Yearly Archive 15 July 2020

GRIMSBY Town Centre is being offered another multi-million-pound opportunity to re-invent itself – but to have a chance of success it needs you!

Central Government monies totalling £25m have been ‘ring-fenced’ for projects in Grimsby’s central area as the next stage of the ‘Town Deal’ gathers pace. As reported, Grimsby is one of 101 urban areas across the country to be part of an expanded national Towns Fund programme.

North East Lincolnshire Council is creating a ‘Great Grimsby Masterplan and Investment Plan’ for the area, which will outline regeneration projects that need these funds and which residents and businesses want to see developed over the next five years.  It is separate to the bid that will be submitted later this month for £25m from the Future High Streets Fund, (FHSF), details of which were released a few weeks ago.

To succeed, the Masterplan and Investment Plan needs buy-in, input and support from people who live, work and spend their spare time locally. Their views will help to shape it into a vision for town centre transformation.

Announcing the new fund, the Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government Simon Clarke MP, made it clear that communities, businesses and local leaders needed to work together to draw up such plans. He said they should aim to ‘transform economic growth prospects with a focus on improved transport, broadband connectivity, skills and culture’.

From Wednesday, July 15 until July 22, people are asked to go online at https://virtualengage.arup.com/grimsby-town-centre/ where they will find a virtual presentation, explaining everything they need to know about the Masterplan’s creation and how they can help, with the survey to complete. All respondents will be put into a draw with four £25 Top Town Market shopping vouchers to be won.

Key organisations around the town will also be contacted and posters will be appearing in community centres and public spaces to promote the consultation, with email and contact details for those who don’t have online access but want to be involved.

“There is now a real momentum around peoples’ desire for change and a determination to see the successful completion of our on-going projects whilst we seek to win new money for the transformation of our town centre areas,”  said North East Lincolnshire Council leader Cllr Philip Jackson.

“What we now need is the people of this town to unite with us – get involved, tell us what you think and share your ideas with us,” he added.

The Masterplan focuses on the entire town centre, from Alexandra Dock in the north, to Wellowgate in the south, and from Cartergate in the west to King Edward Street in the east. There are three key areas within this large central stretch that are identified, which are the Riverhead including Garth Lane, St James’ and Alexandra dockside.

With several successful grants already won in recent years, work is already underway in areas such as St James’ Square and Garth Lane and further development of these areas will be included. The future restoration of Corporation Road Bridge and the joint council and Freshney Place bid to the Future High Streets Fund, although separate, will also be incorporated.

Ideas the consultation is seeking views on include:

• Exploring a range of different uses for the town centre such as more cafes, restaurants, leisure attractions, business space and new homes. Attracting people of all ages to visit the town centre during the day and evening;
• Aspirations for new homes to be built to create town centre living;
• Better use of the waterfront for recreation and leisure;
• A new Riverhead Square creating more green open space where everyone can enjoy the surroundings and feel safe;
• Better facilities for people who use the buses and for those who walk and cycle;
• A new use for St James’ House.

For more information please email consultation@nelincs.gov.uk or phone 01472 324602. The consultation is also available in hard copy format – please contact us if you would like a copy sending to you.

Article and image from NELC.

Major works to improve safety and traffic flow at Toll Bar roundabout are due to start on schedule this month.

Contractors will move on site from Monday 20 July, with the project starting on the highway a week later.

The roundabout is being retained with improvements and widening to entry and exit roads, helping traffic flow through the junction more efficiently.

Cabinet member for transport and the environment, Cllr Stewart Swinburn, announced CR Reynolds – who recently completed the extensive works on the A18 Barton Street ahead of schedule – had been appointed main contractor.

“A huge amount of planning has gone into ensuring the scheme runs as smoothly as possible,” Cllr Swinburn said. “We are really sensitive to the inevitable disruption and inconvenience but officers from the council and ENGIE are working with the contractors to ensure this is kept to a minimum.”

To that end, he said, the schedule of works will keep the roundabout largely open throughout the project, without the need for four-way traffic signals. The four ‘splitter’ islands on the entry points to the roundabout will be removed in the project’s first week to enable this to happen.

Opinions have already been sought from several Parish Councils and residents in the immediate vicinity of the works on a preferred way of undertaking this initial, intensive piece of work. A major letter drop to the surrounding area has also taken place to advise residents and businesses of the works.

As a result of the engagement, during the first four days of the project (from 27 July), Station Road, east and west of the roundabout, will be closed in the daytime between 7.30am – 7pm. The A16 north and south will be subject of a two-way traffic signal over these four days.

