Hoarding may need to be installed around whole of Pier Gardens during proposed summer revamp

                                                    

 Pier Gardens where the lush lawns are likely to be stripped out (behind hoarding) to make way for hard surfacing 

HOARDING is likely to be installed around the perimeter of the whole of Pier Gardens during the forthcoming ‘re-modelling’ project.

This will provide privacy for the contractors and security for their earth-moving vehicles and other heavy machinery while the historic lawns and shrubs are replaced with hard surfacing of various types.

It is understood that the council's project board regards hoarding as preferable to the even more unsightly Heras fencing that has created an eyesore at one corner of the adjacent Sea Road development site.

The downside is that the installation will  both scar the seafront and put it out of bounds to both residents and visitors throughout the whole of the summer season - including armed forces weekend at the end of June.

There may also be an adverse impact on trading at shops, restaurants and other business on Alexandra Road, especially if sea breezes waft clouds of dust into their premises.

North East Lincolnshire Council administration had hoped that  work might start on the Pier Gardens revamp at the start of next month, but it is running behind schedule.

Because of modest interest from contractors, the authority has extended the bidding deadline from the end of March to the end of this month.

Evaluating the bids will also take time, and it now seems unlikely the project will start in earnest much before June at the earliest.

As with the Sea Road hoarding, planning consent will be required before hoarding can be installed, but, as yet, no application has been submitted by NELC.