SPRUCE-UP HAS PAID DIVIDENDS ON 'GATEWAY' ROAD THROUGH GRIMSBY AND CLEETHORPES

Before and after - images reflecting the smarter appearances of some of the commercial properties

MORE than 100 buildings on one of the main roads through Grimsby and Cleethorpes are looking  smarter thanks to a North East Lincolnshire Council campaign.

NELC launched Operation Gateway in June, 2020, to improve the street scene on the A180 between Riby Square in Grimsby and Suggitt’s Lane in Cleethorpes.

The project is now coming to an end and has seen scores of property owners respond positively to calls to fix up their business premises and residential buildings.

Breaking the work into three phases, project officers contacted the owners of 227 buildings in Cleethorpe Road, Freeman Street and Grimsby Road.

To date, improvements have been carried out at 130 buildings in the target area.

Some of the problems put right include window frames, broken or missing render and flaking paintwork.

NELC's aim with the project has been to grow business confidence by encouraging property owners to make physical improvements to their buildings and make the area more attractive.

Most property owners take care of their buildings, but some properties have been neglected and posed a risk to the wider area.

Problems included windows almost falling out of their frames, shrubs growing in brickwork, missing gutters and drainpipes and vegetation in the gutters and on the roof.

Not only are dilapidated buildings an eyesore, they can also pose a risk to passers-by, harm the value of surrounding properties, and become beacons for criminality and anti-social behaviour.

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

As well as working with property owners to encourage them to make improvements, the officers liaised with colleagues in the planning team to look at ways to bring some neglected buildings back into use.

Says Cllr Ron Shepherd, NELC's portfolio holder for Safer and Stronger Communities: "Since we launched Operation Gateway, we have seen big improvements to the street scene along one of the main routes through Grimsby and Cleethorpes.

"I am  grateful to all the property owners who responded to our calls to fix up their buildings."

Agrees Cllr Callum Procter, portfolio holder for Economic Growth, Housing and Tourism: "We have big ambitions for North East Lincolnshire, and the A180 is the gateway to the towns of Grimsby and Cleethorpes.

"There is a massive amount of passing trade - we are seeking to capitalise on that."