MP renews her criticism of vape shops and 'fake' barbers - but does she risk inciting tensions?

                                      

Melanie Onn - 'Commons attack on 'fake' barbers

GRIMSBY & Cleethorpes MP Melanie Onn (Lab) has again spoken out against the brightly-coloured pop-up shops that have become  a feature in the constituency - and in many other towns and cities in the UK.

At yesterday's  Prime Ministers' Questions in the 'Commons, she demanded: "Tax evasion, money laundering,  illicit goods and illegal working all undermine our high  streets, including Freeman Street. 

"They undermine local business confidence and challenge community cohesion. 

"That is the reality  around the country because of the explosion of vape  shops, fake barbers, Harry Potter shops and American  candy stores. 

"Will the Prime Minister commit to  working with his Cabinet to bring in a national strategy  to tackle the scourges of the high street and restore  high street confidence?"

Sir Keir Starmer responded: "I thank the hon. Lady for raising  this issue. 

"I know it is of concern to her and to many  people across the House. 

"The system we have is broken;  it does not serve anyone well. 

"We have to reform it, and I hope  that we can get the greatest support possible for the reform that I think everybody here knows has to happen."

The Grimsby News says: An alternative perspective from the one adopted by Ms Onn and the Prime Minister is that these brightly-coloured premises brighten up shopping areas and are far preferable to stores that shuttered or permanently closed. And, contrary to what she suggests, many of these businesses, especially barbers, are legitimate and provide a valuable service. By her careless generalisation, the MP has not only maligned many good people but she has made them vulnerable to abuse (and maybe worse) from other members of the community.  

Mental health charity chooses St Peter's Avenue, Cleethorpes, for its latest shop opening

 

The new Cleethorpes shop - one of more than 160 branches in England and Wales

GOOD fortune to the mental health charity, Mind, which last month opened its latest shop on St Peter's Avenue, Cleethorpes. 

Mind now has more than 160 shops in England and Wales including one in Louth.

It says it welcomes donations of :

* Clothes

* Accessories

* Books

* Records

* DVDs

* CDs

* Homeware

* Linen

* Children's games and toys

It is also keen to encourage  shop volunteers and says: "There's no need for volunteering to be a big, time-consuming commitment - even an hour a week could make a huge difference."

"Mind charity shop volunteers are a dedicated bunch. 

"They help make sure that all of us with mental health problems have somewhere to turn. 

"Whether it's sorting and pricing clothes, making sales or getting creative on the shop floor, there's plenty you can do to help out."

It adds: "Charity shop volunteering at Mind is more than just giving back. 

"It's about meeting new people, building skills, making connections, and boosting your confidence."

 

Return of bumblebees to Grimsby town centre after many years' absence - now bring on the butterflies!

 

                                                     

The wildlife-friendly planting scheme at Grimsby's revamped Riverhead has brought back bumblebees to this patch of town  for what is thought to be the first time in many years. They particularly like feasting on the sea holly blooms (above). There is a good chance that other pollinating insects, including various butterfly species, will arrive later this summer.  

Councillor warns scrutiny panel meeting: Is this the 'creeping death' of Grimsby Central Library?

                                                       

Grimsby Central Library - so many unanswered questions

THE fate of Grimsby's Central Library could be determined by the end of next month.

By that time, NELC expects to have completed not just a comprehensive survey of the extent of asbestos in the building but also a full structural survey on its overall safety.

This sketchy information emerged during yesterday's  special North East Lincolnshire scrutiny panel meeting in Grimsby Town Hall.

But, as Cllr Paul Henderson (Ind, Yarborough) emphasised, vital questions remain unanswered about the building which closed until further notice on March 28 and has since been emptied of its precious stock of books, rare documents and furnishings.

Bemoaning the lack of urgency in carrying out repairs, he sought immediate  clarity from NELC's administration on costings and timelines.

Cllr Henderson queried whether there had even been a need to close the building at all.

"Who says it is unsafe?" he demanded. "If so, which part of it?

"Who made the closure decision? What are the credentials of the surveyors?

He continued: "The story does not stack up. Are we, as councillors, being steered down a pre-determined path by the administration?

