Crunch decision looms on controversial entertainments zone at Humberston's Thorpe Park

The 'adventure village' at Thorpe Park (photo: Haven Leisure)

                   

A CRUNCH decision is expected tomorrow (Wednesday) on the outdoor activities and entertainments area that has been established at the Thorpe Park holiday centre in  Humberston.

Since opening last year, the attraction has given delight to holidaymakers but generated scores of  objections - mostly related to noise and disturbance - from park residents and Humberston Fitties chalet owners lamenting the loss of tranquillity.

At a planning committee tomorrow, councillors will decide whether to grant retrospective planning permission for what has already been installed, namely:

* Jump tower, jump bag and climbing wall. 

* Low Ropes 

* Storage containers 

* Sweet treats unit 

* High ropes 

* Big play area 

* Refurbishment of multi-use games area

* Refurbishment of archery range 

* Crazy golf 

* Container bar and seating area 

* Stage and giant screen 

* Ranger station 

* Activities hub and toilets 

* Bungee trampolines 

* Lighting 

Despite the extent of opposition - including an objection from Humberston Village Council - the committe is being recommended to approve the application submitted by the park's Hertfordshire-based owners, Haven Leisure.

Says a report from the case officer: "The application relates to investment in a major holiday destination in the area.

"It supports the existing site and the visitor economy. 

"With the appropriate conditions, the proposal is not considered to harm the amenity of the surrounding holiday chalets or character of the area or the neigbouring Humberston Fitties Conservation Area."

                                  

Coming soon? Sneak preview of the proposed Marina Bar (photo: Haven Leisure) 

Crackdown in prospect for jet-skiers who often strike terror into paddleboarders, bathers . . . and birds

 

Cleethorpes bathers look on nervously as a jet-ski zooms past far too close for comfort 

A CRACKDOWN is on the cards for jet-skiers who often strike fear into bathers and paddleboarders - plus wildlife - off Cleethorpes Beach. 

At next week' meeting of North East Lincolnshire Council's cabinet, members will be asked to rubber-stamp proposals for introduction of  an Open Space Protection Order.

Jet-skiing provides an adrenaline-rush for participants and makes an impressive spectacle - but the downsides are thought to be greater.

Paddleboarders and bathers have often reported near-misses, while the noise and speed of the skis causes mayhem to the globally-important roost of shorebirds, including curlews, godwits and plovers, on the south beach.

The proposed prohibition wording is:

"To prohibit the irresponsible use of Personal Water Craft (PWC) (including jet skis) on and around the seafront that causes alarm, distress and harassment to others. 

"This may include but is not limited to the following: 

• The use of craft in a manner that poses a risk to the safety of people

• Risk of disturbance to wildlife

• The use of craft in a manner that has the potential to cause harassment, alarm and distress to any other beach or coast users, or residents (eg in the dedicated swim lanes, clearly marked out by buoys)."

Some 90 per cent of those who responded to a survey would support prohibition.

New signage would be necessary, but, once installed, there would most likely be a zero tolerance approach to offenders - as from May - with on-the-spot penalties of £100.

According to a report seen by the Grimsby News, similar action is on the cards for:

* Lighting of bonfires and barbecues on the beach or council-owned land

* Unauthorised vehicle parking on the pier slipwayand Brighton slipway

* Overnight camping/caravanning on all council land 

* Releasing of Chinese lanterns

* Using council land as at take-off/ landing point for paragliders, paramotors and hang gliders

There could also be some restrictions on where metal detecting, fishing and bait digging can be undertaken.    

The council will debate the proposals next Wednesday. 

                                                              

Unauthorised camping could also lead to on-the-spot £100 fines

Tempers boil over as contractors lay waste to 'pocket nature reserve' on Humberston Fitties chalet park

 

Laid waste - the green and leafy plot on the chalet park (photo: Facebook) 

A ROW has blown up over weekend despoilation of a 'pocket nature reserve' on the Humberston Fitties chalet park.

Residents have expressed outrage that shrubs and trees have been cleared from Plot 105 - apparently without the consent of North East Lincolnshire Council, nor the park's owners, Tingdene, in advance of installation of a new chalet.

