Cleethorpes tree roots probe likely to bring five holiday weeks' worth of noise and disruption

 

                                                       

Some of the 13  trees whose roots are to due be assessed (photo: NELC)

FIVE weeks of disruption are in prospect on Cleethorpes' busiest shopping street.

Starting on Monday,  North East Lincolnshire Council will be undertaking highway maintenance work around 13 magnificent trees on St Peter's Avenue between High Street and Albert Road.

Local businesses have been informed of the project, and every effort will be made to minimise upheaval during the work.

The planned work is to investigate the extent of tree root growth around the trees ahead of proposed footway improvement in the future.

Says a council spokesperson: "Highway trees in paved surfaces are like any other highway element that requires maintenance or replacement over their life cycle. 

"However, the difference between highway trees and elements, such as street lights and bollards, is that they do not remain static.

"They grow both above and below ground.

"To enable a full assessment, exploratory trial holes will be excavated around the trunks in order to assess the root growth ahead of prospective pruning and footway resurfacing.

"The work will be localised around individual trees, and the footway around each  will be closed to ensure safety for both staff working for the contractor, CES Ltd, and for the public.  

"Temporary traffic signals will be used during the works to enable a temporary footway to be provided within the carriageway.

"Although every effort will be made to minimise disruption, some of the activity will be noisy."

The spokesperson adds: "The council and the contractor would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience and to give assurance  that the work will be completed as quickly and safely as possible."

Cloud over Grimsby Library, but does brighter future beckon for its sisters in Cleethorpes and Waltham?

                      

Grimsby Central Library - its reopening hinges on how much repairs will cost

HOPE springs anew for the future of the library service in North East Lincolnshire.

Although a dark cloud still looms over the fate of the asbestos-riddled central library in Grimsby, it looks like the authority will scrap the option of downgrading its counterparts in Cleethorpes and Waltham.

The re-think by NELC's cabinet comes in response to a Save our Libraries petition which attracted an unprecedented number of signatures - more than 4,700 - in a matter of weeks.

At last night's meeting of the full North East Lincolnshire Council, the authority's Conservative leader, Cllr Philip Jackson declared: "We have listened to the electorate."

Earlier, his colleague, Cllr Hayden Dawkins, who is portfolio holder for culture and heritage, proposed a motion which was  backed by the council and will now go to the next cabinet meeting to be rubber-stamped.

It states: 

* Cleethorpes Library remains open and initiatives to better utilise the available space and facilities will be pursued;

* Waltham Library remains open and initiatives to better utilise the available space and facilities will be  pursued;

*In principle, the current Grimsby Central Library will  reopen subject to confirmation of the options and costs for refurbishment on which there will be full and transparent engagement.

During the temporary closure of Grimsby Library, a 'pop-up' facility will be provided in Freshney Place,

Although these arrangements are subject to the outcome - to be published shortly - of a recent public consultation exercise, they are almost certain to be adopted.

That means Cleethorpes will not be relocated to the leisure centre and that Waltham Library will continue to be managed by professionals rather than by volunteers.

However, although the stated intention is for Grimsby Library to reopen following extensive repairs and refurbishment, this may not happen if the costs are deemed prohibitive.

During last night's meeting, Independent member Cllr Paul Henderson proposed that the council should set up both a libraries board and a committee of inquiry, but this garnered little support.

Instead, the council approved a proposal by Labour member Cllr Karl Wilson for the setting up of a select committee with a wide-ranging brief - for instance, to explore best libraries practice at other local authorities and why those in North East Lincolnshire have been allowed to fall  structural and maintenance decline.

It may also explore the mysterious circumstances by which a Whitehall grant of £4.2-million to repair the central library - and reopen its upper floors - was reallocated to the Freshney Place leisure scheme (described by Cllr Henderson as a "vanity project").

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Dawkins said  he and his cabinet colleagues fully understood the strength of feeling within the community, including those views expressed in the petition.

He commented: "I insist it was always our intention to be open-minded and transparent in our drive to improve the services and ensure the libraries become vibrant and well-used community spaces for all ages.

