Activity underway - at last - on ambitious 'landmark building' project for Cleethorpes seafront

                                                              

A temporary modular building was today being installed on the Sea Road site 

IT looks like wheels have begun turning on the proposed new 'landmark amenity building' on Sea Road, Cleethorpes.

North East Lincolnshire Council has not officially confirmed who the main contractor will be.

However, indications are that Humberston-based  Jem Build could be involved to a significant extent on the construction given the firm's  recent presence on the site which formerly accommodated Waves pub and public WCs.

Meanwhile, NELC says it had agreed a deal with an operator to lease "a material element of the building, once completed, to a leading national hospitality company",  but it is keeping the  identity under wraps.

"It's a national firm but it isn't McDonalds," says a spokesperson. "More will be revealed in due course."

The authority's continuing coyness is causing some concern to other traders whose investment plans for their own businesses are having to be put on hold until they know the likely nature of the competition.

But back to Jem Build - it is a well-respected firm with impressive credentials.

Its team is well capable of fulfilling large contracts and has a portfolio of completed projects across a spectrum ranging from industrial to community, from retail to education. 

                                         

How the proposed Sea Road building might look after dark 

 

MP vows to speak up for constituents made anxious by proposed scrapping of £300 winter fuel allowance

                                            

Melanie Onn - protests aplenty from her elderly constituents

THE Government's decision to scrap the winter fuel allowance for senior citizens has put an early political squeeze on Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes' Labour MP Melanie Onn.

The proposal, which was not included in Labour's General Election manifesto, has outraged many of her constituents born on or after September 22, 1958.

If the decision holds, they stand to miss out on the £300 tax-free payment that has proved a boon to many.

Ms Onn confirmed this week that there had been a steady flow into her email account of messages of concern from constituents.

She says she hopes to take up the matter, face-to-face, with the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, in the coming weeks. 

In the meantime, last Friday, she fired off to letter to Ms Reeves to which she now awaits a reply. 

                                                            

                                             The MP's letter of concern to the Chancellor 

All system go for new bus station in Grimsby - but this one will be called a 'transportation hub'

                                          

Even though there is no longer  bus station, Riverhead remains an important pick-up point for Stagecoach vehicles - but for how much longer? 

MOVES are afoot to create a new bus station in Grimsby.

The only significant  differences from its predecessor in Riverhead Square are, firstly, the location and, secondly, that it will be called a 'transportation hub'.

A  NELC report published this week states: "Our residents  deserve a fit for purpose transportation hub that allows quick easy access to public transport services in a central location near to rail, retail and town centre amenities." 

"The concept is to create a multi-functional hub for buses, cycles, and other users which connects with the adjacent railway station, encouraging public transport use and supporting wider town centre regeneration ambitions.

"Such a  'hub' will allow the consolidation of the current bus stops on George Street, Victoria Street West, Town Hall Street and Town Hall Square, providing a dedicated facility for bus users and operators, which is safe and welcoming within the town centre.

"It is hoped that this dedicated facility will make it easier for disabled people or those with mobility issues to use public transport."

The proposed location is the 1.6-acre site on Osborne Street and Garden Street that was acquired by NELC in  June 2022. 

Assuming the project is approved by councillors, the authority will use a mixture of professional teams to oversee demolition of existing buildings, technical design, and procurement processes.

The cost? How long is a piece of string? So far, no estimates have been provided.                                           

These former shops have been earmarked for demolition to make way for the proposed new bus station

The Grimsby News says: There is no doubt some will welcome the return to Grimsby of a dedicated bus bus station. But the Osborne Street location does not seem notably preferable to the one that existed at Riverhead. Furthermore, access and exit arrangements for buses and cyclists could be extremely tricky. And, sure as sure, the costs, just in consultants' fees, will be stratospheric.  Its intentions are laudable, but somehow NELC seems to have developed a knack  of making things difficult not  only for itself  but also for the increasingly bemused community that it serves.

Four-storey town centre car park set to tumble - but what future the decorative artwork on the pillars?

                                                      

Will the sculpture artwork be lost for ever if car park is demolished?

IT looks like curtains not just for Grimsby's Abbey Walk four-storey car park but also for the  artwork beautifully sculpted into its pillars.

The 427-space structure dates back to 1969 when it was completed by Scunthorpe-based  Holst & Company of Scunthorpe at a cost of approximately £200,000. 

When in May this year, it was closed for safety reasons related to water penetration of the beams and girders, it was hoped that it could re-open after repairs.

