It's next Tuesday - date confirmed for opening of temporary library in Freshney Place

                                      

All-systems-go for temporary library

A TEMPORARY  library will open in Freshney Place, Grimsby, next Tuesday November 4.

Confirmation of the date came earlier today from North East Lincolnshire Council.

The 'pop-up' premises are  based in a unit on Baxtergate, opposite Costa Coffee, and will open from Tuesdays to Fridays between 8.30am and 5.30pm, and on Saturdays from 9am-1pm. 

It will be closed on Sundays, Mondays and Bank Holidays.

Says NELC: "The library will offer a range of services, including:

* Books – issue, return and reservation collection. Adult fiction and non-fiction

* Large print

* Audio Books

* Children’s books, including picture books, board books, junior fiction and non-fiction

* Health and Wellbeing and Send Collection.

"There will also be two public network computers, two study spaces, document scanning for local taxation and benefits assistance, plus facilities for photocopying and printing.

"Events such as Story Times for Toddlers and Shake Rattle and Read will also be on offer - but places will be limited."

The council statement continues: "Grimsby Central Library building remains closed at this time following water damage earlier in the year that created risk of asbestos disturbance. 

"A structural survey on the condition of the building is complete and further surveys are underway to determine the works required.

"Cabinet members have approved, in principle, the reopening of Grimsby Central Library building, subject to confirmation of the options and costs for refurbishment."

The authority insists: "These options will be subject to full and transparent engagement."

                                    

Plenty of books to borrow - but is there a reference section?

                                     

Just what the kiddies ordered - the children's section

                                     

 

                              

Council prepares to go live on Cleethorpes market place pedestrianisation project

                                                                   

Car parking will soon be a thing of the past in the market place

IT'S full steam ahead for proposed pedestrianisation of the market place in Cleethorpes.

North East Lincolnshire Council has today published proposals that, subject to no overwhelming objections being received by November 21, will be adopted later this year.

Pedestrianisation will be between 10am and 6pm, with, outside these hours, vehicle access for delivery vehicles only.

A one-way traffic route is also proposed.

Market Street is to be pedestrianised  

  

The proposed one-way route for delivery vehicles

Weight limit proposals are also part of the scheme

The notice of proposed pedestrianisation

NELC's update on Corporation Road Bridge: it could reopen in time for Christmas - 2026, that is

                                                 

The trouble-stricken  Grimsby bridge - a lot more water will have flown under it before repairs are completed

 

THE Leader of North East Lincolnshire Council and his Portfolio Holder for Highways have today shared their "absolute frustration and anger" over the continuing Corporation Road Bridge repairs fiasco.

Cllr Philip Jackson and Cllr Stewart Swinburn say they fully sympathise with all who have been inconvenienced by its continued closure and understand public sentiment  as they feel it themselves.

The duo have issued a joint statement: "We have taken charge, we are clear on accountability, and we have taken the right steps to ensure a situation like this does not happen again. 

"This situation is unacceptable, and we share the views of  local people.

"However, we cannot turn back the clock.

"What is vital now is that we move on, we get this right and we return what is a highly important historical asset back to its former glory."

However, the exasperation is expected to persist for at least another 13 months.

It has emerged that the estimated re-opening date is not until December next year. 

Pending resumption of repairs, Cllr Swinburn  confirmed that the council has instructed 'a number' of independent experts to  review the work undertaken by the previous contractors who were sacked in summer.

Last word to Cllr Jackson: "My colleagues and I are frustrated with the delays and the lack of progress. 

"It is not good enough. 

"We have been very patient, but the level of delay and the cost of the works are no longer acceptable."

* After a summertime lull while NELC sought a replacement contractor, repair work is set to resume next week. 

Collapse of Eastern Airways is setback for staff, customers, Humberside Airport and regional economy

                                         

The collapse of Eastern Airways is a blow to Humberside Airport where the carrier had its HQ

THIS week's collapse of Eastern Airways - is a serious jolt to the local economy.