Cllr Swinburn said: “This option will allow contractors to make quicker progress than would have been possible by night-time closures or four-way traffic lights. With the splitter islands removed, the contractors will have more space at the edges of the carriageway to undertake the remainder of the project, while leaving enough room to keep all entries and exits to the roundabout open without the need for traffic signals or diversionary routes.

“In every decision taken, the safety of roads users and contractors has been a priority. We hope residents can see we have taken into consideration a lot of factors and worked with key stakeholders, including Tollbar Academy. We thank everybody for their valued contributions.”

CR Reynolds has appointed a public liaison officer, Chris Butts, for the duration of the project for any concerns relating to its operations. The scheme is scheduled to be completed within six months with the hope it can be completed sooner. Chris will be available during normal office working hours, Monday – Friday on 07779 431 127, from Monday 20 July 2020.

Specific issues regarding the project can be raised by contacting the delivery team by email at Tollbarjunction@nelincs.gov.uk or write to Toll Bar Junction Improvements Engagement Team, New Oxford House, George Street, Grimsby, DN31 1HB.

Article and images from NELC.

Grimsby’s famous Fisherman’s Memorial Statue was carefully lifted from its St James’ Square home today and taken away for base renovation.

Works on the A18 will soon be restarting to install a right turn lane to Utterby on Barton Street as part of the phase three improvements in Lincolnshire County Council’s boundary.

Councillors have approved plans to invest in £1m worth of upgrades to the local CCTV network.

Thousands of homes in North East Lincolnshire are receiving new wheelie bins as part of a massive recycling transformation.

North East Lincolnshire Council and its regeneration partner, ENGIE, are planning to carry out a number of road repairs, supported by £285,000 of Department for Transport funding.

The programme of carriageway repairs will be carried out during July at the following locations:

• Ripon Street (junction with Lord Street), Grimsby – Starting on Monday 13 July for two days, temporary day time road closure between 7:30am and 6pm
• Henry Street (junction with Lord Street), Grimsby – Starting on Monday 13 July for two days, temporary day time road closure between 7:30am and 6pm
• Keelby Road, between the A1173 Stallingborough Road and the borough boundary – Starting on Monday 13 July for five days, temporary day time road closure between 7:30am and 6pm
• Earl Street (junction with Lord Street), Grimsby – Starting on Friday 17 July for one day, temporary day time road closure between 7:30am and 6pm
• Taylor’s Avenue, between Middlethorpe Road and Belvoir Road, Cleethorpes – Starting on Tuesday 28 July for five nights, temporary night-time road closure between 7pm and 6am
• Cartergate, between Lord Street and Crescent Street, Grimsby – Starting on Tuesday 4 August for two nights, temporary night-time road closure between 7pm and 6am

The following works will also take place on Weelsby Road and Freeman Street, Grimsby.

Weelsby Road, Grimsby

Works to carry out carriageway repairs and replace damaged drains and gullies will start on Weelsby Road, between Legsby Avenue and Park Drive, on Monday 6 July. Works will be completed in two phases:

• Temporary traffic signals in place between 7:30am and 6pm from Monday 6 July for seven days
• Night-time road closure between 7pm and 6am from Thursday 16 July for three nights

Freeman Street, Grimsby

Works to carry out the carriageway repairs and replacement of damaged kerbs will start on Freeman Street, between Strand Street and Nelson Street, on Monday 13 July. Works will be completed in two phases:

• Temporary traffic signals in place between 7:30am and 6pm from Monday 13 July for three weeks
• Night-time road closure between 7pm and 6am from Monday 3 August for five nights.

During the night-time road closure, the following one-way streets will be temporarily signed as two way to maintain access to:

• Kent Street between Railway Street and Freeman Street
• Church Street between Railway Street and Freeman Street
• Albert Street West between Railway Street and Freeman Street

Advanced warning signs and signed diversion routes will be in operation at each location during the road closures while the works are carried out. Access for emergency vehicles and bus services will be maintained.

North East Lincolnshire Council’s regeneration partner, ENGIE, will manage and oversee the works with contractor, EC Surfacing Ltd, carrying out the works.

Visit www.nelincs.gov.uk/roadworks for the latest live travel information in the borough, including congestion and roadworks.

Article from NELC.

The Grimsby, Cleethorpes and District Samaritans have received a £10,000 donation from North East Lincolnshire Council.

A letter from Councillors Stewart Swinburn, Ron Shepherd and Callum Procter about littering on Cleethorpes beach:

How are things written around Grimsby, what style of lettering catches your eye and are there logos or signs on buildings that mean something to you?