National Grid's controversial Lincolnshire pylons project to be debated this week in House of Commons

                                              

Saying it as he sees it - anti-pylons MP Matt Warman

CONTROVERSIAL plans to erect scores of pylons along a 87-mile route from Grimsby to North Norfolk will come under the spotlight in Parliament later this week.

The so-called Great Grid Upgrade is proposed to be the largest expansion  of Britain's  electricity grid since the 1950s.

It aims to improve and build more of the infrastructure needed to meet the UK’s expanding energy needs as well as increased output of energy from offshore windfarms.

During an afternoon debate in the Commons on  Thursday May 2, backbenchers will scrutinise the issues.

The debate has been secured by Boston and Skegness MP Matt Warman who says: "I am highly concerned that, at a time when pylons elsewhere in the country are being removed, residents in Lincolnshire are not being offered more than the one option  in National Grid’s narrow public consultation.

"It is clear that, not just my own constituents in Boston and Skegness, but also residents from neighbouring constituencies in Lincolnshire and the East of England, are opposed to strings of pylons polluting the rural and unspoilt parts of our county. 

"The future needs of the grid would be better served by a different approach.

"I have been making the case to ministers that, whilst National Grid is rightly burying cables underground in parts of the country such as Dorset, we shouldn’t be putting them up in Lincolnshire. 

"Ultimately, it is vital that other options are given greater consideration. Pylons should not seen as the default.

"I look forward to having the opportunity to raise this important matter in Parliament later this week."

Mr Warman has formally objected to the proposal, citing the potential threat it poses to food security by taking large amounts of agricultural land out of production, the potential negative impact it will have on Lincolnshire’s nature-based tourism and the visual impact it will have on Lincolnshire’s flat landscape.

Fellow Lincolnshire MPs Victoria Atkins and Sir John Hayes, as well as Lincolnshire County Council, and Police and Crime Commissioner, Marc Jones, have all also formally objected to the proposal.

Their schedules permitting, it is thought that Cleethorpes MP Martin Vickers and Grimsby MP Lia Nici might also seek to contribute to the debate.

                                     

The proposed route of the pylons

Grimsby MP upbeat on prospects of direct rail link from Cleethorpes to London - perhaps later this year

 

All aboard for London? Grimsby MP Lia Nici has struck an optimistic note

A DIRECT rail link between Cleethorpes and London could be on the cards by as soon as this winter.

Although not making this a pledge, Grimsby MP Lia Nici struck an optimistic note when she was a guest panellist on a Sky TV political show on Thursday of last week.

Ms Nici and her Cleethorpes constituency counterpart, Martin Vickers, have long been canvassing ministers on the issue.

The latter is well-positioned to comment because he is co-chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Rail.

Meanwhile, the duo have both spoken out against Labour’s plan, if elected, to renationalise the railways.

In the same TV broadcast, Ms Nici spoke glumly of her experiences of travelling by railway (British Rail) in the 1970s and 1980s when it was under state control.

She said Labour’s policy would cede greater control to the trades unions - with the prospect of more strikes - and necessitate huge marketing costs in rebranding and re-painting the trains.

"Re-nationalisation would be a complete waste of money," she insisted.

In a comment piece in The Daily Telegraph, co-written with Labour peer Lord Berkeley, the Cleethorpes MP acknowledged that "change is radically needed and the strikes need resolving".

The pair continue: "We lived through British Rail.

"A monolithic body controlling everything may be attractive to some, but the evidence suggests it would fail.

"Nationalising our railways and pitting them in a battle for scarce public resources against schools, hospitals and defence is folly."

By contrast, Labour believes re-nationalisation would improve service and bring cost-saving efficiencies.

Is this a first? North East Lincolnshire Council urges gardeners to be kind to bees (and to blades of grass)

Every petal counts - a bee gets stuck in to some much-needed nourishment

                                                                    

BE kind to the bees!

That is the end-of-the-month plea from North East Lincolnshire Council.

It has issued this unusual (but welcome) statement: "At the onset of the growing season, hungry and recently-emerged native bees face a critical period. 

"In urban and suburban areas, it may be challenging for them to locate 'floral resources' (ie flowers).

The authority is encouraging residents with garden lawns to follow the 'No Mow May' approach which is beneficial to pollinating insects such as bees, butterflies and more.

The statement continues: "If you’re a gardener with a lawn like Wembley then the thought of not mowing your lawn for a whole month may fill  you with horror.

"But spare a thought for the wildlife whose habitats are disturbed every time you run the lawn-mower around the garden.

"No Mow May was introduced to give nature the opportunity to take its course and for us to see just how much wildlife appears when it does.

Is NELC practising what it preaches?

It says: "We have specific areas across the borough where the grass is longer and wildflowers are growing."