Some 300-plus staff now face redundancy, and business and destination opportunities are lost to  travellers.

The sad development also diminishes the importance of Humberside airport where Eastern Airways has been based since being set up 28 years ago,

The carrier used a fleet of 14 aircraft which are now thought to be variously stranded at various UK airports, plus at Saarbrueken in Germany and Dinard in France, pending  return to their lessors. 

Having launched in 1997 with a single route between Humberside and Aberdeen to help service the oil industry, the airline expanded to operate flights from six UK airports: Humberside, London Gatwick,  Teesside International, Aberdeen, Wick and Newquay. 

Two of these routes - Aberdeen to Wick and Newquay to London - were Government-funded.

It is understood Scottish airline Loganair and  rail  companies are helping stranded passengers to reach their destinations.

Information is so far scant on the reasons for Eastern's collapse. 

Island and part of path in Cleethorpes Country Park named in memory of former council ecologist

                                                      

Family, friends and country park enthusiasts gather for the naming ceremony 

THE former chief ecologist at  North East Lincolnshire Council has had an island and part of a path  in Cleethorpes Country Park named after him .

Mike Sleight joined as a part-time Park Ranger in 1997 and went on to have a 22-year career in ecology before retiring. 

Sadly, last year, Mike passed away, aged 73, after spending his life championing and nurturing  wildlife.

During his tenure, Mike spent time looking after all 62 parks within the borough as well as playing an essential part in the creation of Cleethorpes Country Park alongside his predecessor Martin Wragg.

The pair helped plant countless trees and created numerous wildflower meadows to make it what it is today.

Arguably, his lifelong goal was achieved when, in 2008, Natural England recommended the park be designated as a Local Nature Reserve as it offered a level of biodiversity and variety of habitats of a good quality, and recreation to the community and visitors.

Thanks to their work, the park now has protected species on site, such as bats, great crested newts, water vole, occasional otter visits as well as the floral biodiversity and faunal biodiversity of invertebrates, other mammals, red and amber listed birds.

It also has a number of amenities such as fishing pegs with accessibility and pond-dipping platforms, a boat ramp and picnic areas.

Says Rachel Graham, who succeeded Mike as NELC ecology manager: "Mike’s vision for the country park was a place where nature and people could thrive together, creating a space for habitats and wildlife that we can also share and enjoy, as long as we respect that.

Agrees NELC's portfolio for the environment, Cllr Henry Hudson: "The country park is a jewel in the crown of North East Lincolnshire - providing a habitat for a wide range of wildlife."                    

Remembering NELC's former ecology chief 

Great White Egret (left) and Heron at Cleethorpes Country Park

Fox on country park island - it must have swum there

Water vole on manoeuvres in country park

Sign denoting the range of wildlife to be found in the country park

Plaques of departed loved ones to be removed from Pier Gardens ahead of refurbishment project

                                     

Pier Gardens - soon to be transformed 

PLAQUES that commemorate departed loved ones are to be removed from Pier Gardens.

There will be no place for them there in the new-look gardens whose overhaul is scheduled to start later next month.

In some cases, alternative location for the plaques have been found - for instance, on the benches on the seafront.

But this depends on agreement between those individuals who commissioned  the plaques and  North East Lincolnshire Council  grounds staff and Bereavement Services officials.

Not all those who subscribed to the plaques have yet been traced.

Ahead of removals taking place next week,  NELC has put out a call for people to come forward and claim them.

Says NELC's cabinet member for the environment Henry Hudson: "We know memorial plaques mean a lot to people.

"We should like their owners to come forward so we can have a chat about the next steps. 

"We have various different options that people can choose from, but at this stage, we just need to identify who owns what.

"The plaques will be held in our  offices for a year to give people the chance to contact us and discuss what they want to do with them."

The Bereavement Services department can be contacted during offices hours at 01472 324869 or by email at bereavementservices@nelincs.gov.uk.

