PLANNING GREEN LIGHT FOR NEW WADING BIRDS HABITAT ON OUTSKIRTS OF GRIMSBY

Two fields adjacent to the chemicals factory will be transformed into a wetland bird habitat

PLANNING consent has been granted for creation of a wetland bird habitat on 17.1 hectares of land on the outskirts of Grimsby.

Two agricultural fields adjacent to the Novartis factory, off Moody Lane, will be given over to a water storage and habitat lagoon, shallow scrapes and ponds, bunding, a bird hide, culverts and a bridge.

The intention is for birds - most likely to be wader species - to use the site to roost when high tides prevent feeding on the mudflats of the adjacent Humber Estuary.

Like Cress Marsh, at nearby Stallingborough, the site has been designated as a mitigation site, not a nature reserve, and access will only be by permission from North East Lincolnshire Council.

However, for other birds, the estuary wall will provide excellent views across the whole site.

Consulant for the project - to be called Novartis Ings - is Roger Wardle who was also mastermind for Cress Marsh.

Says he: "There will be a mosaic of wet grassland, scrapes, pools and a lagoon. 

"The objective is to provide roosting areas that provide the birds' needs for a feeling of security from disturbance and predation. 

"This security is enhanced by the water  features, many surrounding a marooned area of gravel or wet grassland and mud. 

"There is also a high probability of other bird and biodiversity benefits."

Once contractors have vacated the site, probably at about this time next year, oversight will be by North East Lincolnshire Council's ecology officer, Rachel Graham.

Design of the proposed bird hide

Proposed layout of Novartis Ings 

JET SKIERS PROVIDE 'STAR' NEW YEAR'S EVE ATTRACTION ON CLEETHORPES OCEAN WAVE

Speed, speed and more speed - that's what it's all about

TWO jet-skiers provided a high tide spectacle this afternoon on the sea off Cleethorpes Beach.

For an hour or so, they kept onlookers - and themselves - entertained as they took turns to roar back and forth between the pier and Humberston Fitties on their Yamaha Special.

There's always something happening on Cleethorpes seafront!

Launch-point is Brighton Street slipway - normally restricted to the resort lifeboat 

However vehicular access is possible if  a licence/key is obtained by prior consent from NELC

It's a heavy piece of kit but it's going to be worth it

All aboard and away we go . . . 

Go, go, go . . . this is the life!

The shorebirds - oystercatchers - look on in bemusement (and perhaps a bit of trepidation)

PERSIMMON HOMES EARMARK GREENFIELD SITE AT SCARTHO TOP FOR HUGE NEW DEVELOPMENT

                                                                           

In the run-up to the New Year, a full planning application has been submitted by Britain's largest housebuilding company, Persimmon Homes, to construct 225 homes on agricultural land at Scartho Top, Grimsby.  For such an ambitious development, the application fee was £47,037 which will provide a welcome boost for North East Lincolnshire Council's coffers. The proposal is now out for consultation in advance of planners determining whether to grant consent for the project.

CALM WATERS FOR CARGO SHIP PETRA EN ROUTE FROM HULL TO FLIXBOROUGH

 

Pictured is Petra, a general cargo ship built in 2005 and currently sailing under the flag of Madeira. She left Hull at 1.20pm yesterday  and  is seen here off Cleethorpes two hours later. After a few days at anchor, her next destination is the Trent port of Flixborough, near Scunthorpe, with an expected arrival time of 6.15am next Monday.

JANUARY BY-ELECTION IN PROSPECT FOR VACANT SEAT IN GRIMSBY'S PARK WARD

 

People's Park - nearby residents will soon be heading for the polls 

A BY-election is in prospect for a vacancy on North East Lincolnshire Council.

One of the seats in Grimsby's Park ward is up for a poll in the wake of the sad death of  Cllr Debbie Woodward.

It is likely that Labour and the Liberal-Democrats - and possibly one or more Independents - will vie to wrest the seat from the Conservatives.

The poll is likely to be held towards the end of next month.

At the May 2019 election, Mrs Woodward had a majority of 253 over her nearest rival, David De Freitas (Lib-Dem).