Tingdene have taken the brunt of the flak with Facebook posters queuing up to condemn the company for 'presiding' over what has happened.

The felling of a specimen stone pine tree has caused particular outrage.

"This lovely tree was hacked down by four very aggressive men when challenged about planning permission," wrote one Facebook poster.

"I ended up ringing the police after one of them assaulted a neighbour."

In response, Wellingborough-based Tingdene has put out a statement dissociating itself from the clearance works that took place last  Sunday morning.

It reads: "We have been made aware of works that have been undertaken on Plot 105 by its new owners.

"We are aware that there are various  comments on social media indicating that the works have been completed by approved contractors appointed by Tingdene Holiday Parks Ltd.

"This information is not correct.

"As Humberston Fitties Holiday Park is within a conservation area, consent should be sought from both Tingdene Holiday Parks Ltd (Landlord) and North East Lincolnshire Council (planning authority) prior to any works being undertaken." 

The statement concludes: "We will continue to work with the owners of the plot in relation to the approval that is  required prior to any further works being undertaken." 

Tingdene did previously - early in 2019 -  apply to planners to build a chalet at Plot 105, but, for reasons unknown, it subsequently withdrew the application.

The identity of the leasehold purchaser of the plot has not been revealed, nor whether NELC is investigating.

Contractors on site earlier this week

Serious setback for Pleasure Island consortium as Environment Agency warns of flood hazard

                                                     

Overtopping of Buck Beck could cascade water into the adjacent Pleasure Island site

THERE has been a setback for the Lidl-led consortium which is seeking to redevelop the former Pleasure Island theme park in Cleethorpes.

Probably the most important consultee, the Environment Agency, has announced its opposition to the application because of potentially life-threatening flood hazard.

It states: "The flood risk assessment does not adequately assess the flood risks posed by the development.

"We therefore object to this application and recommend that planning permission is refused."

The site is vulnerable to being swamped either by a North Sea seasonal surge or by overtopping of the adjacent Buck Beck in the wake of prolonged heavy rain.

The consortium’s agent had sought to address these concerns in its application.

However, it seems the EA was unimpressed because it was based on data that was either incomplete, flawed or out of date.

It states: "During pre-application discussions the applicant was advised to avoid locating lodges in areas at risk of fluvial flooding as a seasonal occupancy restriction would not be suitable for managing the risk.

" It appears this has not been possible, and there is a currently identified risk of flooding to two of the lodge areas."

Although warning sirens could be sounded in the event of a flood emergency, the EA is not satisfied that this arrangement would suffice.

It further notes the risk of cars and other vehicles being washed about the site, randomly and dangerously.

And the EA has found another cause for concern. 

The site is close to a landfill site, and construction activity coud lead to the escape of noxious gases - potentially fatal in future years if they seep into the holiday lodges.     

North East Lincolnshire Council could choose to disregard the EA’s objection - and those of other parties -  but many would see knowingly to put lives at risk to be an indefensible course of action for a local authority.

Given the EA’s red light, insuring the site would also be a significant issue.

The consortium has the option of amending its scheme in the hope of persuading the EA to withdraw its objections, but this would hold up the much-delayed project even further

Meanwhile, the planning authority is still awaiting, probably later this week, the expert comments of two other influential parties, both within its own organisation - the highways department and ecology officer Rachel Graham.

SEAQUAKE!: How Mablethorpe, Cleethorpes, Skegness and Ingoldmells were hammered by the calamitous North Sea floods of 1953 eBook : Wright, Jim: Amazon.co.uk: Books

Former Mariners boss: 'Whether I'd been stitched up, I'll never know with absolute certainty'

                                                               

Holloway's book - his time at GTFC was not a success

NOVEMBER 21, 2020: was this Ian Holloway's worst day as Grimsby town boss?

The scoreline: Tranmere Rovers 5 - Grimsby Town 0.

What went wrong?

In his revealing new book, Holloway said he had made the mistake of asking a member of his backroom staff to analyse a video of how the home side played instead of watching it himself.

He writes: "The end result was that he told me that Tranmere played a totally different way from the way they actually played.

"If I'd checked, I would have seen that they had a diamond and, if you play that formation well, they' outnumber you in the wide areas."