"We are therefore more than happy to look again, and to make these new recommendations. 

"This is about listening to the people and working with our communities to achieve positive change."

Meanwhile, one of the Save our Libraries campaigners, Angela Greenfield, has expressed optimism in the wake of yesterday's full  council meeting  

"While, it is too early to declare victory, it is  certainly a step in the right direction.

"Hopefully, we will see all three of our libraries protected and future-proofed and our beloved central library building fully operational in the not too distant future." 

She continued: "There is of course still the big hurdle of the cost of the essential repairs and renovation, but at least there is now hope. 

"Thank you to everyone, including councillors, who have supported the campaign." 

  

NELC' leader's upbeat note on proposed salmon-breeding unit: 'It will create well-paid jobs'

                                                         

Wildlife-rich - the grassy site earmarked for the proposed salmon-breeding unit.

OPTIMISM has been sounded on the controversial salmon-breeding unit proposed for the site of former railway sidings in Cleethorpes.

The project was temporarily delayed when a welfare charity, Animal Equality, secured  a judicial review into the validity of the process by which North East Lincolnshire Council granted planning consent in November 2023.

But early last month, the judge upheld the NELC decision, paving the way (almost) for work to start.

At last night’s full council meeting, NELC leader, Cllr Philip Jackson, welcomed the decision as "positive" for the area.

"It means the developer, Aquacultured Seafoods, can now proceed with the £120-million project which will create 100 well-paid jobs," he declared.

The leader concluded his observation with criticism of an unnamed Independent councillor on the planning committee whom he alleged had been party to the judicial review.

"That’s disappointing," he said.

Before work can start on the unit, Aquacultured Seafoods, which has maintained a low profile almost from the day the project was unveiled, still faces a huge challenge to raise the required financial capital.

Likewise, it is also required to produce detailed information on the entire breeding cycle of the Wall butterfly - the rarest of more than 20 butterflies which live on a wildlife-rich patch of land which sits on the edge of a Site of Special Scientific Interest. 

Pleasure Island consortium confident wildlife can be safeguarded if holiday park project goes ahead

Between August and March, Cleethorpes beach provides vital feeding and resting habitat for many shorebird species

                                        

THE consortium seeking to redevelop the former Pleasure Island theme park in Cleethorpes says it would be willing to fund a conservation ranger to  help safeguard wildlife if the holiday park project is granted planning consent.

It says it would chip with £22,264 per annum  to pay the salary of the ranger whose role would be overseen by the Humber Nature Partnership.

Agents for the Lidl-headed consortium state: "This will be a part-time time role, due to the limited opening season of the holiday park, around 2.5 days per week, 12 months of the year.  

"The role will be further supported by on-site holiday park staff who will  promote best practice measures.

"The role and responsibilities of the ranger would need  to be agreed with Natural England, Humber Nature Partnership and other appropriate stakeholders such as the RSPB.

                                        

Green and leafy - part of the Pleasure Island site

"Responsibilities are likely to include:

* Engagement with the public 

* Monitoring 

* Habitat and access management 

* Managing local volunteers 

* Providing ongoing advice and support to the council where there my be disturbance issues 

* Providing guided walks and social media support. 

According to the agents, the the role will be provided "for the life of the development" and will be in place prior to the occupation of the leisure element of the development. 

However, they state that "the role would be subject to ongoing assessment to confirm the effectiveness of the ranger programme".

In the past, Natural England has sounded serious caution about the proposed development because of fears that a huge influx of holidaymakers would cause disturbance to the coast which is of global importance as a haven for shorebirds, most of which are in decline."

But, as previously reported, the consortium has devised a scheme whereby holiday cabin occupants would re-routed away from the coast lines to  Cleethorpes Country Park via the footpath (which would be paved) that runs along the Buck Beck and past the back of the Premier Inn.

It says this will "encourage people away from more sensitive areas of the coast and reduce the overall recreational pressure on the coastal area".   

