsuccessful.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was today one of many who expressed sadness at the loss of Mr Mitchell who had been Grimsby's MP for 38 years, but who had suffered from heart disease for may years.
"My thoughts are with his wife Linda and his children," he said.
Can't Buy Me Love - the Mersey Beatles performing at the Cavern in Liverpool |
ALL 17 of The Beatles Number One hits will be performed live next month in a show at Grimsby Auditorium.
Tribute band The Mersey Beatles have been booked for the night of Friday September 3.
It will be their second date on a UK tour which begins the previous evening in Kings Lynn and ends in Whitchurch on December 4.
Formed in Liverpool in 1999, The Mersey Beatles - Mark Bloor (John), Steven Howard (Paul), Craig McGown (George) and Brian Ambrose (Ringo), together with keyboard player and percussionist Tony Cook - were once the resident Beatles’ band at the legendary Cavern Club.
Between 2002-2012, they clocked up more than 600 gigs.
Since leaving The Cavern, The Mersey Beatles have toured the world many times over – winning legions of fans, including John Lennon’s sister, Julia Baird.
The British Beatles Fan Club are said to rate them as "the best Beatles tribute band around".
They exude the inner and outer spirit of the real thing, from the costumes, instruments, Scouse charm and, of course, that unmistakable era-defining, Liverpool-born sound.
Their show flows from the ‘Mop Top’ hits of Beatlemania, through the psychedelic creativity of Sgt Pepper to the melodic wonder of the Fab Four’s later work.
Steven said: "We can’t wait to play Grimsby again - the audiences there are amazing and are always up for a great night."
In all, around 40 songs will be performed.
Tickets for The Mersey Beatles at Grimsby Auditorium are available now from grimsbyauditorium.org.uk or by calling 0300 300 0035.
The Beatles 17 UK Number One Hits are:
* From Me To You
* She Loves You
* I Want To Hold Your Hand
* Can't Buy Me Love
* A Hard Day's Night
* I Feel Fine
* Ticket To Ride
* Help!
* Day Tripper/We Can Work It Out
* Paperback Writer
* Yellow Submarine/Eleanor Rigby
* All You Need Is Love
* Hello Goodbye
* Lady Madonna
* Hey Jude
* Get Back
* The Ballad Of John & Yoko
Tickets for The Mersey Beatles at Grimsby Auditorium are available now from grimsbyauditorium.org.uk or by calling 0300 300 0035.
We Can Work It Out - another of the great hits of yesteryear |
You couldn't tell them apart from the real Beatles - or could you? |
Gull's eye view of part of Grimsby's famous Kasbah docks area |
MORE details are expected shortly on a proposed open day next month at the Grimsby Docks area known as the Kasbah.
It will feature stories, photographs and memories from people who worked down dock or visited the area over the last 50-plus years.
Says North East Lincolnshire Council's portfolio holder for heritage Cllr Callum Procter: "The port was, and is, key to the lives of so many families in North East Lincolnshire.
"It is important that memories of the port as it used to be are not lost in the sands of time.
"We are striving to make use of the buildings on the port once again and create a new community, but in doing this, we must remember our collective past."
The team behind the Kasbah open day are collecting memories of this unique and often untold heritage, and would like your help.
They are especially interested to hear about any Kasbah myths and legends! Maybe you used to see the ghosts of former trawlermen heading out to sea or perhaps you were known as the fastest filleter on the dock?
If you’d like to share your memories, please visit https://grimsby-kasbah.questionpro.eu/.
If you need any help to share these, you can also get in touch with us via email: haz@nelincs.gov.uk
The Kasbah event is being organised by North East Lincolnshire Council along ABP and GGIFT.
If you would like to register for the event, please do so here: https://grimsbykasbah.eventbrite.co.uk
Newgrove House - traditional charm in pleasing setting |
HIGH winds earlier in the weekend caused some damage to trees - for instance, this willow on the Tetney Trail midway between Humberston and Tetney Lock. It lost a branch but luckily no one was under it at the time. Trees are often more vulnerable to winds in summer than winter because of the weight of leaves and/or fruit.
