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| The privet hedge maze - Armed Forces team urged its removal |
THE controversial decision to remove the privet hedge maze on Cleethorpes was taken as far back as 2019.
According to North East Lincolnshire Council, it was an "operational decision" made on management advice by the then portfolio holder for the environment, believed to have been Cllr Stewart Swinburn, in the wake of an arson attack.
For some reason, the work was never carried out, and the maze was allowed to remain for another five years until it was chainsawed to destruction last month.
It was apparently doomed by London-based consultants Hemingway Design who were commissioned to come up with a 'masterplan' for Cleethorpes.
For reasons unknown, the consultancy concluded that there needed to be "a complete re-design and replacement of the park".
The 'masterplan' was approved by NELC's cabinet on March 16, 2022, following "considerable public consultation".
Earlier this month, a Freedom of Information request about destruction of the maze was submitted to NELC.
But to a question seeking clarification about correspondence between authority's officers and the portfolio holder, Cllr Hayden Dawkins, the reply was: "No information is held."
This begs the question: was Cllr Dawkins even consulted?
The FoI request also asked for sight of the ecological report confirming that no birds or other wildlife would be adversely affected by destruction of the maze.
The response was: "No ecological reports are held."
Why?
Says the council: "This is normal practice for in-house professional services, providing internal advice in verbal or email format to colleagues.
"The removal of the maze and the timing for the removal was supported by the council’s Ecology unit
"The team completing the removal was briefed and trained on the standing advice for nesting birds, instructed to carry out detailed checks both ahead and during the works.
"In the event that a nest were to be found, they were instructed that all work should cease immediately.
"The supervisor has confirmed that all requested checks were completed, and no nesting birds were present in the maze during the removal works."
The FoI response further states that a public consultation exercise had revealed "no adverse reaction in relation to the maze not being included within the proposed redesign of Pier Gardens".
It states that the proposed redesign does "not include any of the old features apart from the memorials and waterfall".
Did the Armed Forces team, which is based in The Knoll opposite the site of the maze, pull any strings with the council?
The FoI officer reply states: "No information is held."
However, the officer continues: "The Armed Forces team were a consultee and they expressed, from the start, their desire for features that might attract attract anti-social behaviour in the area to be removed.
"It agreed to install a temporary surface on the site of the maze."
The FoI reply further notes: "An assessment was made that the maze no longer had any play value."
The cost of removal of the maze has not been revealed, but it was funded by Levelling-Up Fund monies.
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| The Knoll looks down on the site where the maze was a popular attraction |
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| According to FoI response, the council's ecology officer "supported" removal of the maze |
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