With no end in sight for Corporation Road Bridge fiasco, councillors have a difficult decision to make

                                               

Troubled bridge over still water - still unclear when it might reopen 

A TRICKY choice about Grimsby's Corporation Road Bridge  beckons for North East Lincolnshire councillors at a meeting next week.

When  repairs resume, possibly on November 3, should the contractors, Taziker Industrial Ltd, aim to get the job done as quickly as possible  or should there be partial re-opening which would delay completion by up to seven months?

A report to a scrutiny panel meeting on Wednesday of next week states:

"Taziker’s tender submission has proposed two options for completing the project.

"Option 1: This is based on the bridge remaining closed until all aspects of the refurbishment are completed.

"Option 2: This enables the bridge to open to traffic earlier by reducing usage to one lane with temporary traffic lights but it would delay completion of the entire scheme by an estimated four to seven months."

However, still undisclosed are potential target dates for completion - and the likely bill.

The report continues: "Relationships with landowners and other stakeholders will be tested if the bridge is not returned to full working order. 

"The council is in receipt of grant funding in relation to some elements of repair which could be at risk if the programme is not finished to original parameters.

"Public confidence in the council and its partners to deliver large scale infrastructure projects will be challenged if the project is not completed.

"Non-completion of the lifting element of the bridge will also mean access by water to Alexandra Dock will not be possible for larger vessels, and this may limit future regeneration plans or access to the port should this be required."

When repair work started in summer 2022 , the budget was put at £5.1-million with likely completion by August 2023. 

But the bill for repairing Grimsby's Corporation Road Bridge has already reached in excess of £7-million by mid-summer.

Now it has emerged that the final cost could end up being closer to £12-million.

This is what NELC calls its spending 'cap' on the troubled project, though it is unclear what would happen if this projection were to be breached.

Does council's festoon lighting proposal put important heritage buildings at risk of damage?

 

As the blooms of summer fade, NELC wants to brighten up Grimsby's Top Town with festoon lighting

 

THE heritage officer at North East Lincolnshire Council has sounded an alert on the authority's proposal to dangle festoon lighting across Victoria Street  in Grimsby's Top Town.

Louise Jennings has reminded colleagues that some  of the buildings  are Listed as being of historical and/or architectural importance.

She says it is important that any holes resulting from fittings and fixtures  are made good if and when the lighting is  removed.

Last week, NELC put out a statement describing - justifiably - how the festoons would brighten up this part of Grimsby, but it it did so  before planning consent had been obtained.

It is next to certain that this permission will be granted, but Ms Jennings has felt it necessary to issue a caution which states: "This application is for festoon lighting which is strung from the buildings using fairly substantial  fixings. 

"Visually this is appropriate for the commercial high street location." 

She continues: "Over the years, the buildings have had a variety of fixings for various banners etcetera which has left many  unsightly holes damaging the brickwork. 

"This application seeks to avoid any building which is Listed or Locally Listed to minimise impact on the historic fabric. 

"The festoons will attach to the  corner of the Nat West Bank which is acknowledged, but also to the former Savoy Cinema (now  Savers and McDonalds).

"The documentation supplied does not show the full extent of the listing for  the Savoy Cinema so it will be attached to the Listed structure."

The officer notes that  the fixings will not be on the more fragile and sensitive of the fiormer cinema but to the brickwork which is more robust. 

In her report, she states: " Where any existing fixings are removed any holes should be made good using materials appropriate to the building - lime putty colour-matched to the  mortar or brick and cement, colour-matched to bricks on post 1940s buildings such as M&S." 

Number of high-earning NELC employees rises from 122 to 146 in just a year

                                                 

Rob Walsh - the highly-regarded NELC chief executive left the authority in May

 

A TOTAL of  146 North East Lincolnshire Council officers were on salaries of £50,000 or more in the last financial year.

This compares with 122 the previous year.

The figures are  disclosed in the authority's annual statement of accounts.