College House - conversion plan spooked nearby residents |
A PROPOSAL to convert a former care home in Cleethorpes to 15 bedsitters has this week been turned down following numerous objections from neighbours.
Doncaster firm DBG Contractors wanted to revamp College House, on College Street, to a house in multiple accommodation, but their planning application was refused by North East Lincolnshire Council.
The decision will be be a relief to residents on College Street and Grant Street who feared the project, if approved, would have led to noise, parking congestion and other problems.
Alas, not a pie in sight - Adam Martin of the auction team |
THOUSANDS of pounds worth of bakery machinery and equipment is going under the auctioneer’s hammer following the demise of one of the Grimsby area's best known butcher-bakery businesses.
Up until earlier this summer, John Turner operated with a shop on St Peters Avenue in Cleethorpes and a bakery factory on the Wilton Industrial Estate in Humberston.
But in June, it closed its doors and went into liquidation.
The shop business has been sold to a new operator and is to re-open shortly but Begbies Traynor, the corporate recovery specialist handling the winding up of John Turner company, has instructed industrial auctioneers Eddisons CJM to sell off the machinery and equipment at the bakery unit and its associated offices.
The sale - which is being held online - is scheduled to end next Tuesday ( August 17).
Says Eddisons CJM director Paul Cooper said: "The bakery provided the bread, cakes, pies and sandwiches that were sold not only in the St Peters Avenue shop but also in many other outlets in the area.
"It was a sizeable and extensively equipped operation."
The auction extends to more than 200 lots of commercial equipment including everything from five-deck ovens and the bakery’s 10-burner cooking range, through dozens of prep tables, work benches and bakery racks to one of the machines that was used to create Turner’s famous Lincolnshire sausages.
Also to be sold are the bakery’s three delivery vehicles including its refrigerated Mercedes Sprinter van.
Continues Mr Cooper: "It comes as a shock when a well-regarded shop closes its doors and disappears overnight, but John Turner is just the latest in a long line of similar firms that have been struggling to stay afloat - and that was even before the pandemic struck.
The same auction firm handled the auction that followed the closure of John Pettit & Sons, the famous Grimsby butcher, that went under in 2017 after 125 years in business.
The full auction catalogue is available at www.eddisonscjm.com.
The viewing session is on Monday 16th August (10am-4pm) at the bakery premises on the Wilton Road Industrial Estate at Humberston.
The online auction is scheduled to end at 1pm the following day.
A PROMINENT office block in the centre of Grimsby could be converted to residential accommodation.
It emerged this week that a fast-growing Stourbridge company Hawkstone Properties Ltd has earmarked Imperial House, on Victoria Street, for 24 apartments.
Hawkstone is impressed with the recent enhancement of the Riverhead area and thinks its project could be a winner with upwardly mobile professionals.
Imperial House, which is on five storeys, could scarcely be better located for transport, retail, leisure and other facilities.
A planning application has been submitted to North East Lincolnshire Council for consideration by officers in the coming weeks.
For the next 11 days from tomorrow, Thursday, Ørsted - the Danish windfarm operator with interests in Grimsby - is to illuminate three turbines in Copenhagen in rainbow colours. The occasion is Copenhagen 2021 - WorldPride and EuroGames where the energy company is an official partner aiming to promote diversity and inclusion.
Artist's impression of the proposed care home in New Waltham |
THE planning go-ahead was today given by North East Lincolnshire Council for erection of a 66-bed nursing care home in New Waltham.
The location will be at the Tollbar roundabout adjacent to where Barratt Homes are building their Wigmore Park housing estate.
One constructed, the home will be run by the company, Yorkare, which operates a similar premises in Cleethorpes - the refurbished former Lindsey Lower School building on Clee Road.
