NELC announces programme of temporary road closures while contractors carry out pre-patching

                                                             

SHORt-term road closures are in prospect this month to allow-pre-patching in readiness for carriageway surface treatment later this year. 

Footpath access will be maintained at all times.

As from tomorrow. the closures are as follows:

Wednesday 9 April 2025 between 7:30am and  16.30pm

Oxford Street (Phase 1) – between Stanley Street and Park Street.

Thursday 10 April 2025 between 7:30am and 16.30pm

Oxford Street (Phase 2) – between Victor Street and Stanley Street.

Friday 11 April 2025 between 7:30am and 17:00pm

Heneage Road – between Welholme Road and Patrick Street.

Friday 11 April 2025 for 1 day between 9:00am and 18:00pm

Fords Avenue – between house no 9 and Nicholson Road

Monday 14 April 2025 for 1 day between 7:30am and 17:00pm

Heneage Road – between Patrick Street and Algernon Street.

Tuesday 15 April 2025 for 1 day between 7:30am and 17:00pm

Heneage Road – between Algernon Street and Weelsby Road.

Wednesday 16 April 2025 for 1 night between 19:00pm and 4:00am

Tetney Road between Humberston Avenue and Tetney Road Service Station.

Thursday 17 April 2025 for 1 night between 19:00pm and 4:00am

Tetney Road between Tetney Road Service Station and the borough boundary near Tetney.

Tuesday 22 April 2025 for 1 day between 7:30am and  16:30pm

Algernon Street – between Hainton Avenue and Heneage Road.

Wednesday 23 April 2025 for 1 day between 7:30am and  16:30pm

Algernon Street- between Heneage Road and the end of Algernon Street near 75 Algernon Street.

Thursday 24 April 2025 for 1 day between 7:30am and 16:30pm

Torrington Street – between Hainton Avenue and Heneage Road.

Friday 25 April 2025 for 1 day between 7:30am and  16:30pm

Torrington Street – between Heneage Road and the end of Torrington Street near 123 Torrington Street

During the works, on-street parking will be suspended within the closure extents, and no vehicle access will be permitted. 

Access for emergency vehicles will be maintained throughout the works.

Robbing Peter to pay Paul? It's farewell to Pier Gardens for dozens of its much-loved shrubs

 

Help yourselves! The shrubs removal teams move in

DOZENS of mature shrubs and other plants are being removed from Pier Gardens in preparation for much of the greenery to be replaced with hard surfacing.

Although they were all healthy and long-lived, North East Lincolnshire Council believes the shrubs have outlived their value to the resort.

The first batch of unwanted shrubs have been transferred to a rose garden and the West Marsh allotments site in Grimsby and to the family hub in Immingham for the purpose of creating a 24-metre planted border.

They were dug up by teams from  Grimsby in Bloom and Voluntary Action North East Lincolnshire.

The shrubs are said to include lavender and bamboo.

Enthuses Rob Patchett of VANEL: "This is an excellent idea, and we are thrilled to be part of this project.

"Personally, I like the fact these plants will be spread across the borough so there will be a little bit of Pier Gardens in numerous locations across the borough."

Equally "thrilled" is John Walker, of  Grimsby in Bloom, who says: "We are doing a lot of work in relation to regeneration in Grimsby, so it’s great to be involved with Cleethorpes, too. 

"The plants we’ve chosen will be used to build up shrubbery  and be used by our volunteers to learn how to care for plants."

It is not known how many existing shrubs and plants will be retained in Pier Gardens, nor whether it will continue to be referred to as a 'gardens'. 

Alternative titles, such as 'concourse' and 'plaza', have been suggested for some parts of the site.

NELC insists there will be  some new planting both "to provide a playful, dynamic that moves and changes with the seasons"  and "support numerous bird species and insects".

As yet, however, it has not identified what bird  species and insects it expects might be "supported".

An example of what might be on offer can be seen at the revamped Riverhead Square in Grimsby, though, thus far, some regard this project to have been underwhelming.

Regarding  Pier Gardens' trees, some whitebeams on the perimeter  have been felled though the council says it hopes to remain most of the others which are fine, mature and healthy specimens.

Says a spokesperson: "Where trees have been removed, this is to open up views in key areas, facilitate elements of the design or to benefit the wider health of other trees across the site."

