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A bright new future

Millions of pounds are being spent on improvement projects in Grimsby and Cleethorpes

Words: Judy Theobald Photographs: John Smith and John Whitaker

Recent news reports would suggest that Grimsby and its near neighbour Cleethorpes are towns in decline with a vanishing fishing industry, job losses and environmental problems. Yet nothing could be further from the truth. Though Grimsby women no longer wave off their men to risk their lives at sea, the town is still a hub for the fishing industry with fish coming in not by water but by road and air. If you go to the docks early in the morning, while there are no longer any trawlers tying up by the quay, the busy fish auction still takes place with catches from Scotland and even as far afield as Australia coming up for sale.

And while there have been some recent job losses in food processing, the town is now a major player in the chemical industry thanks to the proximity of the massive port at Immingham.

Meanwhile, Cleethorpes is experiencing a property boom with luxury apartment blocks along the seafront attracting incomers from all over the country. The effect of this new money can be seen in the shops and restaurants and the town has even submitted an application for a casino.

Grimsby is currently benefiting from the Urban Renaissance Programe which is starting with the pedestrianisation of Victoria Street. In order to reduce disruption to Christmas shoppers, work on this project is due to begin early in the new year. Other planned work includes development of the Cartergate Gateway into the town centre. This lies close to Grimsby parish church, St James’s which is having a small extension built to increase community involvement with the church.

“It will put the church back into the heart of the community,” said Lisa King, Urban Renaissance co-ordinator with North East Lincolnshire Council. “Grimsby has had an allocation of £10million as part of the Yorkshire Forward Programme,” she explained.

“We are also looking at developing the waterfront. We are incredibly lucky to have waterfronts which go straight into the town centre but these have not always been best used. We are looking at working with private developers to revitalise that area.”

Lisa said that while job losses in the town were very sad, the chemical industry was currently going through a revival. “It is absolutely massive throughout the Humber Estuary largely due to the expansion of Immingham Port which is where all the raw materials are brought in,” she explained.

One of the chemicals produced is titanium dioxide, a pigment used extensively to give whiteness to everything from toothpaste to paint. Other companies are producing chemicals used in the pharmaceutical industry while British Oxygen bottles various gases.

To ensure there is a fully trained workforce for this industry, the council has opened the Catch Centre – Centre for the Assessment of Technical Competence Humber.

“It is too dangerous to train people in a ‘live’ environment so we have developed this facility which enables people to train away from the hazardous workplace,” said Lisa. There are 10,000 people working in the chemical industry in the area and it is hoped that a large proportion of them will come through the centre.

So the face of Grimsby is gradually changing, as is Cleethorpes, just down the road. This Victorian seaside town is currently benefiting from a £6million Meridian Area project to create an arena which will extend the Discovery Centre. The centre was developed in the mid-1990s and has a huge range of activities for people of all ages. There is an interactive exhibition, an observatory looking out over the Humber Estuary and there are guided walks around the nature reserve. The extension will enable the centre to be used by a wider community and it is due to be completed next year.

Cleethorpes has recently experienced a property boom with high-quality residential apartments being built along the sea front and at the highest point of the resort on the corner of Sea View Street and Alexandra Road.

Lisa said: “A lot of people are moving into the area. Some are coming to live here in retirement and some are buying property as second homes or to let out in the summer. It is prompted very much by a desire to be near the water and there’s so much to see here.

“The development of the port at Immingham and the docks at Hull mean there is are a tremendous number of ships going up and down the estuary which a lot of people love to watch. You often see them looking through giant telescopes as you pass by.”

The council is also developing the central promenade area and is currently putting together a development brief. The aim is to improve the area to reflect the quality of Cleethorpes as a resort. Transpennine Express is also investing in Grimsby and Cleethorpes railway stations and will be introducing larger trains to accommodate visitors. There are to be new walkways and cycleways around Cleethorpes lakeside area and improvements to the design and frequency of buses.

The town is also waiting to hear from the Casino Advisory Panel if its bid to have a small casino has been granted. If it is successful it will create more than 230 local jobs and add £7million to the local economy.

But despite all this development, Lisa said they had to ensure they maintained the balance between Cleethorpes being a town by the sea and a seaside resort.

“It is important we put in the right kind of attractions which will extend the tourist season but still ensure we maintain quality of life for the residents,” she explained.

In the meantime, if you are visiting Grimsby and Cleethorpes over the coming months, there are plenty of events taking place. Both towns will be holding Christmas markets and Cleethorpes Light Railway will be running Santa Specials. For more information about these events contact 01472 313131.