The current political composition of the council is as follows:

Conservative – 31

Labour – 7

Liberal Democrat – 3

Vacant Seat – 1

JUST THE WEATHER FOR A SESSION OF SEA SWIMMING - EVEN IF IT IS DECEMBER 29!

 

All praise to this brave bather who took to the water near the rock armour breakwater in Cleethorpes at 3pm today . . . December 29! And he wasn't even wearing a bodysuit to keep out the cold. As promenaders looked on in admiration, he was soon setting off - by powerful crawl - in the direction of the pier. It is not known if he is a resident or a visitor, but all agreed he is a plucky fellow indeed.

                                          

                                            

NEW YEAR CONTROVERSY LOOMS OVER HOARDINGS INSTALLED OPPOSITE SUPERSTORE

A stretch of long-established hawthorn hedgerow has been felled to make way for the new hoarding opposite the supermarket car park

NEW controversy is looming over the proposed Strawberry Fields development opposite the Tesco superstore on an important approach road to  Cleethorpes.

The 86-homes project is only going ahead after Liverpool-based property tycoon Ming Yeung successfully appealed against North East Lincolnshire Council's refusal to grant planning consent.

Not only did he win, but he was awarded his appeal costs - likely to have been substantial - out of NELC funds.

More recently, Mr Yeung's company, YPG Developments, applied for permission to install advertisement hoarding around the perimeter of the site.

Nervous about having fingers burned again, planning officers were minded to grant permission - until Humberston Village Council objected, complaining that the hoarding would have an adverse visual impact on a leafy site that was already well screened by mature trees and shrubs.

NELC - or rather, its planning partner Equans (formerly Engie) - was frit at making a decision and passed the chalice over to councillors on the planning committee who unexpectedly backed Humberside Village Council.

The application was thus refused, and, at the start of  December, Mr Yeung received the following curt  refusal notification from NELC: 

Proposal: Display of 143 metres of non illuminated hoarding signs

Application Site: Land At Hewitts Avenue New Waltham North East Lincolnshire

Consent is hereby refused on the grounds that:

The proposed advertising hoards by reason of their size and extent (143m in length) would have a detrimental impact on the visual appearance and character of the area and highway safety causing a distraction to drivers at this busy location.

His reaction is not definitely known, but the Liverpool man was almost certainly outraged when the letter arrived on his desk.

Just before Christmas, he installed the hoardings (less the advertising) anyway, in effect inviting NELC to take enforcement action for their removal - if the authority dares.

Not only has YPG Developments put up the fencing, but the company has preceded this work by felling trees and shrubs bordering the highway on land thought not to be within its ownership.

Based on its reluctance to take enforcement action against developers who breach planning regulations, NELC may well turn a blind eye and hope no one kicks up too much of a fuss.

The last thing it wants at the start of the New Year is a costly and expensive legal dispute in which it risks having its eye blackened for a second time.

The Grimsby News says: Faced with this breach, NELC can adopt the pragmatic (not to say cowardly) approach by looking the other way. Alternatively, it can do the right thing by insisting both that the hoardings are removed and that those trees and shrubs that have been felled are replaced immediately. Time will tell . . .  

What was once a fine hedgerow has been reduced to a row of 100 stumps
 

This advertisement for seafood has now been hidden behind the hoardings 

                                               

A verge has been churned up to accommodate site access/exit arrangements  

               

CHANGE OF HOME BECKONS FOR LONG-ESTABLISHED BIRDFOOD PURVEYOR

Europarc - Haith's is staying put but perhaps not for too much longer 

IT looks like destination Louth for one of Europe's largest birdfood distributors.

After  13 years at a purpose-built warehouse and retail showoom on Grimsby's Europarc business estate, Haiths has earmarked a site, 17 miles away, on Louth's Fairfield industrial estate for the next chapter in its life.

The plan is to 'green' up the area around the projected building and car park with trees and shrubs to make it a really attractive destination - for birds as well as staff and customers.

However, the relocation may not be for a year or so.

The initiative has been prompted  by Haith's sale of its existing premises to one of its Europarc neighbours, New England Seafood International, which is in expansionist mode.

For the time being, it is leasing back the property while both companies get all their ducks lined up for busy times ahead.

