Meerkats, monkeys and more! Planners' go-ahead for 'animal management centre' at Grimsby Institute

                                                        

                                              

The design of the proposed animal management centre (Image: Farrell & Clark)

ANIMALS - including meerkats - are  coming to Grimsby Institute's Nuns Corner campus.

North East Lincolnshire Council planners have given the green light for construction of  an 'animal management centre' to provide a 12-dog kennels, a Blue Cross cattery, an independent veterinary practice and lecture  rooms.

According to agents for the institute Farrell and Clark, there will also be an aviary and separate enclosures for rabbits, ferrets, skunks - and possibly for reptiles and monkeys.

At least one Laceby Road residents has protested about potential noise from dogs barking and howling and another about potential rodent nuisance - but to no avail.

The site is currently being used as a temporary car park.

                                

The new animal management centre will expand the range of courses at Grimsby Institute

The Grimsby News says: It is good to see the choice of courses being widened at Grimsby Institute, but we have misgivings about this particular venture. It seems that an  awful lot of species - some mutually hostile - will be enclosed within a relatively small area to the potential detriment of their wellbeing. There could also be a noise nuisance not just to residents but also to students at work elsewhere on the campus. And what if one or more of the creatures escape? Worst of all, might the centre become a target for animal rights activists with who knows what consequences? 

Memories of legendary Town striker Matt Tees shine bright as new complex is named in his honour

Magic memories - Matt fires home another goal for the Mariners

A NEW dementia care complex has been named after former Grimsby Town footballer Matt Tees.

Located at  Peaks Lane, Grimsby,Tees House is a three-storey complex that includes 31 ensuite residential rooms, a communal lounge and overnight facilities for family members. 

It also accommodates a state-of-the-art sensory room, cinema, podiatry, beautician, indoor gym, hairdresser and activity rooms. 

It also provides support to individuals moving on from older peoples’ acute and long-term inpatient units. It is surrounded by landscaped gardens and green space.

The project has been initiated by the organisation, NAViGO, whose chief operating officer Janine Smith says: "The Tees House site enables us to offer support tailored to a person’s individual needs at what is often the most vulnerable stage of their lives. 

"Having services co-located within enhanced space for activities and relaxation creates more opportunities for meaningful engagement for the residents, their families and the local community."

Since Matt Tees' death in November 2021, his wife, May, has been actively involved in supporting other families affected by dementia, and regularly volunteers within NAViGO’s services. 

At the official opening on Wednesday of this week - October 10 was World Mental Health Day -  she said: "Matt was a footballer - that’s what he did but this was not who he was. 

"He was kind and until the end a true gentleman with a dry sense of humour. A complete family man. He adored his sons, daughter-in-laws and of course his four grandchildren. 

"The Tees family is delighted and honoured to have Matt’s name on such a wonderful building.

"Tees House looks to the future - the facilities are unbelievable. 

"What NAViGO is doing is fantastic - helping both the younger and older generation with their mental health.” 

Grimsby Town FC has also been very supportive.

"The club's  home game tomorrow against Accrington Stanley will be the next Mental Health Awareness Matchday, encouraging positive conversations about mental health among supporters and improving knowledge around the subject.

"Players will warm-up in NAViGO t-shirts, the big screen will be utilised to showcase key messages and wallet-sized cards with signposting information will be distributed by NAViGO staff on the turnstiles before the game."

                                                        

I declare Tees House open! May cuts the ribbon watched by (from left) Freedom Nokwedi (assistant director for older people's services), Kristine Green (fan-elected director, Grimsby Town FC), Janine Smith (chief operating officer) and Simon Beeton (chief executive) 

In memory of Matt - the new complex

Matt with sons Neil (left) and Andrew

                                                                    

Another magnificent display - May and Matt

Sell-off of Cleethorpes hostelry eases pressure on North East Lincolnshire Council's fragile finances

                                         

The council has got shot of a pub which it probably regretted buying

CASH-strapped North East Lincolnshire Council has sold the former O'Neill's pub which has stood empty in recent times.

The buyers are Blackpool-based Amber Taverns who are understood to have paid £430,000 for a 99-year lease on the Cleethorpes property.

The firm, whose other ventures include the Lumley Hotel in Skegness, will also pay  an annual ground rent of £2,500.

Under the terms of the deal, the car park will be retained by the council, therefore allowing the opportunity to relieve car parking pressures around Cleethorpes.

The authority expects to see an additional income of between £30k and £40k for car parking.

The council is believed to have bought the property, which has heritage pedigree, in order to demolish it and open up view of the estuary.

But it has had a change of heart - hence the sale.

It is unlikely the re-opened pub, which to be renamed The Old Vic, will be family-friendly.

There are no plans to sell food, and the intention is to show televised sports from Sky Sports, TNT Sports, Racing Tv and Dazn.

Gary Roberts, operations director at Amber Taverns, says: "We believe that the great British pub should always offer great value for money and be an affordable treat for everyone.”

"We want to  create a modern pub that is attractive and welcoming to all customers, driving day and evening footfall and helping to regenerate the area.

"We plan to name the pub The Old Vic in acknowledgement to a former name of the premises.