Evidently,  Tranmere played the wide areas well - very well.

Continues Holloway: "I tried to change from the touchline, but my lads didn't understand and, within 33 minutes, we were 4-0 down.

"I had picked the wrong team and had the wrong players in the wrong positions."

Holloway acknowledges he should have done his own homework, but he was evidently in unforgiving mood in the days that followed the match.

He confides: "Whether I'd been stitched up or not, I'll never be able to say with absolute certainty, but I made sure that the  staff member who had written that report never worked for Grimsby Town again."

One of the goalscorers for Tranmere that day was attacking midfielder Otis Khan, now with The Mariners.

* How To Be a Football Manager by Ian Holloway is published by Headline Publishing.

Vladimir Putin's most precious possession - a cross given to him by his mother

          

Putin: 'It was meant to be' 

A YEAR and a day after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a Grimsby News reader has submitted a piece of information which offers an unexpected insight into Putin's personality.

Apparently, he has his own private chapel, and his most precious personal possession is a cross, given to him by his mother, which he had blessed in Jerusalem.

When his country retreat outside Moscow was badly damaged by fire, his main concern was the fate of that cross.

Imagine his relief and delight, therefore, when a firefighter unfolded his hand to reveal the cross.

The story is told in his book, Decision Points, by George W. Bush  who asked Putin  how he responded.

His reply was telling. "It was as if it was meant to be."  

Over his eight years as president, Bush met Putin more than 40 times, and they were on first name terms.

He writes: "He was sometimes cocky, sometimes charming, always tough.

"My wife, Laura, and I  had wonderful visits with him and his wife, Lyudmila (they divorced in 2013), at our home in Crawford and his dacha outside Moscow where he let me drive his classic 1956 Volga.

Apparently Putin was unimpressed with the Bush family's Scottish terrier, Barney, comparing him unfavourably to his own black labrador, Koni.

Bush continues: "Putin is a proud man who loves his country.

"He wants Russia to have the stature of a great power again and was driven to expand Russia's spheres of influence

"He intimidated democracies on his borders and used energy as an economic weapon by cutting off natural gas to parts of Eastern Europe.

"Putin liked power and the Russian people liked him."

Decision Points was published in the UK by Virgin Books in November 2010.

Survey of birds reveal almost 60 different species - some of them breeding - on site of former theme park

Up to 272 holiday lodges are proposed

SUMMER bird surveys of the former Pleasure Island theme park in  Cleethorpes have revealed  58 species - either on the site or within 50 metres. 

It is understood the research was conducted in 2019, 2020 and 2022 by a Hebden Bridge-based consultancy, OS Ecology.

It contains some surprises.

For instance, who would have thought nuthatches breed there - or that it provided a temporary roosting habitat for great white egret? 

There could also be an inadvertent omission - at least one pair of blackcaps is thought to breed there annually. 

Blackcap - small warbler which probably breeds on the site

The full list of sightings is as follows: 

* Barnacle Goose - a regular flock is present on amenity grassland to the south of the site

* Blackbird - breeding on site

* Black-headed Gull - recorded on site (non-breeding)

* Blue Tit - breeding on site

* Bullfinch -  breeding on site

* Buzzard - overflying

* Carrion Crow - breeding on site

* Chaffinch - breeding on site

* Cetti’s Warbler - a single bird recorded singing within scrub by the Buck Beck 

* Chiffchaff - breeding on site

* Common Gull - overflying

* Coot - probable breeding species on lake

* Cormorant - overflying 

* Cuckoo - single record of female in July (non-breeding)

* Curlew - recorded on saltmarsh and single bird on southern section of the site 

* Goldcrest - breeding on site

* Goldfinch - breeding on site

* Great Spotted Woodpecker - overflying

* Great Tit - breeding on site

* Great White Egret - overflying September 2019 and roosting on site August 2022

* Grey Heron - regularly recorded on lake (non-breeding)

* Grey Lag Goose - part of a regular flock is present on amenity grassland to the south of the site

* Herring Gull - overflying

* House Martin - overflying

* House Sparrow - breeding on site

* Jackdaw - breeding on site

* Kestrel - overflying

* Kingfisher - recorded on pond September 2020 (non-breeding)

