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.