"Are we witnessing, by increments, the creeping death of Grimsby Central Library and the 16 services it provides?"

Similar frustration was sounded by Malcolm Morland (Lab, Croft Baker) who described the library building as being of "national importance" and warned against "giving away our heritage".

A different perspective came from panel chairman Cllr Steve Holland (Ind, Freshney) who said he had heard it said that the whole of the building might be structurally unsafe.

He pinpointed a potential dilemma for the authority if any repair quote came in at £4-million.  

During the discussion, there were several references to a Levelling-up grant of £4.2-million to upgrade the library and re-open its upper floors for community or educational use, but almost all that money was diverted - by who knows whom? - to the proposed redevelopment of part of the town centre to incorporate leisure facilities such as a new cinema and a Nando's restaurant.

Cllr Morland, who described the leisure scheme as "over-promoted", declared a personal interest in the future of the library because he is a a member of Grimsby and District Civic Society which has been campaigning for the library service to be retained.

Perhaps surprisingly, Cllr Tim Mickleburgh (Lab, South) who has regularly used the central library as a place of work, decided not to declare a personal interest.

It was hoped that NELC's director of infrastructure, Carolina Borgstrom, might provide the meeting with important information on costs, timelines and the state of the library.

Much of what she said was inaudible to the public, but she made a general comment about the "complexity" of maintaining old  buildings, adding that decisions on the future Grimsby Library were the remit of councillors, not officers.

Part of the meeting was held behind closed doors, with public and Press excluded, on grounds of confidentiality.

*NELC agrees to 'temporary' pop-up library in Freshney Place shopping centre - see previous report. 

Green light for 'pop-up' library in Freshney Place - but how 'temporary' is 'temporary'?

                                     

Where will it be? Council has not divulged likely Freshney Place location of 'temporary' pop-up library

IT looks like a temporary 'pop-up' library will  open in Grimsby’s Freshney Place shopping arcade.

This was confirmed at a  special North East Lincolnshire Council scrutiny panel meeting held this afternoon.

But no details have been given of:

* The proposed date of its opening

* The location of the vacant retail  unit that has been selected

* The estimated costs of the initiative

Also undisclosed is the amount of rental income that is likely to be forfeited as a result of a lost retail space.

At the meeting, Cllr Matthew Patrick (Lab, Heneage) expressed dismay at what was was being proposed in the wake of  the indefinite closure of  Grimsby Central Library in March as a result of a perceived asbestos contamination issue.

He protested: "The administration has gone for the easy option.

"But the purpose of Freshney Place is to provide retail opportunities, not to be a storage dump for council services."

Similar exasperation was sounded  by Labour colleagues Cllr Sophia Farren (Sidney Sussex) and Cllr Malcolm Morland (Croft Baker), with Cllr Marian Boyd (Con, Park) also expressing disquiet.

Meanwhile,  Cllr Tim Mickleburgh (Lab, South) doubted  that the pop-up library would be "fit for purpose" given its limited book stock, with only two public computers and lack of space for other facilities such as small-scale community gatherings.

The meeting was attended by no fewer than 28 members of the public fearful that the borough's library service - specifically  the premises in Grimsby, Cleethorpes and Waltham - are at serious risk of being downgraded as NELC seeks way of cutting costs.

Two were wearing red tee-shirts carrying the message: "We shall not be moved."

The authority's portfolio holder  with responsibility for libraries, Cllr Hayden Dawkins (Con, Humberston & New Waltham), sought to reassure fellow-councillors and the public with what he called a "categorical assurance" that the Freshney Place move was "temporary only".

"I cannot stress that enough,"he insisted.

But Cllr Patrick was unconvinced. "Temporary is a dangerous word,"he declared.

What future the former Lloyds Bank branch on St Peter's Avenue, Cleethorpes? A restaurant perhaps?

The former Cleethorpes branch of  Lloyds. The bank wasted no time in 'de-branding' the property which, alas, has now become something  a blot on the street scene

COULD a deal  be cooking on the former bank property on St Peter's Avenue in Cleethorpes?

Back in December last year, Lloyds closed the premises as a result of reduced customer visits.

There is little doubt, however, that its presence has been missed by many who have now either had  to make the trip to its retained branch in Victoria Street, Grimsby or to make alternative banking arrangements.