Magnet for vermin - rubbish strewn in the Hainton Avenue garden |
ARMCHAIRS, mattresses, a shopping trolley and a door - just some of the items from a heap of rubbish North East Lincolnshire Council enforcement officers had to have cleared from a Grimsby garden.
It cost the council £2,000 to remove the rubbish from the long-term empty property in Hainton Avenue.
Now owners Peter Reid (58) and Sara Short (55) , of Redbourne, Gainsborough, have been hit with fines and court bills totalling £1,894 after ignoring legal warnings to clean up the mess.
Says a NELC spokesperson: "Following a complaint, an environmental enforcement officer visited the property on 25 November, 2020, and found rubbish including broken furniture, a tarpaulin, building materials, tree clippings and mattresses piled up in the garden.
The accumulation of waste was deemed to be a statutory nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 Sec 79 (1) (e).
Officers sent an introductory warning letter on 4 December, 2020, followed by a legal notice on 22 December stating that the rubbish had to be removed within 28 days.
No attempt was made to clear up the mess and the Council arranged for the garden to be cleared by a private contractor in February, 2021, at a cost of £2,000.
The defendants failed to attend Grimsby Magistrates’ Court and were found guilty in their absence.
The court fined them each £770, imposed a victim surcharge of £77, and ordered them to pay costs of £100, making a total of £947 each. The council can also begin the process to recover the cost of the clean-up.
Comments Cllr Ron Shepherd, NELC's portfolio holder for Safer and Stronger Communities: "This Hainton Avenue property was a compete eyesore.
"A massive amount of waste had accumulated in the garden.
"It’s not fair on anyone living near the property to have to put up with such a nuisance.
"When properties are left in such a state, they can attract fly-tipping and other types of anti-social behaviour.
"Accumulations or build-up of rubbish and severely overgrown gardens can have a negative impact on the neighbourhood. It becomes a nuisance when it begins to smell, encourages vermin or is unsightly."
It cost council £2,000 to clear up the mess
The attractive new seating area faces east over the waterfront |
GRIMSBY'S Garth Lane £3.5-million revamp project has come a stage nearer completion - the new seating area overlooking the waterfront has been opened to the public.
It comprises tiered steps and a safety barrier at the water’s edge.
Says a North East Lincolnshire Council spokesperson: "The area will provide a quiet space for contemplation, relaxation or perhaps just somewhere nice to eat your lunch and watch the world go by."
The site could also provide popular - all-year and in all weathers - with birdwatchers.
As well as resident mute swans, cormorants mallard, moorhens and herring gulls, it is visited, especially winter, by other species such as little grebes and kingfishers.
The hope is that the water plants could, in summer attract songbirds such as reed warblers and sedge warblers.
In the medium term, subject to safety considerations, there are also plans to introduce water sports such as paddleboarding.
Comments NELC's cabinet member for economic growth, Cllr Callum Procter: "This is a fantastic step forward for Grimsby in our aim to put pride back into the town centre.
"We have a fantastic waterfront, and we need to use it!
"This whole area shows ambition and a vision to bid for and win significant grant funding to enable such change. I just want to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in this massively significant project."
Perhaps a water fountain might help to disperse all that floating algae |
This former crafts product shop has been earmarked for the new venture |
A NEW vegan takeaway is on the cards for Cleethorpes.
New Waltham woman Victoria Bedford has secured planning consent from North East Lincolnshire Council for her enterprise - to be known as Vegan Street Kitchen - at 8 Market Street.
Says she: "There are currently no vegan only food outlets in the area.
"With one in four people now eating a plant-based diet this is well needed in the area.
"The shop will be open-plan, with the kitchen visible, and the premises will be redecorated to provide a trendy more current feel."
No significant changes to the the exterior of the shop are proposed.
The Grimsby News says: Sounds tasty! Go, Victoria, go!