Senior NELC planner says Pleasure Island project will ('in the main') improve character of area - is she right?

                                         

The sprawling Pleasure Island site covers some 23.7 hectares

A SENIOR NELC planning case officer  has revealed why she is is recommending that the Pleasure Island redevelopment project should proceed.

Says Cheryl Jarvis: "The proposal represents a major mixed-use scheme on a site in the heart of the allocated resort area. 

"Utilising a mixture of brownfield and greenfield land it would result in an effective use of the land by providing a mix of uses that would contribute to the local economy and vitality of the resort while, in the main, improving the character and contribution of the site to the local area. 

"The project would support tourism in the local area but is diverse in its nature in such a way  as to create an attraction for local people to enjoy.

"This also includes the retention of a key pedestrian route through to the beach."

However, though her influence will be substantial, it is not Ms Jarvis who will make the decision.

This will fall - next Wednesday morning  July 8 - to members of NELC's planning  committee, all of whom are under an obligation to pause any pre-held prejudices and to address the application with an open mind in fairness to applicants and objectors alike.

Agents for the project says NELC stands to benefit from as much as £575,000 per annum in business rates if the project materialises as intended, but this is not thought to be a planning consideration. 

The make-up of the committee is expected to be:

Chairperson: Cllr Matthew Patrick (Lab, Heneage)

Deputy chairperson: Cllr J Goodwin (Lab, South)

Cllr Paul  Batson (Reform, South)

Cllr Bob Callison (Reform, Sidney Sussex))

Cllr Darren Mayne (Reform, Wolds)

Cllr Edward Kaczmarek (Lab, Sidney Sussex)

Cllr Ian Lindley (Con, Scartho)

Cllr Henry Hudson (Con, Wolds)

Cllr Bill  Parkinson (Con, Haverstoe) 

Cllr Paul Bright (Ind, Freshney)

Cllr Lloyd Emmerson (Lib-Dem, East Marsh)

Cllr Parkinson is the committee's only member of Cleethorpes' Haverstoe ward, location of Pleasure Island.

What he has to say will be eagerly awaited not just by the planning case officer Jarvis, but also by his committee colleagues and by any members of the public who choose to attend the meeting which will be held in Grimsby Town Hall starting at 9.30am.

Get grappling! Beach wrestling tournament coming to sands near leisure centre later this month

Organised beach wrestling is coming to Cleethorpes  on Saturday July 25. The action will take place adjacent to the leisure centre between 11am and 1.30pm. It is not known if there will be separate sections for men and women or if the tournament will be solely for the former.

Loadsajobs! Pleasure Island team predict huge employment boost if scheme proceeds

                                                              

Pleasure Island - jobs boost expected if project proceeds

WILL the consortium seeking to redevelop Pleasure Island  have funds to complete the scheme?

Back in 2024, the estimated construction costs were put at approximately £71.2-million.

But since then, factors such as inflation, have skyrocketed such that the figure could now be in excess of £100-million.

For this reason, the works would inevitably have to be phased over several years - possibly to the end of this decade and beyond.

According to a planning and economic statement issued on behalf of the applicants, there will be " approximately 885 full-time equivalent people employed through the construction period".

It continues: "There would also be the economic impact through sourcing of materials and equipment and knock on benefits to local supply chains."

Once operational, it is reckoned that  "approximately 325 jobs" will be created overall across the site. 

If the venture proves attractive to holidaymakers, the estimate is that  it will lead to 404,760 visitor nights per annum with  a projected £26.2-million of visitor expenditure per annum. 

NELC planners believe these economic benefits  "weigh in support of the principle of development".