Among these are said to be the following :

* A16 Peaks Parkway

* Cleethorpes Boating Lake railway banks

* Cleethorpes Boating Lake SSSI

* Scartho Road cemetery

* Hewitt’s Belvoir woodland copse

* Kings Road, opposite Meridian Showground

* Patrick Street walk-through to People’s Park

* Martin Wragg Way

* Weelsby Avenue

* Matthew Ford Way

* Louth Road verge

* A46 Laceby Road

* Ainslie Street Park

* Cleethorpes Country Park

* Cleethorpes Sand Dunes SSSI

* Haverstoe Park Wildlife Area

* Laceby Beck

* West Marsh Country Park

* Grant Thorold Park

* People’s Park north east entrance

NELC has also worked with a community group to help  them to sow wildflower seeds on the verge at Stallingborough roundabout.

The message ends: "Once the flowers are given a free reign, they create areas of truly outstanding natural beauty. Look out now for primroses, bluebells and cowslips!"

Memo to contractors (and council): instead of holding chat sessions, why not just get on with the job?

                                            

You can't beat a nice cuppa tea (or in this case mug of coffee)

AS motorists and others fret and fume over A180 traffic delays in Grimsby, someone has has come up with a wheeze.

Drop-in 'Cuppa with the Contractors' sessions are to be held to allow the infrastructure company, VSL, to chat to the public about the ongoing repairs to Gilbey Road bridge and Cleethorpe Road bridge.

The proposed  dates, times  and locations, all in Grimsby, are:

* 29 April: McDonald’s Quay, West Birchin Way:16:00 – 18:00

* 30 April: Tesco Extra, Market Street: 11:00 – 13:00

* 7 May:  Burger King, Lower Spring Street:16:00 – 18:00

* 14 May: Asda, Corporation Road: 10:00 – 12:00

* 20 May: KFC Birchin Way: 16:00 – 18:00

* 3 June: Grimsby Truck Stop, Estate Road 1: 17:00 – 18:00

Promoting the initiative is North East Lincolnshire Council which states: "There is no need to book on to any of the sessions, just put them in your diary and turn up."

The Grimsby News says: This 'cuppa with the contractors' initiative sends out completely the wrong message. If you call in the plumber or electrician, you might well offer a courtesy cuppa - but you wouldn't want to spend two hours chatting. Likewise with the road bridge repairs. Instead of drinking 'cuppas', why are the contractors not cracking on to get an important job finished? Almost every infrastructure project currently underway in the borough seems to be characterised by lack of urgency, an apparent absence of deadlines and uncertainty over budgets. And no one seems answerable? NELC needs to get a grip - and quickly.  Contractors may want to drink cuppas. The public wants to see action. After the work is done, then Polly can go put the kettle on.

Staff being kept up to speed as council prepares to take back control of Equans-outsourced services

 

After next summer, North East Lincolnshire Council will again call the shots (or most of them) 

CONFIRMATION has come that "the majority" of services currently provided by private sector company Equans will  return to North East Lincolnshire Council control after June next year.

These include both planning and marketing/communications.

However, from time to time, there will be opportunities for private enterprise to chip in with support. 

Says NELC: "Our aspiration is to continue to work with existing sub-contractors and the local supply chain to deliver high quality public services and support the local economy."

It continues: "Final service reviews are in progress and will conclude this summer. 

"The results of these reviews will be public knowledge as they will form the basis of recommendations to the council’s cabinet later this year."

The current NELC contract with Equans is due to end on  June 30, 2025, and, according to the authority, "cannot be extended".

Equans staff are being kept in the communications loop, with most expected to transfer relatively seamlessly to the employment of the council.

The council statement adds: "Staff and trades unions will be briefed on those exceptions which could see a service being outsourced and not transferring direct to the council."

 

Lia Nici (Conservative) v Melanie Onn (Labour): the General Election sequel coming soon

In the red corner - Labour challenger Melanie Onn

THE two women who contested the Great Grimsby constituency at the last General Election in December 2019 are renewing their acquaintance - and their political rivalry.

Lia Nici (Conservative) and Melanie Onn (Labour) will be seeing a lot more of one another in the coming months as they debate the great issues of the day in the run-up to the next General Election which is expected to be held in autumn or winter.

Yesterday evening,  the duo sparred in a live debate, before a guest audience, on Sky TV.

The exchanges were amicable and courteous, but they could become  more feisty in the weeks to come.

Ms Onn was the Great Grimsby MP until she lost the seat to Ms Nici in 2019.

Next time round,  following parliamentary boundary changes, the Grimsby constituency will also include Cleethorpes.

It could be a very close contest. 

In the blue corner - Conservative incumbent Lia Nici

For Wilko read Barnardo's - brisk opening day's trading for new charity shop on St Peter's Avenue

 

Trading was off to a brisk start at the Barnardo's shop which opened today in St Peter's Avenue, Cleethorpes. With a bright exterior and relatively spacious premises, the store has brought retail life back to the shop that formerly accommodated the homeware specialist Wilko before it fell into administration last year.  Proceeds will be for a good cause - children who have not been off to the best start in life.