Yearly Archive 9 August 2023

Following constructive discussions with the trade unions yesterday, North East Lincolnshire Council is working to resume collections of dry recycling as soon as possible.

Although there is no formal industrial action taking place, and the Council is not in an official dispute, operational and staffing issues remain in the waste service and waste collections are still experiencing delays across the borough. Recycling crews are still currently being re-deployed to make sure household and garden waste is being collected on time.

Further discussions are scheduled to take place with union colleagues imminently, and it is hoped that a long-term resolution can be found to the current issues. Until that time, the Council is looking at ways in which it can make sure that dry recycling collections can resume alongside household and garden waste collections, and will update as soon as plans are confirmed.

Following the meeting it has also been confirmed that internal processes to address performance issues involving some staff are being followed, and no further statement will be made on this.

As reported, the dry recycling collections were suspended on 31 July due to various staffing issues, which led to this week’s discussions between the Council and the trade unions.

Since then, domestic and garden waste collections have been taking place as normal and are up to date after crews were redeployed across the service.

Additionally, dry recycling from streets that were missed before the recycling rounds were suspended has now been collected, and deliveries of waste bins have been restarted.

The service will be monitored closely. Updates about the service for next week will be posted on the Council’s website, www.nelincs.gov.uk, on social media and also updated through the GovNotify service for those who have subscribed to Environmental updates.

Article from NELC.

The next phase of the works at Riverhead Square will involve replacing the old blocks under the canopy at the main entrance to Freshney Place and the section between Freshney Place and the corner of the Post Office whilst materials for the centre part of the scheme are on the way.

This work is due to start Thursday (10 August) with additional safety fencing put up around the working areas on the Riverhead site.

In order to access Freshney Place, pedestrians will be diverted around the site, with signed diversions changing over the coming weeks to facilitate the works in different areas.

A spokesperson for North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “We’re sorry for the inconvenience caused by the works, and we’re working with Freshney Place to limit the time working outside the main doors whilst providing a safe access for pedestrians and a safe working area for contractors.”

The whole Riverhead Square project will see the existing square completely re-remodelled.

The scheme will see the existing area changed to incorporate a lot more green-space and planting, as well as providing new seating, lighting, security and a flexible event space with improved infrastructure to support future events and activities. There will also be space for outdoor café seating at the entrance to Freshney Place.

The scheme has been funded as one of the projects included in the Town Deal, the money for which was secured in 2020 and is ringfenced for specific projects.

Article from NELC.

PLANS for two new primary schools in Waltham and Scartho have been delayed to give planning officials more time to consider feedback from residents and organisations.

The applications for two new schools, were expected to go to a meeting of the Council’s Planning Committee in September, with an expected opening date of next year.

Councillor Margaret Cracknell, portfolio holder for children and education at North East Lincolnshire Council, said that the delay wasn’t unusual:

“This does occasionally happen with planning applications of this scale and nature. As well as residents, we quite rightly have to seek professional advice from experts and organisations specialising in highway engineering, utilities, archaeology and more. Now that we’ve gathered much of that information, officers are seeking to bring the plans to a committee meeting in October.

“What this will mean for the project is that, provided that planning permission is granted, the start date for construction will be slightly later than previously planned, with opening dates set for September 2025.

“These schools are desperately needed for the area, so it’s important that officers take their time to work through all of the responses, consider submissions, and prepare papers in the proper manner.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who attended our engagement events and submitted feedback through the planning process.”

The two schools, which are proposed for construction on land off Matthew Telford Park in Scartho and on the land known as ‘Sunningdale’ in Waltham, will offer much-needed school places for children aged four to 11.

As previously reported, after a tender process the Lincolnshire Gateway Academies Trust has been selected to run the two new schools. Today the organisation’s Chief Executive Officer Martin Brown and its Chair of the Board of Trustees Philip Bond reaffirmed their commitment to the projects.

In a joint statement Mr Brown and Mr Bond said: “Of course, the Trust is keen to move forward as soon as possible with these two exciting projects – we are here to secure the very best futures for our young people and these new facilities will contribute significantly towards that vision. However, we completely understand the need to ensure all the necessary procedures are adhered to when it comes to consultation and planning – we remain committed to moving forward in the correct way and will work with our partners to do so.”

