Grimsby Auditorium issues alert ahead of spill-the-beans talk by former England footballer

                                                        

A WARNING has sounded by the management at Grimsby Auditorium ahead of a forthcoming event - a talk to be given by former footballer Paul Gascoigne.

The advance publicity suggests the evening is unsuitable for under-14s and may contain "strong language and stories of a certain nature".

"Ticket buyer discretion is recommended," it states. 

'Gazza', as he is known, is due to  chat about his times at  Glasgow Rangers, Newcastle, Tottenham, Everton and Lazio, not to mention his colourful period in the England squad until he was controversially dropped by the manager, Glenn Hoddle.

There will be reminiscences about individual matches, stories from dressing room and playing field and about managers and famous fall-outs.

There are also likely to be candid revelations  about his struggles since quitting the game.

An Evening with Paul Gascoigne takes place at 7.30pm on Friday June 14, with tickets costing £33.

Grand old Cleethorpes Monterey Cypress tree spared the chop because of its amenity value to the area

                                                 

Not much seems to grown under the canopy of the conifer

A LANDMARK tree in a Cleethorpes back garden has been  spared the chop.

An application was received by North East Lincolnshire Council for the 10-metre tall Monterey Cypress at Benjamin's Walk to be felled because of ;

* Natural daylight being blocked

* Bird droppings

* Fallen pine needles clogging  drains and gutters.

* A neighbour's concerns over the safety of an overhanging branch.

However, NELC's trees supremo Paul Chaplin has refused to grant consent for felling because of the tree's amenity value in the area.

By way of compromise, Mr Chaplin has given the nod for the tree to be reduced to 9-metres in height and for lopping of  some of the branches.

The application was submitted not by the occupants of the house but by a Humberston man who is believed to own the property.

Council hires hawk handler to drive out 'unwelcome' birds from Grimsby town centre

                                                         

One of the hawks that is being engaged to swoop at other birds 

TWO Harris Hawks are being engaged to drive birds out of Grimsby town centre.

North East Lincolnshire Council today announced  that the fearsome raptors were being used in an initiative which seeks to make Top Town bird-free at least during this spring and summer.

The authority fears that if active birds' nests were found, it would be illegal to disturb them, and redevelopment of Freshney Place and the proposed new bus station off Osborne Street would be delayed.

The council is particularly targeting street pigeons and herring gulls.

What about the threat to smaller birds such as blackbirds, starlings, wagtails, robins and house sparrows which also occur in this part of Grimsby?

Says the council: "The hawks are well trained and will not attack other birds - they are purely used as a deterrent."

NELC has not revealed the identity of the hawk handler but says the birds' names are Mavric and Chief.

                                       

NELC does not want birds anywhere near its Freshney Place development site

The Grimsby News says: NELC and its partner firm Equans, will not win many friends with this initiative. Pigeons and herring gulls  bring personality and liveliness to the town centre.  Furthermore, the latter are declining so fast that they are now categorised as a red-listed species. The two hawks may be trained not to 'attack' smaller birds, but their presence will undoubtedly cause terror. For an organisation that purports to be wildlife-friendly, the council is setting an extraordinarily cruel example.  

NELC: 'There would be advantages to bringing library services together under one roof'

 

                                                          

Council keen to 'align library service with community needs'

 

AS the row over the future of the borough's libraries service simmers, North East Lincolnshire Council says its current review  was prompted by a post-Covid decline in library visits  of approximately 43 per cent.

It states: "There would be economic and social advantages of bringing services together under one roof.

"It needs to be recognised that the current library buildings  require significant future investment to develop vibrant spaces that better align libraries to meet community needs.  

"A focus on children and young people is a clear priority while continuing to build on the service’s strong connection with the older community."

The NELC cabinet member with responsibility for the libraries is Cllr Hayden Dawkins (Con, Humberston and New Waltham) who states: "I wish to make it clear that no decisions have been made on the future of the service. 

"That will only take place after a full analysis of the  consultation responses and further discussions.

"The one main aim here is  to ensure a full, vibrant and growing service  that is future-proofed and that everyone can enjoy."

He continues: "Our vision is to create libraries that appeal to all ages and offer something for everyone. 

"Looking at other services around the country we can see that bringing services together and creating community hubs has worked well. 

"Immingham, which is  located in the town’s civic centre, is an example of that."

NELC says it will  also be setting up focus groups and community engagement events in order "to capture as full a picture as possible".

The consultation, which began in mid-April,  ends on July 9.

It  does not include Immingham Library as no change to the current location is being considered. 

Cleethorpes councillor accuses NELC administration of treating residents as if they are 'stupid'

                                                                    

Cllr Morland - unhappy with NELC administration's attitude to libraries

A LABOUR councillor has accused North East Lincolnshire Council's Conservative-led administration of treating residents as if they are 'stupid'.

The outburst  came from Cllr Malcolm Morland (Croft Baker) at a public meeting called the discuss the threat to three libraries - those in Grimsby, Cleethorpes and Waltham -  which are at high risk of cuts in their funding by North East Lincolnshire Council.

What seemed to prompt the attack was the ongoing libraries consultation exercise which purports to be an impartial and independent survey of  public opinion about the best strategy for the libraries in the months and years ahead.