The illustrious history of Haith's stretches back to just before the outbreak of World War 2 when, as head keeper at the old Grimsby Zoo, John 'Ted' Haith was constantly frustrated that the birdseed was invariably both uncleaned and inconsistent in quality.

So succesful was the top-secret method that he devised to clean and grade the seed that he was soon so overwhelmed by requests both from other zoos and from bird fanciers.

                                                    

This demand prompted  a bold decision to set up his own business, its home for some 60 years being a war-damaged three-storey chapel in Cleethorpes that first had  to be repaired and adapted.

Haith's pioneering approach and business model has since been replicated by many other distribution companies plus conservation charities, supermarkets and hardware stores which invariably now have a wide range of  birdfood products ranging from seed to sunflower hearts to fatballs, plus feeders and other accessories.

Where Haith's reckons  to be one up on its competitors is, in keeping with the ethos of its founder,  its focus on high-quality control.

The company, which is family-run, has always been the leading supplier to the avicultural market (for instance, budgerigars, canaries and parrots) and, in a more recent development, it has begun selling bait products for the angling market.

Haith's first home - a converted chapel on Park Street

                                        

GRIMSBY COULD BE BENEFICIARY OF NEW GOVERNMENT-FINANCED SEAFOOD FUND

                                                               

Cash grants could provide precious help for fishing and seafood firms

GRIMSBY-area firms could benefit from a  £100-million fund that has been set up to "support the long term future and sustainability of the UK fisheries and seafood sector".

The UK Seafood Fund was officially  announced earlier today by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.

The areas identified for grant opportunities include:

* Science and innovation

* Infrastructure such as strengthening harbour walls

* Skills and Training

Says a DEFRA spokesperson: "The fund’s objectives are to:

* Reform and modernise infrastructure to level up and bring economic growth to coastal communities

* Ensure the best science, research and technology is used in fisheries management

* Encourage new entrants to the industry and upskill the existing workforce

* Enable an environmentally sustainable fishing industry that gives most value for money and reflects the long term needs of the sector

A component of the Seafood fund will be a Fishing Industry Science Partnerships (FISP) scheme whereby research and data are collected and collated "to improve knowledge of fisheries and aquaculture". 

FISP projects will be collaborations between research organisations and the fishing and seafood industry.

More details about the fund and how to apply for grants at:

UK Seafood Fund - GOV.UK 

                                                            

Gull's eye view of Grimsby's important fish market premises

WHAT SECRETS ARE HELD BY WOODEN SHIP RECENTLY SURFACED FROM THE SANDFLATS?

 

A talking point over the festive break has been this long-forgotten boat that has emerged from the sandflats of Cleethorpes? How old is it? What was its purpose? How and when did it come to its unhappy end? And what happened to its crew? Does anyone know? 

SEASON'S GREETING FROM THE GRIMSBY NEWS TO ALL OUR LOYAL AND HIGHLY VALUED READERS!

                         

                                                    

ANYONE FOR BUNGEE-JUMPING? NEW ATTRACTION ON CARDS FOR HOLIDAY PARK

A bungee-jumping attraction could soon be a feature of the Humberston skyline after Thorpe Park holiday park this week secured planning permission to revamp and expand its leisure facilities in readiness for what it expects to be busy times ahead.  A high ropes frame (below) is also due to be installed.

NEW HOT FOOD TAKEAWAY PROPOSED AT FORMER GRIMSBY ESTATE AGENT'S OFFICE

A NEW hot food takeaway in Grimsby is in prospect for the New Year.

North East Lincolnshire Council has this week granted planning consent for change of use of the former estate agent's offices at 51 Hainton Avenue.

The proposal includes creation of a new entrance with two self-contained flats on the first floor.

The man behind the initiative is Mr Ismail Fakhuri.

'CHATTERBOX' BIRDS GATHER ON CLEETHORPES SEAFRONT TO SHARE LATEST GOSSIP

 

Are these the noisiest birds in town? A favourite congregation point for starlings is on the Big Wheel north of the pier in Cleethorpes. There, they whistle and chirp as part of a  cheerful ritual which has become a longstanding feature of seafront life. The birds, many of them juveniles, are thought to have flown here from as far away as Russia for our  milder weather and longer daylight hours which allow them more time to feed - and chatter.