Article from NELC.

We won’t take any lessons from Labour on bin collections.  When the Conservatives took control of the Council in 2019, the waste and recycling collection service was inefficient andunreliable with abysmally low recycling rates.  We had to literally clear up Labour’s mess.

We reorganised the service and introduced proper recycling bins for paper, card, cans, bottles and plastics, with a wider range of plastics collected and more recycling capacity forhouseholds.  The new bins replaced Labour’s dreadful box system which allowed rubbish to blow all over our streets.  The new system is very popular and has resulted in a major increase in recycling rates.

The new arrangements have work very well with high levels of public satisfaction, minimal numbers of missed bins and very few delays, until the last couple of weeks.  I want to thank the workforce who have helped deliver the improvements and have, until now, worked reliably and efficiently.  People will remember how they kept the system running like clockwork during the Covid-19 pandemic when other councils’ waste collection services were badly disrupted.

However, over the past couple of weeks, many of the loading staff (those who put the bins on the back of the wagons) have unexpectedly changed their well-established working practices without notifying the council.  This has resulted in slower collection times and delays in the service.  There is an imminent meeting with the Trade Unions to discuss the current issues.

Whist I would emphasise that some loading staff are still working normally, we are considering our options in relation to those staff who are not working in the normal way.  As a matter of urgency, we are drawing up contingency plans in case there is no quick resolution.

Over the past four years, Councillor Stewart Swinburn, the cabinet member responsible for waste and recycling collections, has done a fantastic job overseeing our major service improvements, and continues to work tirelessly to resolve the current short-term difficulties.

As a Conservative administration, we have adopted a common-sense approach to running and improving local services, with a “what works best” approach.  However, our prime responsibility is to the people of North East Lincolnshire and ensuring that they have a reliable and efficient waste and recycling service.  If the current service continues to be disrupted, we won’t hesitate to look at alternatives ways of providing it.

Turning now to Labour’s five-point plan:

• There is already a weekly bin collection, whether it be domestic waste, garden waste or dry recycling.

• There has been no failure in the garden waste service.  This continues to be collected every two weeks.  Only dry recycling collections have been temporarily suspended.

• We continue to look at improvements in technology that could streamline the service and improve communication with households.

• The workforce is already back up to full strength.

• If genuinely missed bins are reported promptly, they are currently collected within 24 hours.

Just like pre-2019, it is clear that Labour has no real idea how to deliver our waste and recycling services.

Councillor Philip Jackson, Conservative Leader of North East Lincolnshire Council – 4.8.23

Image from NELC.

More public engagement is promised as the council begins the process of reviewing the Local Development Plan.

The pledge came at the most recent meeting of Full Council, in response to a public question submitted by John Grimmer, who said: “Save the Freshney Valley protesters have demonstrated at every Full Council meeting for more than two years now to show their strong opposition to the proposed housing development in Grimsby West. Residents from two wards who are against the development have used their votes at the last two council elections to overwhelmingly vote in, so far, three new independent councillors who vigorously oppose the unpopular planned development.

“The Save the Freshney Valley group has a membership of more than 2000 people and is still growing. We have clearly shown that the development is not wanted, and it obviously is not needed. The North East Lincolnshire five-year housing land supply assessment for 2023 currently has plans for more than 13 years’ supply of houses, instead of just the five years required.

“All these extra houses are not needed, and we will go on demonstrating against the over-development and needless destruction of our precious countryside that can never be replaced.

“Will this council please listen to the surveys, to the voters, to the local statistics and to our protest group when reviewing the Local Plan and remove the unnecessary Grimsby West development from the plan?”

Council leader Philip Jackson responded: “The council has commenced the Local Development Plan review process and Cabinet recently agreed the timetable. We are looking forward to more public engagement with this review process than when drawing up the current Local Plan pre-2018. We will, of course, listen and take account of people’s views but there is a full range of evidence to consider when reviewing the plan.

“We are currently able to demonstrate a 13-year supply of housing land only because, once the Local Plan is five years old, the annual housing target reverts to the Government’s baseline figure. This takes no account of any growth in the local economy or many other local factors. That’s why it’s premature to say that the Grimsby West site ‘obviously is not needed’, in Mr Grimmer’s words, and it would be wrong of me to pre-empt the outcome of the review process.”

