Revamped layout of Sea Road in Cleethorpes is 'recipe for disaster' warns councillor

Danger for road-crossing pedestrians - the revamped route to the pier

THERE are fears that a road leading to Cleethorpes seafront has become one of the most perilous in the town following its redesign.

Since the removal of a florally-enhanced pedestrian island, the widened Sea Road has become hazardous for pedestrians to cross - made so more by parked buses and, not infrequently, joyriders.

At a meeting of North East Lincolnshire Council's tourism and visitor economy panel, Cllr Malcolm Morland predicted the situation would get worse when the new amenity building was opened for trade, thereby creating more footfall.

"The road is effectively four lanes," he declared. "It is a recipe for disaster." 

His concerns were shared by panel colleagues who expressed fears for the safety of danger for young children, the elderly, young mums and dads with pushchairs and those with suitcases.

Cllr Morland said he would be taking up his concerns with the authority's highway's department at the earliest opportunity.

If his remonstrations pay off, it could lead to the installation of a pedestrian island or a pelican crossing. 

The Grimsby News says: Considering the number of complaints on social media, it seems strange that North East Lincolnshire Council has not already addressed so glaring a highways problem. Although the team from Hemingway Design were too diplomatic to pass critical comment on the proposed building, they, too,  were quick to identify in their 2021-published Cleethorpes Masterplan the potential for substantial vehicle-pedestrian conflict. However well-designed the proposed building proves to be, this location  is completely inappropriate. Even with some form of  pedestrian crossing, it will be the most horrendous choke-point, particularly during the construction phase and, following completion, in summer and on bank holiday weekends. Not only that, it will be an unwelcome obstruction between Alexandra Road and the seafront. Far better, surely, to find an alternative location for the building  and landscape this site in such a way as to create  an attractive extension to Pier Gardens.