                                            

Kingfisher - non-breeding visitor to Pleasure Island lake

* Lesser Whitethroat - likely breeding on site

* Linnet - breeding on site

* Little Egret - regularly recorded on pond and Buck Beck (non-breeding)

* Little Grebe - likely breeding on site

* Magpie - breeding on site

* Mallard - likely breeding on site

* Meadow Pipit - recorded on adjacent saltmarsh

* Moorhen - breeding on site

* Mute Swan - breeding on site

* Nuthatch - breeding on site

* Oystercatcher - recorded on grass to the south (non-breeding)

* Pheasant - likely breeding on site

* Redshank - recorded on the Buck Beck and saltmarsh (non-breeding)

* Reed Bunting - recorded on adjacent saltmarsh

* Reed Warbler - breeding on site

* Robin - breeding on site

* Sedge Warbler - breeding on site

* Skylark - recorded on adjacent saltmarsh

* Song Thrush - breeding on site

* Sparrowhawk - overflying

* Starling - breeding on site

* Swallow - breeding on site

* Swift - overflying

* Twite - recorded on adjacent saltmarsh

* Whitethroat - breeding on site

* Wigeon - recorded on Buck Beck (October 2019)

* Willow Warbler - breeding on site

* Woodpigeon - breeding on site

* Wren - breeding on site

* Yellowhammer - recorded on adjacent saltmarsh

A planning application has been submitted for redevelopment of the site to accommodate a Lidl supermarket, a B&M shop, a drive-thru Costa and up to 272 holiday lodges and two hotels.

If approved, this would lead to the felling of more than a hundred mature trees and shrubs, with the likely loss of many of the birds. 

The application is due to be determined in spring by North East Lincolnshire Council.

A drive-thru Costa and two hotels are included in the project

Many of the mature trees and shrubs are earmarked for the chop

Proposed lay-out of the scheme

Great white egret - individual birds recorded

 overflying and roosting on site

One year on, sufferings in Ukraine to be marked by minute's silence outside Grimsby Town Hall

                                                   

More than 80 Ukrainians have been welcomed into the Grimsby area since the invasion 

THE National Minute’s silence to mark the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine will be held in Grimsby at 11am tomorrow, Friday February 24.

From the main steps of the town hall, it will be led by the Mayor of  North East Lincolnshire, Cllr Steve Beasant.

The start and finish of the event will be marked by the ringing of the town hall bell. 

A statement from North East Lincolnshire Council reads: "The Ukrainian flag will continue to fly at full mast over the town hall.

"After dark, Grimsby Minster and The Knoll in Cleethorpes will be lit up in blue and yellow, the colours of the Ukrainian flag."

Says NELC leader Cllr Philip Jackson: "What we are continuing to see in Ukraine is beyond many people’s experience and comprehension.

"Over the least year, we have welcomed more than 80 Ukrainians to North East Lincolnshire, including several families.

"I should like to extend my thanks to the sponsors and others who have helped support our Ukrainian guests to settle in here in North East Lincolnshire.

"I am sure I speak for all in the whole borough when I say how the  country’s brave people remain in our thoughts, hopes and prayers."

Prime Minister's warning to rail company - get the trains sorted or you risk losing your franchise!

                                                       

What's the point of a railway station if trains don't run?

AILING train operator Transpennine has been given until May to rectify its underforming rail service.

Unless the company bring an end to the cancellations and delays, its existing contract - which terminates in that month - is most unlikely to be renewed.

This was the message from Rishi Sunak, when the matter was raised at today's Prime Minister's Questions session in the Commons.

The company seems never to have recovered since covid lockdown, and its poor service has caused months of frustration  for numerous travellers in the Grimsby area and the many other areas which its trains (supposedly) serve.

Cleethorpes MP Martin Vickers is among those who, out of despair, has called for Transpennine, which is part of First Group, to be stripped of its franchise.

An improvement plan has reportedly been drawn up, but, if so, there is scant sign yet of its having been implemented. 

The joy of the great outdoors - cattle put out to graze in Cleethorpes farm field

 

Always a good sign to see cattle out grazing in the fields again. These belted galloway have this week been feasting on fresh grass on a field between Cleethorpes Country Park and the Wilton Road industrial estate in Humberston.