Council leader Philip Jackson has ordered an external independent review to investigate the “unacceptable process” set in train regarding the recent controversial consultation over the future of two nurseries and a day care facility in North East Lincolnshire.

Cllr Jackson used the opportunity of delivering his Leader’s Speech at yesterday’s meeting of Full Council to “address head on” the topic.

He told the chamber: “It’s been four months since my last Leader’s statement and there has been a huge amount happening across North East Lincolnshire. Firstly, I want to address head on an issue which has understandably caused great controversy and concern over the past month. Two weeks ago, the Cabinet announced an immediate end to the consultation around the future of Great Coates and Scartho nurseries, and the Reynolds Day Care facilities. The settings will therefore remain open as normal, with parents encouraged to enrol for the new term in September.

“Instead, the council will now take time to work with staff, governors, and parents.  Together they will fully assess the situation, taking account of the hundreds of views already gathered. These include positive approaches from organisations already working in local childcare, as well as parents, governors, and residents.

“Over the past week, Cllr Cracknell, Cllr Shreeve and I, along with relevant officers, have held three meetings with representatives of the three settings and ward councillors, and have set in train a process to work towards ensuring these nurseries become sustainable from both an occupancy and financial viewpoint.

“Let me be clear, the way in which this process was set in train was totally unacceptable, with the Cabinet unaware that letters had been sent to parents and staff starting a consultation around potential closures of the three settings. Therefore, as leader of the council, I have instigated an independent external review as to how this situation arose, and to ensure lessons are learned.

“While on the theme of children, I want to turn to Children’s Services.  Following Ofsted’s last monitoring visit, we received positive feedback from inspectors in respect of the integrated front door and other related matters but there remains a long way to go. Our Improvement Plan has two clear areas of priority – to improve outcomes for children and to build a stable and resilient workforce in children’s social care. We continue to work effectively with both Lincolnshire County Council, as our sector led improvement partner, and our commissioner. 

“Managing demand, workforce and financial challenges in children’s social care are not unique to this authority; that was clear from the recent LGA conference in Bournemouth. Many other areas are experiencing similar challenges, regardless of their Ofsted rating.

“However, our financial challenges are particularly acute, and it is imperative that we do more to control and reduce expenditure in children’s services and that money spent delivers positive outcomes for our children and families.”

Turning to health and care integration, Cllr Jackson outlined the continuing work with the Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board to support the further development of ‘our place’ based integrated health and care arrangements in North East Lincolnshire. “Our recent Corporate Peer Challenge referred to our national best practice in this field and it is important that we build on that,” he said. “Our good performance, for example, in key areas such as hospital discharge is a result of our well-established integrated model – one team, one set of resources and some strong working relationships across a complex sector.

“Now to more positive developments around levelling up, business, industry, and regeneration. We are now fully engaged with the Government regarding a possible Greater Lincolnshire devolution deal. Officers and Government officials are working through issues such as governance as well as the scope and structure of a devolution deal – covering areas such as skills, innovation, infrastructure, transportation, and net zero. This work will continue over the summer and no major decisions will be taken without formal Cabinet consideration and Full Council involvement.

“However, it is essential that collaboration around the Humber continues where it is in our mutual interest. The Humber Freeport, officially up and running since earlier this month, is an example of private and public sector partners working successfully together around the Estuary. Freeports have been established at eight strategic locations within England, with the clear objective to be a catalyst for growth through delivering national hubs for global trade and investment, nurturing innovation, and driving regeneration and the creation of skilled jobs, enhanced infrastructure, and increased connectivity.

“Humber Freeport aims do all of these things and more. To steer Humber Freeport’s strategic direction, three clear workstreams have been established – decarbonisation, skills and innovation.

“The Humber is the pre-eminent cluster for energy in Northwest Europe and is uniquely positioned to create a roadmap for whole-region decarbonisation and drive the UK’s transition to a net zero economy. Our decarbonisation workstream will maximise opportunities across the UK’s Energy Estuary, supporting clean growth and attracting further investment in low carbon energy and technology.

“Without a skilled workforce equipped with the required expertise, the net zero transition will not succeed. Freeport status aims to generate more than 7000 mostly skilled jobs, not only in green energy, but in sectors ranging from logistics and chemicals to advanced manufacturing. The skills workstream will help ensure our region has the right people, with the right expertise, to drive economic growth.

