HOPES FADE FOR NEW TOURISM BUILDING ON SEAFRONT SITE OF FORMER CLEETHORPES PUB

The proposed building - it seemed like a good idea at the time

HOPES are waning for construction of a new tourism building on the site of the former Waves pub on Sea Road in Cleethorpes.

After two years of publicity and marketing, no local or national company has come forward to develop the site - it remains derelict behind hoardings.

At this week's meeting of North East Lincolnshire Council's scrutiny panel, members hoped for a positive update, but none was forthcoming.

According to NELC's business investment supremo, Helen Thompson, the pandemic has discouraged companies from funding infrastructure projects, especially those serving the hospitality sector.

 "However, market efforts will continue," she insisted.

Ward councillor Bob Callison (Con, Croft Baker) commended officers for their hard work on the project but described the situation as "very disappointing".

The vision, now fading, is for the ground floor of the proposed building to accommodate a state-of-the- art tourist information centre, with shops, bars , a restaurant or other commercial activities on the floor above.

Cllr Bill Parkinson (Con, Haverstoe) said he hoped any incoming facilities would bring something new to Cleethorpes not just replicate what already exists.

"We don’t want to  detract from other businesses," he insisted.                                               

The site formerly occupied by a pub is now a hive of . . . inactivity

The Grimsby News says: It is easy to be wise with the benefit of hindsight, but it is now beginning to look as if the £6-million project may have been misguided from the outset. The worst of the pandemic appears to be behind us, but still there is no commercial interest in a prime site right in the heart of the action. What has gone wrong? Is the council's marketing strategy awry? Are developers nervous about investing in a site highly vulnerable to coastal flooding? Did NELC carry out market research to assess potential demand? Pending answers to these question, the council urgently needs to come up with a Plan B for the short term - perhaps a pop-up pocket park, a farmers' market, something of that sort. Or why not invite ideas from the public?