BORIS JOHNSON MUST PUT CLEETHORPES FOOTBRIDGE VISIT ON HOLD UNTIL NEXT SPRING

                                                                         

Proposed end-of-year opening of the new Suggitt’s Lane railway  footbridge in Cleethorpes has been postponed until March next year after storms delayed the last few crane lifts to install  the final sections of the structure. Because of his interest in the project, Boris Johnson, is expected to be invited to cut the ribbon at the official opening whether or not he is still Prime Minister. (Photo: Network Rail)

DID COUNCIL CRY WOLF OVER 'VANDALISED' SHELTERS ON CLEETHORPES SEAFRONT?

                                                               

One of the four shelters - dirty windows but no sign of vandalism

DID North East Lincolnshire Council exaggerate the extent of 'vandalism' said to have been caused last weekend to shelters on Cleethorpes Promenade.

Our snapper went walkabout today and found a single window pane missing from one of the four shelters but the other three unscathed.

There was no evidence of wilful damage-causing, and the issue with a single glass pane may have been caused by an accident or even a bird strike.

The only significant issue was that the windows in all the shelters are  filthy because NELC has failed to keep them clean since completion of the recent  £25,000 renovation project.

 

ASBESTOS ISSUE SORTED, SO GRIMSBY CENTRAL LIBRARY SET TO REOPEN EARLY IN NEW YEAR

The central library - health risk now nearing elimination

GRIMSBY Central Library is due to open in the middle of January following repairs.

Grimsby Central Library temporarily closed in November as a precaution after a routine asbestos  inspection identified issues in the entrance foyer and lending library.

The building is owned by North East Lincolnshire Council but operated by a partner-organisation, Lincs Inspire.

A joint statement issued today by the two organisations reads: "Repair works are progressing well and we expect to reopen the library by mid-January.

"Thank you to all library users for their patience during the temporary closure.

"An update will be issued in the New Year when we will confirm the opening date."

The statement continues: "Our regeneration partner Equans and contractors carried out air sampling, and no risks have been identified that would cause concern to our staff, customers or partners who use the building."

In the meantime, the libraries in Cleethorpes, Waltham and Immingham are open as usual along with the online eLibrary service.

APPEAL FOR INFORMATION AFTER CLEETHORPES SEAFRONT SHELTERS ARE TRASHED

                                                          

Newly installed windows have been smashed or removed

JUST weeks after renovation of the shelters on Cleethorpes seafront was completed, they have been vandalised.

It cost North East Lincolnshire Council £25,000 to repaint/ replace the timber and glazing at the four shelters on Kingsway, but much of the work has proved in vain. 

At the weekend, windows and surrounds were smashed  and graffiti was scrawled.

Today, NELC appealed for information for information from anyone who saw what happened or who knows the culprits.

The number to contact is 101 and the crime reference number is 16/124197/21.

Says Cllr Stewart Swinburn, NELC's portfolio holder for Environment and Transport: "The shelters are here for everyone to enjoy - it is not acceptable that they are treated in this way."

                                                           

Graffiti was also scribbled on some of the shelters

PLANNING CONSENT GRANTED FOR 72-BEDROOM CARE HOME DEVELOPMENT IN VILLAGE SETTING

 

Artist's impression of the proposed development

A NEW purpose-built care home for the elderly is in prospect for a Grimsby-area village.

North East Lincolnshire Council has this week granted planning consent for a 72-bedroom development on grassland off Blackthorn Avenue in Humberston.

Tanglewood, the company behind the scheme, already has similar homes  in Alford, Boston, Coningsby, Horncastle, Lincoln and Spalding.

On offer to residents will be a wide variety of care options from short- and long-term care, residential, nursing, physical disability and dementia.

Says a spokesperson: "We take pride in providing quality care in comfortable, relaxed and homely surroundings. 

"Each of our projects is as individual as its location and the needs of those who will benefit from it. 

"We aim to provide a happier, healthier and fulfilling life experience for residents by upholding their rights and responding to their needs."

It is not yet known when work will start on the project.

The plan is for attractive and wildlife-friendly landscaping

DOUBTS EMERGE OVER PROPOSED 20-HOME DEVELOPMENT FOR GRIMSBY-AREA VILLAGE

                                                

A question mark hangs over the 20-home development scheme 

IT looks like a proposal to build a small housing estate in Stallingborough has been put on hold.