Highest earner was chief executive  Rob Walsh, who, before he stepped down in May, saw his total remuneration rise from £204,418 to £209,528.

Including pension contributions, six senior colleagues were on packages of between £112,099 and £152,384.

The statement reveals that redundancy packages for a total of 18 officers during 2024-25 amounted  to £588,000.

It seems like a lot but the figure is well down on the previous year when a total of 32 staff were either made redundant compulsorily or agreeing exit terms at a total cost of £945,00.

Meanwhile, the figure for allowances and expenses paid to councillors rose from £526,000 to £538,000.

Upmarket menswear retailer set to breathe new life into former Cleethorpes bank building

 

It looks likely that high-quality menswear retailer The Lost Boys could soon be opening in the building formerly occupied by the  Cleethorpes branch of the Natwest Bank.   The shop already has an outlet at The Point building on the other side of the road. Earlier this month, North East Lincolnshire Council granted consent to Jackie Shaw of Lovemerry Ltd, operators of the shop, to install two non-illuminated fascia signs on the outside of the premises.

Planning green light for new North Promenade apartments building overlooking the estuary

Artist's impression of how the site might look after redevelopment

PROPERTY entrepreneur Kashor Pungi has been given the planning go-ahead to create a  three-storey apartment block on Cleethorpes seafront.

The building at the junction of North Promenade and Sea Road - almost opposite the pier - is currently a bar and nightclub.

But Mr Pungi wants to redevelop the site to provide nine apartments  - some to be let long-term to residents and others to be let short-term to holiday visitors.

There would also be a kiosk-type shop on the ground floor.

A statement from the agents says: "The Sea Road Apartments development is designed to address the pressing need for affordable housing in Cleethorpes while also accommodating the growing demand for short-term rentals, particularly from tourists. 

"The intention is to create a balanced residential community that supports both local residents and seasonal visitors such as Airbnb. 

"By allowing short-term rentals, we can contribute to the local economy by attracting tourists who will support local businesses and services. 

"This model provides flexibility for property owners and can help offset costs for residents during off-peak seasons, ensuring that housing remains financially viable." 

The statement  adds: "We will work closely with local authorities to establish guidelines for short-term rentals, ensuring they are integrated into the community without disrupting the residential environment."

North East Lincolnshire Council's planning department confirmed today, Friday, that the project had been approved.

Most commentators believe the venture will enhance this part of Cleethorpes and might even provide the springboard for regenerating North Promenade - a stretch of the seafront which has largely been neglected in recent times.  

The intention is for the style of the building to blend in  with that for NELC's  proposed new amenities devlopment on the other side of Sea Road  

Taxi firm Uber seeking planning green light for booking office on Wilton Road business estate

                                                           

McCue House where Uber seeks to establish a local administration centre 

TAXI firm Uber insists that it has no intention of allowing its premises to be used by the public as a booking office if it is granted planning consent to base it local operations at  a suite of offices in a building on Humberston's Wilton Road business estate.

In its application for Suite F02 at McCue House, it states:  "The use would be purely to satisfy regulatory requirements to have an office to accommodate visits by the local licensing authority or police to conduct their respective duties. 

"While being classed as a licensed private hire booking office, Uber operates an app-based business model. 

"The app connects drivers and passengers through a digital platform." 

It continues: "The property would not be open to the general public as a traditional walk-in/private hire taxi booking office.

"No vehicles would be based at the property, nor permitted to use it as a lay-over space. 

"The proposed use is purely administrative, and there would be no impact on local amenity or highway."

The proposal is under consideration by officers in North East Lincolnshire Council's planning department. 

Newly-arrived wild visitors from the Arctic have taken a fancy to Cleethorpes central beach

 

Overwintering  Brent geese have taken a liking to a section of Cleethorpes  beach close to the new lifeboat centre and opposite Ross Castle. As many as 45 at a time are regularly to be seen, often quite close to central promenade. The birds - wild visitors from the Arctic - are smaller than the semi-feral Grey Lag Geese and Canada Geese which populate the boating lake throughout the year.