COUNCILLOR: WE DON'T WANT ANOTHER 'CONCRETE MONSTROSITY' IN CLEETHORPES

                                                

Building upwards? A section of the car park off  Grant Street in Cleethorpes 

PLEASE don’t let it be another "concrete monstrosity"!

That was the appeal from Cllr Bill Parkinson as he and North East Lincolnshire Council scrutiny panel colleagues today discussed proposals for a first storey to be added to the car park in Grant Street, Cleethorpes.

 "The aesthetics need to be considered," he insisted. "We have to think about the appearance of the town."

Following Cllr Parkinson's comments, it is likely that the yet-to-be-appointed architect will be briefed accordingly.

Ward representative Cllr Bob Callison (Con, Croft Baker) warmed to the expansion proposal, suggesting that consideration should be given to adding a second storey as well.

He went on to recommend officers to introduce one-way way traffic schemes on Grant Street and/or on Poplar Road if and when construction starts.

Although scrutiny panel members were generally supportive of the scheme, some misgivings were also sounded - for instance, by Cllr Robinson (Con, Sidney Sussex) who suspected the enlarged car park might become a "congregation point for youths".

This comment was heeded by Cllr Parkinson (Con, Haverstoe) who recalled that one of the reasons why the WCs in Grant Street had been closed  was a recurring problem of "drug-taking and other nefarious behaviour".

Cllr Tim Mickleburgh (Lab, South) queried why the council was preparing to welcome more cars into the town at a time when local authorities, including NELC, were supposed to be developing environment-friendly green agendas.

"We should be encouraging visitors to come here by train," he argued.

NELC cabinet member Cllr Stewart Swinburn (Con, Immingham), who is portfolio holder for transport, assured the panel that there would be sufficient charging points for electricity-powered vehicles.

None of the panel members questioned the impact the enlarged car park might have on those residents whose homes overlook the site.

However, they will have the opportunity to make representations assuming the council submits a planning application.

                                      

Is the sort of car park that Cllr Parkinson would prefer? The one designed by  One-World Design Architects for the National Grid HQ on the outskirts of Warwick is a nature-friendly thing of beauty. It absorbs sound, soaks up carbon fumes and  incorporates more than 97,000 plants of no fewer than 20 different species - plus bird nestboxes