Jitinder Punian, of Cottingham-based BAYJ Properties, had earmarked a vegetation-dominated plot of land off Station Road for a development of 20 homes and an access road.

However, the site is sensitive because of its proximity to a level cross where there is a potential for traffic bottlenecks at school closing and opening times and when motorists are en route to and from work on the Humber Bank.

A planning application for the project was submitted in September, but it is understood that this has now been withdrawn pending a rethink.

SOLAR PANELS SET TO BE INSTALLED SOON ON ROOF OF EUROPARC'S INNOVATION CENTRE

                                                     

Some 200 solar panels are likely to be installed on the roof of the  Innovation Centre on Europarc in the New Year. As part of its drive for eco-efficiency, the building's owner, North East Lincolnshire Council, also intends to install external air source heat pumps. Both proposals are suibject to planning consent being granted.

CLEETHORPES PIER USED IN CAMPAIGN TO RAISE AWARENESS OF CHILD EXPLOITATION

 

The new poster will serve as a reminder of perils that await unwary young people. (To spare any potential embarrassment, the name, Papa's, has been deleted from the image by the designer of the picture.)

CLEETHORPES Pier is being used as a backdrop in a picture campaign aimed at halting child exploitation by criminals.

The Power of Know is a mixed-media campaign that has been developed by Humberside police, North East Lincolnshire Council and other organisations.

It encourage young  people to question "situations" that they might come across.

In the coming days, the image and other material will be displayed  across social media as well as on Stagecoach buses, Transpennine Express trains and in other  public places.

Says Cllr Ian Lindley, NELC's portfolio holder for children, education and skills: "Child exploitation is a huge  emerging issue across the country. 

"We are seeing gangs from other parts of the UK come to our area and take advantage of our children, using them to sell drugs and commit crime."

To find out more about The Power of Know, visit www.knowexploitation.com

COVID GRAB-A-JAB CLINIC OPEN IN GRIMSBY'S FRESHNEY PLACE UNTIL CHRISTMAS EVE

 

All smiles (beneath the masks) from two of the Freshney Place vaccination team

YOU can grab a jab at Grimsby’s Freshney Place shopping centre between today and Christmas Eve.

A walk-in Covid vaccination unit opened in the centre at 10am today and will be offering jabs every day between now and Christmas Eve. 

It is offering Pfizer and Moderna first and second vaccines for people aged 16-plus, and boosters for those over 18 who are eligible.

Drugs4Delivery staff are manning the unit between 10am and 6.30pm today, tomorrow, Wednesday and Thursday and from 9am to 3pm on Christmas Eve. 

The unit is next to HMV, just behind the centre’s Customer Services desk. 

The last vaccines will be administered at 6.30pm and 3pm sharp - people must turn up in good time, taking account that there may be queues.

As of last week, there was still 18 per cent of the adult population in North East Lincolnshire who had not had a first dose of the vaccine, with 24 per cent not having had the second.

Supporting the jab drive by providing the Freshney Place unit, the shopping centre’s director Amanda Austin, said: "It is incredibly important that everyone has access to these vaccinations, so we are more than happy to be supporting this vital service.

"As cases of Covid continue to rise we are asking all our visitors to follow the government’s guidance and ensure they wear a face covering and keep a safe distance from others when shopping."

Following the five-days’ use as a vaccination walk-in, the unit will remain open as testing centre with lateral flow tests also being distributed from there.

Other walk-in vaccination centres in North East Lincolnshire this week are listed below, but please be aware times and dates of walk-ins are subject to change.

GLOOMY WEATHER BUT BIRD'S BLUE PLUMAGE WAS SIGHT TO BEHOLD ON SALTMARSH

 

Amid through all the murk of a gloomy weekend afternoon, the jewel-like blue plumage of this kingfisher on Cleethorpes saltmarsh seemed to sparkle like a Christmas star.

DON'T BE LONELY THIS CHRISTMAS! RECORD STORE'S TOUCHING FESTIVE GESTURE

 

Notice spotted in the Howlin' Jacks Record Store in Cleethorpes. Hats off to the proprietor. What incredible seasonal kindness!