Windfarm operator: Remediation needed or cable degradation could lead to 'power transmission loss'

The Hornsea One windfarm - 174 turbines in total 

A NOTE of concern has been sounded on the integrity of the cable network - specifically the foundations - linking Ørsted Hornsea One  windfarm, 75 miles off the Yorkshire Coast, to Horseshoe Point in Lincolnshire.

Recent investigations have shown degradation of the existing Cable Protection System  associated with the foundations. 

The Danish company fears that unless there is extensive remedial work, there will be continuing degradation "resulting in significant power transmission loss, and requiring subsequent emergency cable repairs". 

According to a report seen by the Grimsby News, the proposed works include "the placement of permanent rock and/or rock bag berms to stabilise cables ends". 

Assuming there are no environmental or other objections, the work is expected to start in spring or summer this year and will be completed over a period of 150 days within a five-year period.

Why such a long timeframe? Progress will depend on ease of rock transit and laying, weather downtime, currents and tidal states and any additional stabilisation challenges.

* All images courtsey of  Ørsted 

                                           

                                                

With just one rotation of its blades, a single turbine can supply sufficient electricity for a day for an average home

Urgent probe under way after two swans are contaminated in Humber Bank oil incident

Horribly oiled - but still able to fly (photo: Phil Jones)

AN urgent multi-agency investigation is underway following an oil-spill  incident which has hit wildlife on the Humber Bank.

North East Lincolnshire Council’s ecology officer, Rachel Graham, is liaising with her counterpart at neighbouring North Lincolnshire Council to establish the extent of the contamination, its impact and what caused it.

It came to light late on Tuesday of this week when birdwatcher Phil Jones was alerted by a fisherman at Homestead Park in Immingham to the presence of  two "oiled-up" swans.

When he arrived, Phil  was surprised that, despite extensive  contamination of its underbody,  one of the birds was still able to take to the sky, and it flew from the site.

Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue was unable to attend the scene because of other calls on its time, so Phil stayed at the scene for more than four hours to safeguard  the more severely stricken bird from disturbance until a welfare group, Yorkshire Swan Rescue Hospital, was able to take it back to their sanctuary at Selby.   

Distressing sight - the more seriously contaminated bird

What happened to the bird that flew off?

Last Thursday, two days after the alert, it was detected, at Cleethorpes Boating Lake. by another birder, Nick Coulbeck, who alerted North East Lincolnshire Council and the Beach Safety team which watched over the bird until Yorkshire Swan Rescue could collect it.

Both birds have been undergoing a clean-up to remove the oil.

What has been the source of the oil?

Phil believes it is a drain outfall not far from the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's Killingholme Haven nature reserve.

Says he: "There is a constant flow of petroleum film on the water coming out - and it smells that way, too.   

"I couldn't find any evidence of oil on the drain side or on the riverbank, and my judgement is that this is not where the oil problem lies.  

"If that petroleum film flow is normal and constant, it represents significant ongoing  pollution entering the river to the potential detriment of waterbirds and other aquatic wildlife."  

Anglian Water and the Humber ports authority are also making inquiries as is the Environment Agency which has logged the incident as  Number 02130427.

Rescued at Cleethorpes Boating Lake - and now under specialist care

Hopes rise of tourism-related project soon on derelict and unloved Cleethorpes seafront site

 

Expect an announcement soon from North East Lincolnshire Council on the future of site of the former Waves pub opposite Cleethorpes pier.  Earlier this month, civil contractors moved in with materials and machinery in advance of laying foundations. The council is hoping to attract a tourism-related development but, to date, marketing initiatives have failed to bear fruit. It may be that NELC will proceed with some short-term project pending some more ambitious and long-lasting scheme.   

Which team will take the pancake gold medal? Morning of exciting sporting action beckons

Grimsby Minster has announced that Grimsby’s annual Pancake Day race returns again this year as a relay event. Teams from the Minster (skippered by the Fr Chris Hewitt), from North East Lincolnshire Council (captained by the Mayor, Cllr Steve Beasant), from the business community and from local schools will compete to be the first to cross the finish line with all their pancakes intact. The action is to take place in St James' Square  from 11am on Shrove Tuesday February 21. What will happen to the pancakes after the race? This has not been divulged.