“And finally, to innovation. Freeport status will create a hotbed for new, emerging technologies, driving transformational change and underpinning future success. The Freeport aims to attract hundreds of millions of pounds of inward investment in the Humber.  The three tax sites in Hull, Goole and Immingham and the customs zone in Grimsby will create a highly attractive environment for investment, trade and industry.

“In addition, North East Lincolnshire will receive millions of pounds of seed corn capital funding from the Government as part for the Freeport deal, that will be available for business investment. We will, of course, also benefit from additional business rate income.

“Still on the theme of business investment, three Grimsby firms recently benefitted from more than £5 million of UK Seafood Fund Infrastructure Scheme grant monies from DEFRA, a huge vote of confidence for our thriving seafood sector. Fastnet Fish was awarded £1.2 million to increase cold store capability in their existing facility by 150%, by installing racking units which will maximise product throughput, without incurring additional energy costs.  The project aims to substantially reduce electricity usage by installing renewable energy mechanisms to reduce carbon emissions and create environmentally sustainable energy solutions. New England Seafood International received £3.8 million to deliver a state-of-the-art processing facility in Grimsby. The project includes the purchase of processing equipment, the extension and refurbishment of their current building and installation of a refrigeration plant. The project will increase output by 162% over four years and create 263 jobs, whilst reducing road miles and energy consumption.  Seafish Processing Limited was awarded £315,000 to expand its processing facility.  The project will include the refurbishment of their current building to install a new cold store, blast chiller and fish-debone and separator station.  It will increase the processing and production capacity by 40%, increase export capability and reduce carbon emissions.”

Cllr Jackson continued: “It is almost a year since this Council took the brave decision to purchase Freshney Place, Lincolnshire’s largest covered shopping centre, to ensure that it remained a key part of the regeneration of Grimsby town centre. Earlier this month, the Freshney Place Cabinet Sub-Committee received a performance report from Queensberry Real Estate, which is currently managing Freshney Place on behalf of the council. This demonstrated increasing footfall, an increased centre occupancy rate, new lettings bettering the business plan, and the successful collection of pre-purchase arrears, effectively bonus money, together with the proposed NHS Community Diagnostic Centre in Baxtergate being a real positive that fully aligns to the aims of diversifying the town centre while at the same time making health services more available to our wider community.  There is also a potential exciting new letting; part of a national retail chain which will occupy the old WH Smith’s unit.

“In the autumn, work on the ground will start on the repurposing of the western end of Freshney Place to deliver the new multiscreen cinema, leisure facilities and market and food hall. Clearly there is still much to do in Freshney Place, but the first year has been very positive. It has not been the burden on the council tax payer that some predicted; in fact, quite the opposite!

“Just a stone’s throw away from Freshney Place, the planning application has been validated to redevelop the long-abandoned St James House into a vibrant business hub named The Hive. One of the six Towns Fund projects, this ambitious scheme will help breathe new life into the heart of Grimsby town centre, providing local and small businesses with state-of-the-art office accommodation and business event space and will significantly contribute to the town’s regeneration. The Hive will feature a range of modern amenities, including more than 20 flexible offices, a contemporary café, and a spacious events hall.  Additionally, the premises will be the new home for the 300-plusy members of the unique Business Hive Club.  It will boast a members’ lounge, and well-equipped meeting rooms, offering the perfect setting for businesses to network, collaborate, and grow. The redevelopment of St James House is expected to be completed by the end of 2024 but will be carried out in a phased approach, with floors being released for letting as soon as possible.

“Another Towns Fund project, the refurbishment of Riverhead Square to provide an improved public meeting and events space, is progressing apace. A third Towns Fund project is the redevelopment of brownfield land on Alexandra Dock. This was identified for green urban housing in Grimsby’s Town Centre Masterplan, which is supported by Homes England, and is cited as an ideal location given the water nearby and the other town centre improvements that are underway. Preliminary Market Consultation is currently underway to find a development partner to bring forward this regeneration project.