But it has since emerged that refurbishment could cost a prohibitive £7-million and take as long as three years.

Other options would be either to demolish the structure and replace it  -  but in sturdier form to withstand the weight of heavy  battery-powered cars - or to build a two-storey replacement.

Instead, the likelihood is that it will be demolished - still not cheap at an estimated cost of up to £2.5-million - and replaced with a ground-level car park.

There is a snag - what do do about the artwork, representing different car parts, created  by former Grimsby Art School teacher Harold Gosney who now lives in York?

These are reckoned to be of  historic as well as artistic interest.

A report to be considered next week by councillors states: "The challenge will be how to remove these artworks without causing damage given the way they are currently part of the external structure of the car park. 

"While options will be considered, there is a risk that it would not be safe or financially viable to remove the artwork. 

"Due to their size and weight, it may also be challenging to find a future display location."

There have been a few stop-offs by Gypsy and Traveller groups - but, then again, too few to mention

                                                   

The council believes visits by the Gypsy and Traveller community are too few to justify providing a dedicated site 

STOP-OFFS by Gypsy and Travellers are too few in North East Lincolnshire to warrant provision of a specialist site.

That is the conclusion of a report to councillors.

Says council staffer Joanne Robinson: "Although we continue to see a small number of number of unauthorised encampments, there is insufficient demand for a fixed designated stopping site."

Since September 2023, there have been five instances of Gypsy and Traveller visits.

Two of the visits involved the same group who, in September 2023, arrived at a location in Waltham (Neville Turner Way) and subsequently moved to the former Scartho Baths site. 

Ms Robinson's report states: "This group refused to engage and were abusive to staff, and a notice of direction was issued to vacate both sites. 

"The group stayed in the area for a total of seven days (three in Waltham and four in Scartho). 

"Bins were provided to both sites but, nevertheless, 850kg of fly tipping was cleared afterwards."

There have been three visits during 2024.

In July,  a large group of travellers (14 caravans) set up camp in Weelsby Woods.

An eviction order was obtained, and the group left the site the day after the order was served after staying a total of 11 nights. 

Five bins were provided to the group, and 1,200kg of fly tipping was cleared afterwards.

In the same month,  a single caravan was reported at Fisherman’s Wharf in Grimsby.

This stay was for two nights and the family moved on of their own accord before any action was taken.

Last month, Travellers were reported at Cleethorpes Boating Lake in Cleethorpes.

They stayed  for three nights, and were given a notice of direction to leave the site, leaving behind 150kg fly-tipped waste despite being provided with bins.

Paintings of three grand 'old ladies of the sea' set to be sold at auction in Louth

The Grimsby Town with the dock tower behind

BIDDING could be brisk for three oil paintings of trawlers when they go under the hammer tomorrow, Tuesday September 3.

One features the Grimsby Town - GY246 - passing the port’s famous dock tower.

Another depicts the Ross Zebra, also passing the dock tower but in the other direction.

The identity of the third trawler is not known, but the three paintings are being sold as part of the same lot - number 423. 

The paintings are all by a Scottish artist, George Murray, two of whose other trawler paintings  are held by the Fishing Heritage Centre in Grimsby.

The sale, starting at  10am, is being by John Taylors of Louth in its auction mart on Eastgate in Louth.

More information at: https://www.johntaylors.com/

The Ross Zebra

                                                                                 

The name of this trawler is not known

Who’s this sitting quietly in Pier Gardens? Could it be former US First Lady Michelle Obama?

Quietly looking on as the kiddies play - could it be Michelle?

TAKE a close look at this artist's impression of how Pier Gardens might look in a year or two hence!

Is the demure female figure based on the former First Lady of  the United States, Michelle Obama?

A Grimsby News reader reckons there is a resemblance in facial beauty, slim figure, clothing and reflective demeanour.

 

We are not entirely convinced, especially as close scrutiny reveals that the only man in the picture  is definitely not her husband Barack. But who knows whom the artist had in mind? 

Meanwhile, don't those log slides look great fun?

But unsupervised,  would they survive their first 24 hours without being subject to arson or vandalism? 

Latest news on the Gardens revamp project is that North East Lincolnshire Council has not yet submitted a planning application, let alone obtained consent, but it has begun inviting interest from contractors who might wish to carry out the proposed works.  

Michelle Obama - perhaps she could be coaxed into visiting Cleethorpes with her husband, Barack. They would be made very welcome.