A third individual said by the authority to be "thrilled" at what is happening is NELC's leader, Cllr Philip Jackson.

Says he: "Our regeneration scheme for the site marks huge positive change for Cleethorpes."

NELC has not revealed how many Cleethorpes councillors, residents and visitors have been consulted about the transfer of shrubs to other parts of the borough.

It maintains the remodelling will be of  "benefit" to residents and visitors alike. 

Out they come! Whether they like it  or not the shrubs are being taken away from Cleethorpes  

Success for councillor in controversial bid to fell conifers despite objection from NELC trees officer

                                           

It looks like curtains for this strip of conifer tree on Taylors Avenue, Cleethorpes

 

A LINE of conifer trees in Cleethorpes  looks likely to be felled.

At a North East Lincolnshire Council planning meeting, members gave the go-ahead for the trees at the junction  of Taylors Avenue and Middlethorpe Road to be removed to make way for . . . a 1.8-metre high fence.

The decision came in the face of the council’s policy which is to safeguard trees as part of its ‘greening’ agenda.

In this particular case, the council’s trees officer, Paul Chaplin further stated that the conifers' replacement with a fence would have "a detrimental impact" on the existing ambience and visual character of Taylors Avenue.

But he was overruled by councillors who agree with the applicant, their long serving and popular planning committee colleague Cllr Bill Parkinson, that a fence will look more pleasing.

Cllr Parkinson took part no part in the decision-making process and was absent from the discussion.

However, the trees' date with a chainsaw may be delayed, at least until autumn, because the 2025 bird nesting season is now in full swing and  disturbance would risk putting the councillor in breach of the law.

A condition of the planning consent is that the fence must be painted green.

The Grimsby News says: What is the point of the council formulating  a safeguarding policy on trees if it then allows it so readily to be disregarded? And can the planning committee really  be totally impartial in its decision-making if the applicant is its longest serving member and, to everyone who knows him, a jolly good egg? Whatever the pros and cons of this proposal, it should have been determined independently, either by members of another planning authority or by an impartial inspector. 

Countdown to collision: Marine Accident Investigation Bureau publishes first findings on what went wrong

                                                     

Schematic of last Monday's accident (photo: Fortuna imperatrix  mundi via Wikimedia Commons)

The Marine Accident Investigation Bureau has today published its preliminary findings on the ship collision near the mouth of the Humber Estuary on March 10.

 As Stena Immaculate approached the Humber Estuary on 9 March 2025, the officer of the watch contacted Associate British Ports (ABP) Vessel Traffic Services Humber and was advised to proceed to anchor at a position 5 miles to the north of the Humber light float and 2 miles clear of any pipeline. 

At about 18302, Stena Immaculate’s master manoeuvred the vessel as directed to a position north of ABP Humber’s area of responsibility where it anchored. 

There were eight other vessels anchored in the same area.

 By 2000 on 9 March 2025, Solong had departed Grangemouth, Scotland, disembarked the pilot and commenced its passage to Rotterdam, the Netherlands. 

Solong’s planned passage followed a route the vessel had used in the past. 

The master remained on watch until shortly before 2300, then handed the watch over to the second officer and retired to bed.

Shortly before midnight, Stena Immaculate’s second officer  took over the anchor watch at the start of a 12-hour duty period.

 At approximately 0130 on 10 March 2025, Solong passed the Longstone Lighthouse off the north-east coast of England and altered course onto a heading of approximately 150°. 

Solong maintained this course except for a slight deviation at 0345.

 At 0700, Solong’s master returned to the bridge and took over the watch as the lone watchkeeper. 

The visibility in the area north of the Humber light float was reported to be patchy and varying between 0.25 nautical miles (nm) and 2.0nm. 

Neither Solong nor Stena Immaculate had a dedicated lookout on the bridge. 

At 0947, Solong collided with the anchored Stena Immaculate’s port side on a heading of 150° and speed over the ground of about 16 knots ). 

Able seaman Mark Pernia, one of Solong’s crew, was reported to be in the forecastle area at the time of the collision.

The collision breached Stena Immaculate’s No.7 port cargo tank, releasing aviation fuel into the sea and on to the bow of Solong. 

The aviation fuel was ignited by the heat generated by the force of the collision, and the resulting fire ignited the contents of containers carried on board Solong. 