“Finally, for Grimsby town centre, work has now begun on Grimsby’s much-anticipated Horizon Youth Zone, as construction staff moved on to the Garth Lane site in June. The Horizon state-of-the-art youth centre is expected to open in early 2025 in the Grade II-listed West Haven Maltings buildings, which have been a derelict eyesore for many years. It will provide thousands of young people with opportunities to engage in activities, and access support from skilled youth workers. It will be a great facility for our young people and the town centre.

“So, many exciting projects progressing in Grimsby town centre but don’t worry, Cleethorpes has not been forgotten! Planning work continues for the delivery of the three Cleethorpes Masterplan projects for which £18.4 million of Levelling Up Funding was received earlier this year – Sea Road, Cleethorpes Market Place and Pier Gardens.

“Turning now to our LGA Corporate Peer Challenge, mentioned earlier, which took place in March.  To be clear, this was not an inspection but a way to gain an external perspective and advice from experienced local government peers on five key strands of our activities. The report was broadly positive and offered ten recommendations for areas of improvement, none of which came as a surprise. The report and its recommendations were very positively received by Cabinet, and an associated action plan agreed. Progress will be monitored.

“Earlier this month was the 500^th day of the appalling Ukraine war and I have promised to keep members updated on North East Lincolnshire’s involvement in the Ukrainian Refugee Scheme. Currently we have 77 guests with 32 sponsors; 19 guests have left area or country independently. Two guests have been rematched to another local authority and three rematched into our local authority. We are imminently expecting another two or three arrivals. There are now 13 households privately renting and we are awaiting another four or five moving into a new development.  Furniture is being provided by from local suppliers and stores.  Many thanks to all residents and business who have stepped up to the plate.”

The Leader of North East Lincolnshire Council and portfolio holder for transport have responded to the TransPennine Express consultation relating to changes to ticket offices and customer services at staffed stations.

Cllr Philip Jackson and Cllr Stewart Swinburn have sent a letter, on behalf of the council, against the proposals presented by TransPennine Express and have written to the Secretary of State for Transport and Transport Focus to outline their concerns.

The proposed changes from TransPennine Express includes closing both ticket offices at Grimsby Town and Cleethorpes railway stations and reducing the staffing hours at both stations.

Cllr Swinburn, portfolio holder for environment and transport, said: “Closing the ticket offices at both Grimsby Town and Cleethorpes train stations raises a number of concerns, in particular but not limited to, the impact on elderly and disabled passengers. Elderly and disabled passengers often prefer or require assistance from members of staff at the existing ticket offices to ensure they are purchasing the correct train ticket and to assist with journey planning. Closing these ticket offices will only worsen this issue. There are also a number of people in North East Lincolnshire who do not have access to the internet or mobile phones, and these people will often find it hard to use self-service ticket machines.”

Cllr Jackson added: “The council is making significant investments to regenerate Grimsby Town Centre and the resort of Cleethorpes to make North East Lincolnshire a better place to live, work and visit. We have an aspiration for both locations to be an all-year-round destination of choice for visitors. Therefore, the number of train passengers are expected to increase and we would expect rail users to have a high quality experience, which would assist with encouraging more people visiting the area.”

The council previously worked with TransPennine Express to refurbish and upgrade both ticket offices. If the ticket offices are closed, the anticipated benefits from this investment, such as providing a better passenger experience, will not be realised.  

Cleethorpes train station is proposed to reduce its staffed hours by 1.5 hours per day, with the staffing hours starting from 6am instead of 4.30am, Monday to Saturday. The proposals also intend to reduce staffing hours at Grimsby Town station by 49.75 hours over the course of the week. Its new hours will be Monday to Friday 8am to 3pm and Sunday 9am to 4pm.

In their letter, the Cabinet members state the reduction of staff in the early hours of the morning and late evenings presents a safety concern for passengers using the trains during these times, such as anti-social behaviour and in emergency situations. It also stops customers with accessibility issues getting the help they may need for their journey.

Article and image from NELC.

WORK has now begun on Grimsby’s much-anticipated Horizon Youth Zone, as construction staff moved onto the Garth Lane site in June.

And, whilst the build work has taken a while to come to fruition, many of the project’s volunteers and staff agree that Horizon has been making a big impression on local young people for many months.

Once a week since 2019, Covid aside, a group of young people have met to discuss their aspirations for Horizon Youth Zone, from the name of the Grimsby project to the logo, and to share their needs and wants for the completed youth centre.  Coming from all walks of life, and all areas of North East Lincolnshire, the young people have discussed their passions and aired their views about what they feel is missing from the local area.