Stricken mute swan thought to be on mend from injuries after crash landing on Corporation Bridge

                                                                          

Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue has today posted on its Facebook page this photo of a patched-up mute swan on Grimsby's Corporation Bridge. The animal welfare charity went to the aid of the bird, which had sustained what are thought to be minor crash-landing injuries, after passers-by frightened off two foxes that had been showing more than a passing interest. Today, the bird will be recuperating in CWR premises pending veterinary checks.

As Grimsby's former Labour MP mulls her future, could she be tempted to stand at the local elections?

Earlier this week, the Labour Party in Grimsby posted this photograph of Ms Onn (far left) on social media 

COULD former Great Grimsby MP Melanie Onn soon become a councillor?

It is not the first political priority for Ms Onn because it is believed she is keen to win back the parliamentary seat she held for Labour until she was defeated by the Conservative, Lia Nici, at the last General Election.

But in the meantime, colleagues in the Grimsby Labour Party - and many constituents - would love to see her run in the North East Lincolnshire Council elections in May.

The 43-year-old mother-of-one  will soon have time on her hands. 

At the end of next month, she steps down from her lucrative but unfulfilling job as deputy chief executive of Renewable UK in order to focus on resuming her political career.

Just being a  candidate in the forthcoming council poll would garner headlines and thereby raise her profile to something approaching its former heights.

Meanwhile, it will be remembered that it was Ms Nici's role as a North East Lincolnshire councillor - she was a representative for the Scartho ward - which provided a springboard for Ms Nici to become an MP.

Since the start of the New Year, the current  Grimsby MP - always Boris Johnson’s most dedicated (some would say slavish) supporter - has mostly been out of the spotlight both locally and nationally.

However, it is thought likely that she will stand again whenever the next General Election comes round. 

A sad night for Ms Onn, a gleeful one for Ms Nici - but will the tables be turned next time round?

Consortium's plan for Grimsby's first salmon-breeding 'farm' is ambitious but residents are fearful

                                                                

Residents are worried a proposed salmon-breeding farm may have adverse impact both on their amenities and on local environment 

PRELIMINARY proposals to build an indoor salmon-breeding 'farm' in Grimsby have upset nearby residents.

A London-based consortium, Aquacultured Seafoods Ltd, has earmarked the former railway sidings, off Salvesen Road,  on the docks estate, for its £75-million project. 

But there have been objections from householders in Harrington Street, Daubney Street and Manchester Street who have voiced concerns about potential noise, smell, pollution, increased traffic and the loss of wildlife, including butterflies and songbirds.  

The controversy has come to the attention of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust whose planning chief, Tammy Smalley, has not expressed a view but has asked to be kept updated.

No formal planning application has yet been submitted to North East Lincolnshire Council but this could be forthcoming shortly.

Below is the report from the December 26 (2022) edition of the Grimsby News: 

AN ambitious plan has been unveiled for a £75-million indoor salmon 'farm' in Grimsby.

A London-based consortium, Aquacultured Seafoods Ltd, has earmarked the former railway sidings, off Salvesen Road,  on the docks estate, for its ambitious project. 

The 11-hectare triangle-shaped site is currently vacant and has become an ‘unofficial’ nature reserve. It is designated as a Local Wildlife Site. 

ASL has offices in Jermyn Street - one of the most fashionable parts of Westminster.

Currently, it has no trading history and assets totalling less than £20,000.

However, it is sufficiently confident about its brainchild to have engaged agents Montagu Evans to produce a comprehensive report on what is proposed.

Says the document: "Once fully operational, the proposed building would provide 40,000 sq m of  floorspace and associated plant/infrastructure.

"This would provide for an enclosed aquaculture facility producing approximately 5,000 tonnes gross of whole fish per annum.

A dedicated area would be set aside for bio security and disinfection, and there would be 77 car parking spaces and three loading bays.

Access to the salmon farm would be off Salvesen Road via a new shared access point.

On the technical side, the 'facility' will contain a marine recirculating aquaculture system, known in the industry as an RAS, within both freshwater and saltwater tanks. 

