Revised plans for Pier Gardens rejig include installation of walling to 'segregate individual areas'

                                                              

NELC keen to see refurbishment start this September

CONTRACTORS have until August 26  to bid for the tender to carry out a much-delayed revamp of  Pier Gardens in Cleethorpes as proposed by North East Lincolnshire Council.

There has never been any conspicuous  clamour for redevelopment of the gardens but the council has almost £8-million to spend on the project, courtesy of aLevelling-up grant from Whitehall.

So far, the only works carried out - both controversial - have been the destruction of a hedge maze and the relocation to sites in Grimsby and Immingham of some of the shrubs.

At the boundary of the gardens at the rear of the proposed Sea Road amenity building, a row of whitebeam trees have been felled and removed.  

                                        

Anyone remember the hedge maze - an early casualty of regeneration works?

The project  has been revised since the original public consultation.

In its current form, it proposes the installation of  terraced walling "throughout the scheme in order to segregate individual areas within the site".

Also specified are the following:

* Introduction of hard and soft landscaping, with areas of paving, resin bound gravel, herbaceous planting, amenity planting and new trees. 

* Installation of  items of street furniture such as  benching, seating, children’s play and water play items, along with interactive public realm elements, bins and cycle stands. 

"There are a number of electrical and water services to be installed, with overhead and  low-level lighting, pop up power supplies, water feeds, drinking water points and footwash facilities."

NELC's briefing notes to potential bidders states: "The scheme for this 1.2-hectare linear park  is to  re-develop this area of land, in order to improve the space. 

"Once complete, Pier Gardens will provide a range of activities for all age groups, ranging from passive to interactive. 

"These activities are accessible for all abilities and at all times of the year and cater for the needs of the community in addition to attracting visitors."

Once bids have been evaluated and a contractor appointed, NELC wants works to start on October 13 this year and be completed by about the same date next year.

                                   

With hard surfacing proposed, an uncertain future beckons for some of the existing lawns and shrubs in Pier Gardens