More recently, they have gathered to play outdoor games in People’s Park, followed by a catch up at Grimsby’s University Centre where they discuss the latest developments with the project, and share news of their lives.  The group was also asked to help interview potential candidates for the position of the new Horizon CEO, ensuring that their views were taken into consideration when deciding on the perfect person to drive such an inspirational local charity.

From Cleethorpes, 19-year-old Ibraham, known to his friends as ‘Ibo’, (pictured above with fellow group member Xander, Onside Openings Manager Steve Anderton and volunteer Kevin Childs) has future hopes of becoming a train driver but was excited to have recently been offered employment in a local factory.  He has been attending the group for the last year, initially being drawn to the project to help make a difference.

He said: “It is exciting to be a part of something this special, and I hope that we can all make big changes as the Youth Zone becomes a reality.

“The project will be for 8-19-year-olds (up to 25 for those with additional needs), so I am at the older end of the scale and will be too old for it when it is finished, but I have enjoyed being a part of the legacy I hope it will leave in the area.”

Thirteen-year-old Jacob joined Horizon when he was struggling with bullying at his school.  He explained: “The group has given me a new confidence and now I feel more able to confront negative situations with a positive attitude.  It has allowed me to be much happier at school.

“It has been nice to make new friends at Horizon, and I have enjoyed helping people out.”

Xander, currently the youngest of the group, only recently turning 13-years-old, explained: “It has been nice to play a part in the creation of Horizon, but for me it has also given me a safe space and something to do away from home.”

All three young people, Ibo, Jacob, and Xander, are soon to be heading off for an exciting, week-long exchange trip to New Bedford, Massachusetts, in the USA, where they will meet other teenagers to learn about the American culture and its values.  Ibo is excited to find out about the massive pizzas he has heard so much of, while Xander is keen to find out what young people do across ‘The Pond’.  Jacob is looking forward to finding out about colleges in the States.

He said: “I am hoping to look at what education is available there, especially when it comes to courses about crime and behind the scenes organisations.  When they come here, we can take them to the docks and talk about the history of the area, which has been a very important part of Grimsby life.”

When their American counterparts head over to North East Lincolnshire they will learn all about life here and visit some of our more famous places and landmarks.  It will be interesting to find out how our Horizon travellers got on in the States, and how their American guests view our small corner of the planet.

Volunteer Kevin Childs, who has been volunteering since the start, in October 2019, commented: “We are on about the third cohort of young people as many of those that took part in the initial Horizon discussions reached the age of 19 and moved on.  As they left, new ones came in at the other end and gave us fresh perspectives.

“We had about 50 young people in a room above Grimsby town’s McDonald’s, at one point, and probably about 12 regulars.  They came from Duke of Edinburgh Scheme, Centre 4, West Marsh, all over the place.  It was great to get their ideas so that we could make sure that what we are building is created by them, for them to use.

“Even at this relatively early stage, and in our current meeting place at the University Centre, we are pulling together young people from across the area and offering them the opportunity for growth, to be themselves, and to try something new.  These are exciting times.”

The Horizon state-of-the-art youth centre is expected to open in early 2025 in the Grade II Listed West Haven Maltings buildings along the River Freshney. It will provide thousands of young people with opportunities to engage in activities, and access support from skilled youth workers.  Members will have access to an indoor climbing wall, a four-court sports hall, training kitchen, music room with a recording studio, fully equipped gym, dance, and drama studio, 3G kick pitch, arts and crafts room, and an enterprise and employability suite.  The centre will cost just 50p per child, per session.

Horizon Youth Zone is being delivered by national charity OnSide, in partnership with North East Lincolnshire Council which is contributing towards the Youth Zone as part of the Greater Grimsby Town Deal. Other key supporters include Historic England, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Ørsted, St. James’s Place Charitable Foundation, The Youth Investment Fund and private donors.

North East Lincolnshire Council’s Portfolio Holder for Children and Education, Cllr Margaret Cracknell, is delighted by the positive difference Horizon is having on our young people – even before its doors open.