Two other closed Cleethorpes banks - Barclays on High Street and HSBC on Sea View Street - have become restaurants, prompting speculation that this is what lies ahead for the former Loyds.

There has even been gossip that it might become another Turkish restaurant - the third in the town. 

Since its closure, the property has been on the books of property agents Scotts whose marketing material stated: "The premises are situated at the corner of St Peters Avenue and Elm Road.

"The property was extended many years ago and, in addition, to providing retail accommodation to the ground floor with ancillary space above, it  also benefits from a six-space car park accessed via Elm Road.

"Nearby occupiers include Costa, Superdrug, Boots, Sainsburys and Greggs.

"The premises are available for sale or to let at an asking price of £425,000 or a guide rent of £37,500 per annum for a lease on full repairing and insuring terms."

However, earlier today, the property details were not to be found on the Scotts website, perhaps indicating that moves are afoot.

As of today, it is understood there has been no planning application to North East Lincolnshire Council for change of use of the building.  

                                                  

The bank in its prime - Lloyds said the closure decision was made because it was only regularly being visited by 797 of its customers

Park Avenue yew tree saved from felling because of its 'positive contribution' to street scene

 

'No obvious signs of defect' - the Park Avenue yew tree

AN attractive yew tree in Grimsby has been saved from the chop.

An independent appeals inspector has ruled in favour of North East Lincolnshire Council which turned down an a resident's application for the tree in the front garden of a house in Park Avenue to be felled.

The resident appealed but the inspector, Mark Caine, upheld the NELC decision.

In his report, he says: "The tree, a tall and mature specimen,  is clearly visible from a number of vantage points along Park Avenue. 

"There are numerous other trees growing in the locality, and within front residential gardens. 

"These, along with the tree the subject of this appeal, make a positive contribution to the landscaped character of the surrounding area. 

"The tree is therefore a prominent feature and provides a good level of visual amenity.  

"As such, its felling would erode the visual amenity of the area and give rise to considerable harm to its character and appearance. 

"Any reasons given to justify the removal of the tree therefore need to be convincing, and it is to this issue to which I now turn."

He continues: "The tree has no obvious signs of defects, and, whilst it leans to the north and overhangs a driveway, I saw nothing to suggest that it was unstable or dangerous at the time of my site visit."

The inspector noted that flagged surfaces of driveways overlooked by the tree were "slightly raised and uneven", but he says that evidence to indicate  that tree roots are to blame is "inconclusive".

He continues: "On the basis of the evidence before me, I am also unable to conclude that parts of the driveways could not be re-laid or resurfaced in such a way, if necessary, to take any roots into account and remedy any potential trip hazard."

The inspector is dismissive about "issues with falling leaves, berries and debris, along with impacts on outlook and light levels to property" which he says are "not uncommon for tree owners". 

He states: "While this may create inconvenience, require increased vigilance and result in added maintenance and costs (including the cleaning of cars, carpets and driveways more regularly), such matters are an unavoidable consequence of  owning a property adjacent to trees and does not justify the removal of a healthy protected specimen.  

"In addition, given the good physiological condition of the tree, I have no substantive reason to conclude that it could not tolerate alternative pruning works.

"This may not totally overcome the appellant’s concerns, but it would help to reduce the volume of berries and the area in which they land. 

"In any event, falling leaves, berries and other debris is likely to be seasonal and therefore unlikely to occur to a significant degree all year round. 

"Alternatively, the use of car covers could also be explored.  

"I therefore have no substantive reason to conclude that the tree poses any imminent health and safety risks that would cause me any particular concern. 

"Accordingly, I must therefore give the reasons to remove the tree very little weight. 

" I acknowledge the appellant's willingness to replace the tree with a new one. 

"However, any replacement would take many years to reach the same stature as the appeal tree and provide a similar level of visual amenity. 

"As such, replacement planting would not be sufficient to mitigate the harm that would arise to the character and appearance of the area. 

"Accordingly, having considered all matters, I find that the loss of the yew tree would result in significant harm to the character and appearance of the area." 

The inspector concludes: "The appeal should therefore be dismissed." 

                                        

Staying put - the controversial tree