A new market hall and plenty of sky but not much else - first images of council's vision for Freshney Place

                                                     

Plenty of open space - is this how Freshney Place might look into the future? 

NORTH East Lincolnshire Council has today released an artist's impressions of how Grimsby's Freshney Place might look in the future.

Despite financial pressures, the authority is determined to press ahead with a revamp.

Says a spokesperson: "The aspiration is for family leisure activities, a cinema and a new modern market.

"An overall entrance would feature an open community space, green landscaping, cafes and seating."

The 'visuals' are just  proposals at this stage.

They are being made public ahead of consultations with councillors and, if welcomed, a formal planning process.

Residents, market traders and businesses will also be asked for their views with their comments taken into consideration when any design amendments are made.

These first impressions do not show where the proposed new cinema might fit, nor any of the cafes, restaurants and shops. 

Nor does it show the dozens of CCTV cameras that the surveillance-hungry council says it is determined to install. 

How would such a project be financed? NELC is awaiting a decision next month on whether Levelling-Up funding will be forthcoming.

The Grimsby News says: This seems to be an improvement on what exists at present - but not a massive improvement. The proposed new market hall looks like it will enjoy plenty of natural light, but where are the other retail and leisure buildings?  And is there no scope for a fountain or some sort of sculpture or public art? As for the claim about 'green landscaping', cannot NELC come up with something more imaginative and ambitious than the installation of just three trees? Here's hoping residents will come up with some exciting ideas to inject the council's vision with a bit more fizz.