"Our design will be modern but commemorate the history of the town with various old pictures and internal detailing. 

"We have successfully achieved this in many other towns and cities."

Prior to opening, a comprehensive refurbishment will see internal and external repairs and redecoration, a new bar and back bar, new toilets, new flooring, new electric and heating systems throughout, and the creation of a three-bed operator’s flat on the first floor.

An external area at the rear, next to the car park, will be home to a beer 'garden'.

Cllr Stephen Harness, NELC's portfolio holder for finance, resources and assets, has struck an upbeat note.

"This is a fantastic opportunity to bring another business into the centre of Cleethorpes and boost the local economy," he insists. 

"I wish Amber Taverns all the best."

The Grimsby News says: Amber Taverns will doubtless make a good fist of its acquisition, but the enthusiasm of Cllr Harness is surely misplaced. Did Cleethorpes really need another pub? And will it really 'boost' the economy? Time will tell. 

Firm trading reported by national chain pubs group - but there’s no longer room on menu for seafood pasta

                                            

Smugglers - located on the seafront 

AN upbeat note on trading has been posted by Marstons whose portfolio of pubs includes Cleethorpes located Smugglers, Trawlerman and The Pear Tree.

In the 52 weeks to the end of last month, sales nationwide were up 11.3 per cent on those for the previous year.

Says the company: "Both drink sales and food sales have been strong, demonstrating the resilience and appeal of our predominantly suburban pub estate.   

"Our strategy continues to be centred upon delivering affordable pub experiences for our guests in a quality environment, both inside and out. 

"The level of customer demand remains encouraging, and we have continued to make positive progress on guest satisfaction measures over the year."

Over the past 12 months, Marstons has taken 15 'peripheral' and low-selling dishes, such a seafood pasta, off the menu to focus on ever-popular  traditional staples such as burgers and fish and chips.

Trawlerman - popular with residents and holidaymakers

The Pear Tree - attractive building within a tree-bordered setting

Grimsby business entrepreneur's message to 'negative' competitors: 'You ain't seen nothing yet!'

 

Fire in her belly - Jordan Brompton

THE co-founder of Grimsby-based energy storage firm myenergi has rapped "negative" competitors for claiming that the business is "going under".

In a social media message posted this morning, Jordan Brompton  did not name the competitors but said it was "wishful thinking" on their part.

She added defiantly: "You ain't see nothing yet!

 "You have no idea how much fire you add to my belly by acting that way." 

There had been recent concerns about the future of the company after it shed jobs in summer.

There was also a setback last month when the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, announced  a five-year delay to the proposed 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel car and van sales - a decision which undermines the case for electric cars for which myenergi supplies charge points.

However, the finances of the seven-year-old company seem to be on a sound footing after securing £30-million debt finance from HSBC

Further excellent news has come today with the announcement that it has secured £30-million investment to "support significant future growth and internationalisation" from the New York based finance company, Energy Impact Partners.

That must be a first! Donkey metamorphoses into unicorn on Cleethorpes seafront

 

How sad! Both ears have now been wrenched from the statue of a donkey in the gardens on Cleethorpes seafront, and the creature now looks more like a unicorn. As a plaque nearby states, the statue, which was installed in 2011,  is a memorial to Gladys Nuttall "in honour of her services to Cleethorpes, bringing happy memories and joy to many hearts with the traditional donkey rides". Here's hoping the donkey can be repaired before too long - or at least have its head spike removed.

Revamped layout of Sea Road in Cleethorpes is 'recipe for disaster' warns councillor

Danger for road-crossing pedestrians - the revamped route to the pier

THERE are fears that a road leading to Cleethorpes seafront has become one of the most perilous in the town following its redesign.

Since the removal of a florally-enhanced pedestrian island, the widened Sea Road has become hazardous for pedestrians to cross - made so more by parked buses and, not infrequently, joyriders.

At a meeting of North East Lincolnshire Council's tourism and visitor economy panel, Cllr Malcolm Morland predicted the situation would get worse when the new amenity building was opened for trade, thereby creating more footfall.

"The road is effectively four lanes," he declared. "It is a recipe for disaster." 

His concerns were shared by panel colleagues who expressed fears for the safety of danger for young children, the elderly, young mums and dads with pushchairs and those with suitcases.

Cllr Morland said he would be taking up his concerns with the authority's highway's department at the earliest opportunity.

If his remonstrations pay off, it could lead to the installation of a pedestrian island or a pelican crossing. 

The Grimsby News says: Considering the number of complaints on social media, it seems strange that North East Lincolnshire Council has not already addressed so glaring a highways problem. Although the team from Hemingway Design were too diplomatic to pass critical comment on the proposed building, they, too,  were quick to identify in their 2021-published Cleethorpes Masterplan the potential for substantial vehicle-pedestrian conflict. However well-designed the proposed building proves to be, this location  is completely inappropriate. Even with some form of  pedestrian crossing, it will be the most horrendous choke-point, particularly during the construction phase and, following completion, in summer and on bank holiday weekends. Not only that, it will be an unwelcome obstruction between Alexandra Road and the seafront. Far better, surely, to find an alternative location for the building  and landscape this site in such a way as to create  an attractive extension to Pier Gardens.