Cllr Morland - and others who attended the public meeting - think the  exercise is a sham.

This is because some of the questions seem to be skewed in such a way as to prompt responses that will endorse the council's wish to quit both the Grimsby and Cleethorpes libraries and hand over the Waltham building to community volunteers.

Among the consultation questions thought by library campaigners to be  'loaded' are the following: 

Grimsby

A library hub in an empty town centre location could provide space to shape a modern library. This concept could include a library service, public archives, adult skills and learning and further include potential for integrated café, community and exhibition space. 

a) I support exploring this option

b) I have the following concerns around this option

c) I do not have a view on this

Cleethorpes

A library and leisure hub within a reconfigured Cleethorpes Leisure Centre could provide space to shape a modern library offer.  This concept could include dedicated library space with extended opening hours and further include potential for refurbished leisure facilities. 

a) I support exploring this option

b) I have the following concerns around this option

c) I do not have a view on this

Waltham

Would you support the library to:  

a) Become a local community-run library that offers public access to borrowing books and reading materials, alongside other activities and services to develop a more viable service?

b) Remain as the existing library, recognising that the current operation could limit possibilities for other activities and this could lead to challenges around future viability?

c) Neither of the above, I have an alternative suggestion that the council should be considering for the future use of Waltham Library building.

The full libraries consultation document can be viewed at: 

Have your say | NELC

We don't want a downgraded library service! Anger bubbles up at packed public meeting in Grimsby hotel

 

So many attended the meeting that, for late arrivals, it was standing room only 

ALARM bells are again jangling over the uncertain future of three cherished local libraries - the central one in Grimsby's Top Town and its smaller sisters in Cleethorpes and Waltham.

At Saturday's surprisingly well attended public meeting in St James Hotel in Grimsby, attendees expressed both dismay and fury at the prospect that all three might be diminished, to a greater or lesser extent, by North East Lincolnshire Council. 

Fears are that  the current administration might: 

* Relocate the books from  the current Grimsby building to a unit in Freshney Place shopping centre

* Relocate the books and services at the existing purpose-built premises on Alexandra Road, Cleethorpes to the leisure centre

* Downgrade Waltham from a service run by professionals to one run by volunteers.

More than 100 library lovers  attended the meeting which was held in a swelteringly hot room on the third floor of the hotel and expertly chaired by Angela Garner of Grimsby, Cleethorpes and District Civic Society.

Also on  the panel were Grimsby and Cleethorpes MP Melanie Onn, NELC's Labour Group leader Cllr Emma Clough and Independent councillor Steve Holland 

In the audience were at least three other Labour councillors. 

It is not thought that any Conservative or Liberal-Democrat councillor, nor any member of the administration were present - not even Cllr Hayden Dawkins who is cabinet portfolio holder with responsibility for libraries.

A recurring concern of the meeting was that NELC, whose financial woes have  been well documented, might seek to raise cash by selling off the Grimsby or Cleethorpes buildings, possibly for redevelopment as apartments.

Earlier this year, the 1960s-built Grimsby Library closed indefinitely for proposed removal of asbestos, and there is no indication that any specialist firm has yet been appointed to carry out the work - nor even that the contract has been put out to tender.

Both the MP and Cllr Holland were critical of what they perceive to be a  'lack of transparency' by the administration.

In particular, there is a question mark over who authorised that the £3.7-million Whitehall grant monies that had been earmarked for renovating and  upgrading  Grimsby Library should be diverted to the proposed Freshney Place cinema scheme.

Dismay was also voiced both at historic under-investment in the fabric of Grimsby Library and the prospect of precious meeting facilities being lost at all three libraries to the numerous community groups who use them.

But perhaps the main complaint of the meeting was about NELC's ongoing consultation exercise on the future of the three libraries.

Speaker after speaker protested that many of the questions have been skewed in such a ways as to elicit the responses sought by the NELC administration to fi its agenda.

"The consultation is about as balanced as an elephant on a see-saw," quipped one.

In the coming weeks, the future of NELC's library service is likely to come under the spotlight at scrutiny panel meetings.

There is also due to be a demonstration outside Grimsby Town Hall prior to the next full council meeting at 7pm on July 24.

A call for transparency - Cllr Steve Holland (right) addresses the meeting

                            

With a price tag of circa £125,000, is a buyer poised to swoop for Grimsby's long-empty Welholme Galleries?

 

Welholme Galleries - has a buyer at last been found?

 

IS a fresh chapter set to open for the Welholme Galleries building in  Grimsby'?

The Grade II Listed building's use as a museum and, before that, as a United Reformed Church have long since ceased, and it has stood empty for many years.

A few years ago, there were hopes that it might find a buyer, when, priced at £200,000, it was said to 'under offer' .

Since then the price has been reduced to £125,000, and according to commercial property agents PPH, it is again under offer.

The property is of traditional solid brick and stone construction beneath a series of pitched slate roofs with ornate windows and various period features, both internally and externally.

Might it once again become a church - or perhaps even a mosque? Could it be converted to offices or maybe to apartments? Or even a restaurant?

More details are available from the Grimsby office of  PPH.

* Elsewhere in the borough, the empty Methodist chapel on Humberston Avenue, Humberston is also reported to be under offer.  

The magnificent interior of a building that time seems to have forgotten