Rare wetland bird spotted on Cleethorpes saltmarsh as species continues to extend range across Britain

This picture snapped by a birder on the saltmarsh this afternoon is believed to be only the second or third time a Glossy Ibis has  been seen in Cleethorpes and possibly the first time it has been photographed here. The species, which is slighly larger than a Curlew,  used to be confined to warmer climes in southern Europe but, possibly as a result of  climate change is spreading to other parts, including Britain. This year has seen a particularly conspicuous influx with some ibises being recorded in suitable wetland habitats as far north as Scotland.

                                                

Appeal inspector: chalet has 'overly dominant and harmful impact' on character of Fitties

 

Subject of controversy - the chalet on Humberston Fitties

AN uncertain future beckons for a chalet on Humberston Fitties.

Its owner appealed when North East Lincolnshire Council refused  consent for the chalet on the grounds that, as built, it failed to comply  with planning conditions.

However, independent planning inspector Graham Wraight has come down on the side of the council and dismissed the appeal.

The chalet - number 124, First Main Road - was constructed on the site of a previous structure which was demolished.

In his report, the inspector states: "The original planning permission, granted in 2023, allowed for the construction of a replacement chalet on the appeal site. 

"Whilst there is now a completed chalet present, it has not been constructed in accordance with the plans approved under that application. 

"The main issue is the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the Fitties conservation area.

"The Chalet Design Guide, 1997, explains some of the context of how the conservation area evolved, and it refers to the casual holiday home atmosphere, with the community bound together by the individuality and diverse appearance of each chalet which combine to create a unique and equally rare local character. 

"What exists today is an area of great character to which the appearance of each chalet is a major contributor. 

"As the appellant notes, there are many different chalets of varying types, appearances, materials and shapes, and there is an emphasis in the design guide on the need for chalets to be individual in style whilst according to the overall theme of the Fitties site."   

The inspector continues: "Whilst there is great diversity in design, there are some general consistencies in terms of the scale of the chalets, certainly in the area closest to where the appeal property is located.

"The chalets for the most part have low eaves heights at the point where they are closest to the access road. 

"This creates a character where the chalets do not impose on the street by reason of their height and massing. 

"Although I accept that both the now demolished chalet and the replacement approved had a mono-pitched roof which would have been at its highest closest to the road, both the original dwelling and the replacement that was approved had a lower maximum height than the appeal chalet. 

"The difference in the height of the approved replacement chalet and what has been built is said to be approximately 400mm. 

"This represents approximately a 750mm increase over the height of the original chalet that stood on the site. 

"The impact of this increase in height occurs most notably across what is a wide chalet frontage on the most visually sensitive part of the site. 

"The result is a chalet which has an overly dominant and visually harmful impact upon the character and appearance of the conservation area, in particular in terms of its scale in relation to the more modest nearby chalets.

"This impact is not aided by the omission of a lower rear section, which would have served to lessen the overall massing of the building, whose side elevations are prominent in views from the road. 

The inspector goes on: "The use of cement-based horizontal tongued and grooved board as the external facing material also does not aid integration of the constructed chalet into the street scene. 

"This material accentuates the visual dominance of the building as opposed to what would have been the softer visual impact of the approved timber. 

"That the material will weather and may become less stark and that the cream facing-colour is what could be considered to be a muted colour choice do not  overcome the overall harm caused. 

"The bi-fold doors to the rear and metal balustrade/glass, although screened to some degree along the site boundaries, are retrograde modern additions in comparison to the more traditional French doors and rear decking enclosure that hd been approved.   

" The substitution of timber, which was the facing material used on the now demolished original chalet, with a visually inferior modern material has not served to preserve or enhance the conservation area, notwithstanding what exists on some other plots in the wider area."

"It is necessary to weigh the public benefits of the development against the harm that arises to the conservationa area, but no public benefits of the appeal development have been advanced."  

The inspector does not consider  the development  to be harmful in highways, drainage or ecological terms.