The crews of both Solong and Stena Immaculate took immediate action to address the evolving situation. 

Attempts by Stena Immaculate’s crew to fight the fire, and for Solong’s crew to locate the missing able seaman were hampered by the severity of the fire. 

Both the Stena Immaculate and the Solong crew abandoned to lifeboats and were subsequently recovered by the efforts of local boats and emergency responders, coordinated by His Majesty’s Coastguard.

 Able seaman Mark Pernia has not been found and is believed to have died in the accident.

Both Solong and Stena Immaculate are currently undergoing salvage operations and an evaluation of the nature and extent of pollution from both vessels is in progress.

The investigation into the accident is ongoing. 

This will encompass:

* The navigation and watchkeeping practices on board both vessels

*Manning and fatigue management

* The condition and maintenance of the vessels involved

*The use of the offshore area as an anchorage for vessels waiting to enter the Humber Estuary

* The environmental conditions at the time 

A report of the investigation will be drafted and will be distributed to key stakeholders for a 30-day consultation period in due course. 

The race to become first mayor of Greater Lincolnshire - full line-up of candidates

                                            

Grimsby Town Hall where the votes will be counted in to the night with the result likely to be announced at daybreak on Friday May 2 

THE following individuals have thrown their hats into the ring to become first mayor of Greater Lincolnshire:    

* Sally Horscroft - Green Party

* Andrea Jenkyns – Reform UK

* Marianne Overton – Independent

* Jason Stockwood – Labour

* Rob Waltham – Conservative

* Trevor Young - Liberal Democrats

Nominations closed at 4pm today.

Polling will take place in Grimsby Town Hall  on May 1.

The wait goes on - work unlikely to start on Sea Road 'amenities' building before end of April

                                                         

How the proposed Sea Road building might look after dark 

 

THE delay in starting construction of the proposed 'amenities' building in Sea Road, Cleethorpes, looks set to continue at least until after the Easter holiday.

There has been next to no progress on the project since the start of the year, partly after it emerged that telephone cables under the site needed to be-routed.

Says a spokesperson for North East Lincolnshire Council:  "The final set of utility diversions (BT Openreach) will be completed in early April.

"This means that construction  will start soon after the Easter break."

The intention is for the building to incorporate state-of-the-art WCs to replace those that previously existed (along with a pub) on the same site.

Because, these WCS are not ready, NELC faces the unwelcome cost of hiring portable loos which will be in  place at least until; the end of summer.

Meanwhile, the proposed 're-modelling' project for nearby Pier Gardens is also on hold.

NELC has not yet appointed a contractor, nor even applied for planning permission for what is a major scheme, involving the replacement of the long-established lawns with hard surfacing of various types.

It is believed to have consulted with organisations such as Historic England, Anglian Water and drainage and ecology experts, but so far their advice is being kept under wraps.   

Council issues start-of-the month update on long-running repairs to Grimsby's Corporation Road Bridge

                                                          

North East Lincolnshire Council has today issued this update on the Corporation Road Bridge re[pairs project.

Works to Grade II listed structure, Corporation Road Bridge have been progressing, with grit blasting and painting works continuing to Spans 5 and 6.

The northern footway has been waterproofed and is about to be surfaced to allow the switching of works to the opposite side. 

As this work is undertaken, the pedestrian footway will switch from the south side of the bridge to the north side.

A final footway treatment will be added later in the works.

To take advantage of anticipated low tide levels, weekend working will also continue to take place this month.

Footway closures are also required while works are taking place adjacent to public areas to ensure the safety of both the public and the workers on site.

To help complete remaining sections of the works the footway may be closed for  one or two days a week if conditions allow.

Footway closures will take place between 9am and 4pm each weekday as detailed below. 

The footway will remain open during the weekend working dates. Temporary signs will be in place for the footway closures.

April 2025 weekend working and footway closure dates:

South footway closures

Tuesday 1 April

Wednesday 2 April (provisional)

Wednesday 9 April

Wednesday 16 April

Wednesday 23 April

Wednesday 30 April

Weekend working

Saturday 5 April and Sunday 6 April

Saturday 19 April and Sunday 20 April

North East Lincolnshire Council, its delivery partner, Equans, and the  contractor, Spencer Group, would like to thank the public for their patience while the work is being undertaken.