The freshwater tanks would support the early stages of the salmon life cycle and the larger saltwater tanks provide the environment for the salmon to grow to 4-5kg in size. 

Associated infrastructure would include a water treatment plant, a fish processing line and a feed storage unit.

It is understood that ports company have agreed to provide the amount of fresh water required from their own boreholes located nearby.

Salt water, meanwhile, would be abstracted from a borehole constructed on site.

Assuming ASL  can secure both funding and planning consent from North East Lincolnshire Council, the salmon 'farm' could create dozens of jobs and consolidate Europe's reputation as one of the world’s foremost fish-processing towns.

The consortium’s seven members are well connected and bring a broad range of entreprepreneurial expertise and experience to the  project.

At least, two already have connections with the seafood sector - Colin Anderson at Loch Fyne Oysters Ltd and James Fox-Davies at Fowey Shellfoods Company Ltd.

In the event that planners looks favourably on the project, ASL will probably need to commission  an archaeological survey of the site because it is an 'historic landscape'. 

Some mitigation may also be necessary for potential loss of wildlife habitat.

The firm hopes to submit a formal planning application in the New Year.

Premier League club lift Harry Haddock ban after blast from former Cleethorpes newspaper boss

Absolutely ridiculous - Nigel Lowther's TV blast for ban decision

(photo: BBC Look North)

JUST minutes after strong words from a former Cleethorpes newspaper editor, Premier League side Southampton  have backed down on a plan to ban Grimsby Town fans from taking inflatable haddock

mascots to next month's FA Cup Fifth Round match.

At lunchtime today, Nigel Lowther former editor and co-proprietor of the old Cleethorpes Chronicle, condemned the ban as "absolutely ridiculous" when he appeared on BBC TV's Look North programme.

"You would think a club that is at the foot of the Premier League would have more to be worried about than an inflatable fish,"he fumed.

Mr Lowther's words did the trick.

Less than 20 minutes later, the chief executive of Grimsby Town, Debbie Cook, confirmed that the ban had been lifted.    

"We are delighted to confirm that Harry Haddocks will be allowed in at Southampton,"she declared.

"Our two clubs haave found a solution that will allow our iconic inflatable to make an appearance at  for our biggest game in the Emirates FA Cup for a generation.

"We are really happy that Southampton have decided to let us take our Harrys.

"Ever since the 1989 FA Cup, he has been present at every big game in the club’s history, so it would have been a real shame for him not to be there."

Ms Cook also paid tribute to behind-the-scenes initiatives that had been undertaken by the Mariners' Trust.

The match, which is due to be screened live on ITV4,  is being played on the evening of March 1.

Long live Harry Haddock - today's message from the players at the Mariners' training ground in Waltham (photo: Grimsby Town FC)

                                                          

'Inclement weather' blamed for new lifeboat house project delay - but was that really the main reason?

Not a lot going on  - work has ground to a halt on construction of new lifeboat house

 

THE RNLI is seeking permission for extended weekend working hours on construction of its new lifeboat house in Cleethorpes.

But the question now being asked is: Who will carry out these works?

At present, activity is only permitted between 8am and 1pm on Saturday, with no working on Sunday.

But the RNLI  is asking North East Lincolnshire Council to amend these hours to 8am - 6pm on both Saturday and Sunday.

Why? 

Says the RNLI: "This is due to experiencing exceptional inclement weather during the winter months and unforeseen issues arising on site.

"We are keen to expedite the construction phase and to limit any unnecessary disruption during busier summer months and the tourist season."

Considering how mild it has been this winter, it seems curious that "exceptionally inclement weather" is being blamed.

What are the "unforeseen issues"? It emerged on Monday that the Gateshead-based main contractor, Tolent, had hit cashflow problems and fallen into administration.  

James Lumb, managing director of Interpath Advisory and joint administrator for Tolent, said: "Like many businesses across the UK’s building and construction sector, the group has been battling severe headwinds, including spiralling costs, labour shortages and also the loss of other companies within its supply chain.

"Following the tapering-off of the government’s COVID-19 support schemes, and in the wake of recent economic volatility, access to finance has tightened for many companies across the sector. 