Nor has therre been  harm to the living conditions of the occupiers of the adjacent chalets.

But he concludes:  "These are not considerations which justify the harm that I have identified, and, for the reasons I have given, the appeal should be dismissed". 

Appeal inspector has ruled that facing material is "visually inferior" to timber 

                                                    

The now-demolished chalet that previously stood on the site 

Vigorous short back and sides tidy-up for Cleethorpes foreshore nature reserve

 

Let the site breathe! A robust burst of mowing has this week spruced up the foreshore nature reserve. It has certainly improved the appearance of the grassy site, but has it  disrupted the life-cycle of green hairstreak and other butterflies and  insects that rely on tall foliage for their survival? The experts will know.

Pedestrian access to Cleethorpes Railway Station will be transformed if spruce-up plan gets green light

                                                              

Architect's impression of how the access could look

PLANS have been unveiled for a major spruce-up of the pedestrian approaches to Cleethorpes Railway Station.

At present, they are shabby and present a poor image to train passengers - residents and vistors alike.

But that could all change if North  East Lincolnshire Council approve the application for Listed Building Consent submitted by  Transpennine Express.

The project involves replacing existing ramps and steps and installing new seating and lighting plus a customer information screen.

There would also be landscaping, including steel planters to accommodate colourful flowers, shrubs and/ or small trees.

Say the agents, Strzala Architects: "The proposed works aim to enhance the pedestrian route between Grant Street and the North Promenade while improving accessibility and safety for  users. 

"Overall, the scheme would significantlyimprove the user experience, ensure compliance with modern accessibility standards and contribute positively to the ongoing regeneration of the station environs while preserving the historic context."

The application is currently under consideration by NELC planners.     

* Photographs:   Strzala Architects          

                                                            

New paving and a modernised ramp are proposed for access from the station to North Promenade

Dilapidated and lacking handrails - the approach to the station from Grant Street as it is now 

Loss of Pizza Hut restaurant is blow to hopes of restaurant-led revival of Top Town trading scene

                                     

THE closure of Grimsby's Pizza Hut restaurant is a setback to hopes of a restaurant-and-cinema led regeneration of Top Town.

All restaurants and cafes are finding trading conditions tough as they are squeezed by high overheads such as  the escalating cost of employing staff, business rates, food and drink inflation, competition  and much else.

Pizza Hut has a reputation for family-friendly dining with reasonably-priced pizzas and a help-yourself salad bar.

The branch in Victoria Street is one of 68 to close after its UK operators, DC London Pie, filed for administration.

The full list of branch closures is as follows: 

• Ashton

• Beckton

• Bolton

• Bournemouth

• Bradford, Vicar Lane

• Brighton, Marina

• Bristol

• Cardiff

• Carlisle

• Chatham

• Clacton

• Cortonwood

• Crawley

• Cribbs Causeway

• Croydon

• Dudley

• Dundee

• Durham City

• Eastbourne

• Edinburgh

• Edinburgh, Fountain Park

• Edinburgh, Kinnaird Park

• Enfield

• Falkirk

• Feltham

• Finchley, Lido

• Great Yarmouth

• Greenwich

• Grimsby

• Hartlepool

• Hayes

• Hereford

• Huddersfield

• Hull

• Inverness

• Kettering

• Kidderminster

• Lancaster

• Leeds, Colton Mill

• Leeds, Kirkstall Road

• Leeds, White Rose

• Liverpool

• Llanelli

• Lowestoft

• Manchester Fort

• Middlesbrough

• Norwich

• Oldham

• Poole, Tower Park

• Portsmouth

• Preston

• Reading Gate

• Rhyl

• Rochdale

• Romford

• Russell Square, London

• Scunthorpe

• Shrewsbury

• Silverlink

• Solihull

• St Helens

• Stratford-upon-Avon

• Thanet

• Truro

• Urmston

• Wellingborough

• Wigan

• Yeovil