It's high time the national media stopped 'trashing' Grimsby's East Marsh ward, say senior councillors

                                                      

The mayor - miffed by adverse publicity about his ward

STOP trashing Grimsby - and, in particular, the East Marsh ward!

That was the plea from two senior councillors at this week's full meeting of North East Lincolnshire Council.

In his regular progress update, council leader Cllr Philip Jackson (Con) said: "I am annoyed at the way Grimsby and the East Marsh have recently been portrayed in the national media."

He said Press reports did not reflect the "renewed optimism" and "real momentum" that were now prevailing in the borough - for instance, within the Freshney Place shopping centre, the west end of which is currently being refurbished.

The leader's sentiments were echoed by the mayor, Cllr Steve Beasant (Lib-Dem), who is one of three East Marsh councillors.

"I am fed up with my ward being trashed in national media," he declared. "Deprivation doubtless exists in every part of the country including the Royal Borough of Chelsea and Kensington."

This week, in a speech in the Commons, the Labour MP for Grimsby and Cleethorpes, Melanie Onn, also criticised recent media coverage of parts of the constituency.