Draft designs that will change the appearance of Cleethorpes Market Place and Pier Gardens with the help of an £18.4m government grant have been agreed, and detailed designing can now begin. The centre of the Market Place is to be pedestrianised for parts of the day, allowing for cafes and public events. This will swallow up most of the parking spaces, though lay-bys and drop off zones will still feature in the plans within Market Place to make sure businesses have access for deliveries. Additionally, changes are being progressed to convert High Street Car Park into a short stay only car park. The unused land behind the Old Vic pub, is also proposed to be converted into a public car park of around 40 spaces. Council leader Cllr Philip Jackson said: “We are having discussions with businesses. We know that there are concerns, but we’ve also seen in other areas across the country what these sort of projects do to help local economies, and what the possibilities are. The Pier Garden design harks back to the historic use of space, where people went to spend time. The new vision brings people of all ages and abilities together, and creates a more family orientated area, alongside areas for quiet reflection and education, whilst also increasing biodiversity in the resort. The design proposes a “zoning” system to provide this mix of uses, which will provide a mixture of uses across the park with a consistent theme throughout.

• – arrival space at Sea Road/Alexandra Road junction, creating a welcoming space to the gardens;
• – events zone to support a mixture of activities/events that could take place;
• – play/recreation zone which would consist of a larger central space and provide a mixture of activities for young and older children alike;
• – reflection zone at the Sea View Street end of the gardens supporting the existing armed forces memorials that are situated there.

The projects will now progress to the detailed design stage (RIBA4) to finalise things like materials to be used, and specifications of equipment, so that the projects can be costed up in full and the work tendered out for construction. Other special surveys and assessments, like updated environmental impact assessments, will also be completed during this time. Cllr Jackson continued: “Along with the third project, the Sea Road building, the work in the resort is going to be intense. We know there will be disruption across the resort, and we’re working in the background to find ways of weaving elements of these projects together where we can to minimise the disruption overall. “However, these are great projects, and ones that will make a huge change to Cleethorpes overall, and the ways that people use the spaces.”

West Lindsey District Council believes planners have failed to give sufficient consideration to its objections to the Gate Burton Energy Park just south of Gainsborough. The development near the communities of Gate Burton, Knaith Park and Willingham-By-Stow covers about 834 hectares comprising of ground mounted solar panels, battery energy storage, substation and associated infrastructure works. Specific concerns were raised in relation to the loss of agricultural land and impact on national food security, landscape and visual impact, impact on the local communities and concerns regarding highways implications. Cllr Emma Bailey, Vice Chair of the council’s Prosperous Communities Committee, said: “The news that the Gate Burton Energy Park has been approved is deeply disappointing. It is clear from the decision report that the impact of this development on our local communities, together with the loss of prime agricultural land has been put to one side and not given due regard.” Four further solar development proposals for land across West Lindsey are at varying stage of the nationally significant infrastructure project (NSIP) consenting process. Cllr Bailey added: “With more proposals in the pipeline the council will be lobbying for the thorough and transparent consideration of the cumulative impacts of the developments, which across our district are significant and disproportionate. The Council do not accept that the benefit of solar development outweighs what are considerable social, economic and environmental impacts for cumulative developments at this scale. “As a host authority in the consenting process, West Lindsey District Council provided formal relevant representations and a local impact report, highlighting the impact of the development on our communities.”

The South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership has appointed Pranali Parikh as its Director of Economic Development.

Following a successful launch last month, Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance (LNAA) continues to take you behind the scenes of its life-saving work as host Melvyn Prior discovers how the iconic yellow helicopter was unable to fly just months after the life-saving service began. Tune in to the conversation with Thirza Dixon, LNAA’s first fundraiser, and the charity’s existing CEO, Karen Jobling, who chat about how far the life-saving charity has come in 30 years. Thirza avidly explains about the early days when if there were insufficient funds the helicopter stood silent. She said: “It was awful, it was horrible, because people had seen the benefit, and then you take it away from them.” Hear about the team’s unwavering belief that they would not fail, and that Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance would succeed. Thirty years later, the charity continues to go from strength to strength, with its team of doctors, paramedics and pilots responding to almost 30,000 missions since their first callout on 13 May 1994. Karen also pays tribute to all the supporters and volunteers that have worked tirelessly each year to raise the funds needed to keep the air ambulance in the skies and fleet of critical care cars on the roads delivering emergency care to communities in Lincs & Notts 24/7, seven-days-a-week. She said: “We’ve got everything to thank to the people who have come before us, for everyone who has worked hard to sell the dream.” By Your Side podcast is available on: https://www.ambucopter.org.uk/podcast