It goes on: "It is envisaged that this detail would be brought forward as a condition to any planning permission and implemented prior to the lodges becoming fully occupied." 

According to the planning application, there would be a ban on dogs (though, in the event of consent being granted, this might be difficult to enforce).

The holiday park part of the scheme (which also includes provision for two hotels, a Lidl supermarket and a garden centre) would be closed between November 1 and March 14 (exact dates dependent on school holidays).

The consortium has one other rabbit to pull out of its hat.

It proposes: "The use of a site mascot would  promote the importance of the shoreline bird population. 

"This could take the form of a Curlew and will be involved with the promotion and engagement of residents with habitats and species." 

It is thought North East Lincolnshire Council will determine the planning application later this year or early in 2026.

                                        

Curlew - consortium has volunteered declining shore bird as a 'site mascot'

New apart-hotel in prospect on approach road to Cleethorpes town centre

                                                                

Planners have approved change of use for the 'rundown' property

A THIRD property on Isaac's Hill in Cleethorpes is to become an apart-hotel.

North East Lincolnshire planners have given the green light for conversion of number 47 which was was formerly a private dwelling.

The applicant is Robertson Properties Ltd of Stoke-on-Trent. 

A single storey outbuilding will be erected at the rear for use as a  housekeeper's store.

NELC's planning consent document states: " The area itself is a mix of commercial and residential with a variety of uses in the vicinity.

"Currently the building is vacant and has been for some time. 

"It has a rundown appearance and  its intended use for a five bed apart-hotel would not be out of keeping in this location where a  range of uses, including residential and holiday rentals, are apparent."

The report continues: "Numbers 47- 51 Isaacs Hill are owned by the applicant, and all  have now been approved for the same use."

NELC faces likely bill of £6-million (and counting) to rid potentially dodgy concrete from shopping mall

                                                         

Demolition work at one end of Freshney Place - but required RAAC-removal works elsewhere will add to the bill

A BILL of at least £6-million could be in prospect for North East Lincolnshire Council following revelations earlier this year of potentially unsafe concrete used in the construction of the Freshney Place shopping mall.

The authority's assets manager, Queensbury, engaged the Black Cat Building Consultancy, a national organisation, to identify the extent of  Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete - and what should be done about it.

RAAC is a lightweight, aerated ‘bubbly’ form of concrete that was  used in the construction of public buildings from the 1950s to the early1990s, but which has a lifespan of sometimes as short as just 30 years. 

Because of what some claim to have been "a media-driven scare", this has led to the closure of 104 English schools, nurseries and colleges, though it is thought there have only been two instances of failure in localised parts of schools in recent years.

Black Cat have come up with the following remediation options:

* Complete removal

* Installation of steel supports

* Do nothing

The last will almost certainly be ruled out.  While incidents to date may have been rare, the council needs to discharge health and safety requirements.

The likelihood is that complete removal will be the path chosen as it should as it remove any further potential issues associated with the potential dodgy concrete.

The estimated cost of  £6.06-million is a highly unwelcome expense and will  probably have to be met  by external borrowing.

It may  also hold up the ongoing reconfiguration of Freshney Place.

According to the provisional timetable, detailed design work - even if it started now - would probably take until autumn before completion.

The contract for removal would be put out to tender during winter, with a proposed start on the project in spring next year.

Completion  is not scheduled until winter 2027.

A report to councillors states: "The main challenge would be not undertaking the works which could lead to challenges from tenants. 

"Naturally, there will be appropriate communications with tenants at the appropriate time."

Closed for a day - Register Office in Cleethorpes Town Hall will be shut to allow essential electrical works

 

Cleethorpes Town Hall will be closed all day tomorrow, Monday, to allow essential electrical works to be carried out. That means the services of  the Register Office will be unavailable as there will be no electricity supply, nor IT nor telephone communication. The building's owner, North East Lincolnshire, says Northern Power Grid will be carrying out works to disconnect the electrical supply between the Town Hall and Civic Office which is currently being prepared for sale.