"This means many building and construction firms are finding they have fewer options available to them to help deal with any liquidity crisis.

"Additionally, after the annual Christmas shutdowns and a cold December, the months of January and February often bring with them a painful cash crunch. 

"In a sector which typically operates on wafer-thin margins, this can often prove to be insurmountable and, unfortunately, so has been the case for Tolent."

The target date for completion of the project is October this year, but, with uncertainty about who will complete the contract, it seems likely that this may have to be put back.

The sorry current situation contrasts with the upbeat announcements made when the award of the contract was announced.

 

Said Stuart Crofts, project manager of Tolent: "This is a really interesting project to be involved in with a number of unique challenges.

"Not only is the site situated on a busy promenade; works also need to be scheduled within a 5-hour window where the beach is accessible between rapidly changing tides.

"The load-bearing capacity of the sand also has to be constantly maintained making the job even trickier."

Equally delighted was Andrew Shaw, regional manager of Tolent, who enthused: "We are extremely proud to be working with the RNLI to ramp up the safety of civilians at the beach. 

"This project is exciting and unique in many way, and we understand the responsibility that it comes with. 

"As a company, we are always striving for projects that make a difference in the community and the ongoing partnership with RNLI is a testimony to that."

And Steve Randall, estates engineer for the RNLI, said: "This new lifeboat station will be an asset to the resort of Cleethorpes, as well as enabling our volunteer crew to operate more effectively and safely, overall providing a better lifesaving service to the area. 

"We are delighted to be working with Tolent and look forward to seeing the results of the project."

Whitehall delays decision on 180-turbine windfarm project over worries of threat to precious seabirds

Puffin on cliff at Bempton

MOVES by energy giant Ørsted to extend its windfarm acreage off the East Coast have been stalled by concerns over the potential impact on puffins, guillemots, red-throated divers and other sea-dwelling birds.

The RSPB fears that installation by the Danish company of up to 180 more turbines proposed for its Hornsea Four project could hasten the decline of marine species to which turbines are like giant industrial 'scarecrows'.

The charity is particularly fearful of the likely impact on a breeding colony at Bempton, north of Bridlington, where it has one of its reserves.

By way of mitigation, Ørsted, which has an important base in Grimsby, has offered to establish a nesting platform off Whitby but these would probably only be of benefit to kittiwakes  - and there is no guarantee that they would take to them.

The conflict is causing a headache at Whitehall which has delayed granting consent for the development.

The Department of Energy has set the Danish company a deadline of midnight on March 9 to submit further seabird-safeguarding mitigation measures.

Secretary of State Grant Shapps is also seeking further input  from the Government's advisory body, Natural England.                                                              

Scarecrows in the sea - wind turbines strike terror into marine birds 

Who will open page of next chapter in story of landmark property near Cleethorpes seafront?

What next for landmark building?  

AN interesting future could beckon for an important building close to Cleethorpes seafront.

The property used to be The Victoria hotel, with letting rooms, but more recently it has been better known as first O'Neills, then the Foundrry Bar and Kitchen.

There was speculation, a few years ago, that North East Lincolnshire Council may have bought the building, which is off Grant Street, with a view to demolishing it in order to open up views over the Humber Estuary.

Whether or not this was so, it has now become available for sale or to let - in either case by negotiation.

Although within living memory it has traded as a licensed premises, it could be converted, subject to planning consent, to other uses.

It has the benefit of a large car park to the rear and side which could be converted to a very attractive garden.

The agents are PPH who say in the prospectus: "The property is of traditional solid brick construction beneath a series of pitched and flat roofs. 

"There is also a separate detached brick built double garage/store with a pitched tiled roof above.

"The ground floor of the property benefits from three separate entrances leading to a large bar area which incorporates three distinct sections which are interconnected and served from the main central bar. 

"The accommodation has been refurbished to a good standard and incorporates WC facilities.

"There is also a kitchen, preparation area, together with an office, staff room and basement cellar/storage area below. 

There are stairs leading to the first and second floors which have previously been used for residential purposes but have not been used for a number of years and now require refurbishment.

The document adds: "This is a rare opportunity to purchase or lease hospitality property in this sought after North East Lincolnshire coastal town."