“Given support, encouragement and a chance to grow our young people will shine and provide us with real hope for our future here in North East Lincolnshire. It’s clear already that the Horizon project is doing just that. I want to take this opportunity too, to thank all the local groups and organisations that are already doing such good work, which will be complemented by this new centre,” she said.

For more on Horizon go to Home Page – Horizon Youth Zone- external site

Article and images from NELC.

LESS than two years after the launch of the Activation Community Engagement (ACE) Fund, proposals from Grimsby businesses and organisations continue to embrace a local vision for regeneration.

The fund, accessible from November 2021 to March 2026, offers small and medium-sized businesses, including social, charitable, or community-based groups, the opportunity to apply for grants to support the establishment of alternative activities in the town centre area.

The ACE Fund was developed through consultation with local people and organisations and was allocated £850k from the £20.9m Greater Grimsby Towns Fund, a pioneering initiative signed in 2018.  The core aim of ACE is to support the invigoration of waterfront and town areas, providing a broad range of pastimes and activities to be enjoyed by all.

Central Grimsby-based businesses and groups making bids must have a projects delivering outcomes falling into one of six priority areas, including more diverse uses of the town centre, reconnecting to the waterfront areas, development opportunities, health and wellbeing activities, and employment opportunities.

Projects at Curious Cat, in Bethlehem Street, and Racks Sports Bar and Grill, in Osborne Street, both in the heart of the town, are just two projects successfully receiving ACE funding to put their plans into place to deliver business growth.

The Curious Cat’s owner Lewis Parry, who applied for a grant to purchase of two shuffle boards at the venue, said:

“We wanted to bring something new to Grimsby – shuffle boards are becoming increasingly popular in hotels and bars operated by major chains, and we wanted to be the first in Grimsby. The grant from the Activation Fund helped us to do this.”

Racks Sports Bar and Grill has been converted into an entirely new leisure venue, offering visitors access to a pool hall and bar, sports bar and grill, and a retail unit for cue sports and accessories. £25,000 from the ACE fund has helped support this investment by the private business.

Business owner Jane Milson commented: “We’ve taken a vacant building in the town and through the work we’ve done, converted it into an attractive property, with a healthy footfall.  We wanted to provide a sociable activity for our local community in a safe environment.”

The ACE Fund supports the wider Grimsby town centre regeneration project, seeing the substantial refurbishment of key areas, including St James’ Square, Riverhead Square, and Garth Lane.

Cllr Philip Jackson, council leader and portfolio holder for economy, net zero, skills, and housing, said: “The ACE Fund is a fantastic opportunity for local businesses to think of creative ways they can diversify, generating traffic into town.

“Making the centre more vibrant, appealing and interesting will attract more footfall and provide a springboard for private investment and growth.”

For full details or to apply for the fund, visit: www.nelincs.gov.uk/business-and-investment/town-deal.

Article from NELC.

The initial stages of seeking a development partner to bring forward the regeneration of Alexandra Docks are now under way.

As previously reported, the site, behind the newly renovated Garth Lane waterfront area, has been earmarked by the Council for urban housing.

This area was identified for homes in Grimsby’s Town Centre Masterplan, which is supported by Homes England, and is cited as an ideal location given the water nearby and the improvements that have already taken place.

Preliminary Market Consultation (PMC) is currently underway through YORtender to allow potential developers to get in touch and explore what the Council wants and offer ideas on what could be delivered on this site and other potential sites around the town.

To find out more and access the PMC documentation and questionnaire, please visit – https://yortender.eu-supply.com/ctm/Supplier/PublicPurchase/70580/0/0?returnUrl=ctm/Supplier/publictenders&b=YORTENDER- external site 

As part of this exercise, the Council will be holding a “Meet the Buyer” online event on 25^th July at 2pm to discuss the project with potential developers. As this will be a live session, there will also be time for questions. Potential developers can request to attend this through YORtender.

Cllr Philip Jackson, leader of the council with responsibilities for the economy, net zero, skills and housing, said: “The main objective of this work is to create a place that connects the town and its community with its waterside, creating a fantastic urban living environment that’s kind to the planet.

“There’s a long way to go yet, and developments of this scale don’t happen overnight. But we are working to improve the town centre as a whole and this is part of that vision. Step-by-step we want to change how our town centre is used and enjoyed as a whole.”

Article from NELC.