Emily Wales, Conservation Officer for NELC was invited to GCDCSs Executive Committee meeting in April to give an update on conservation issues in our area. There is currently £61 million backlog of work within the NELC area £2.3 thousand of which is currently being applied to renovating Scartho Cemetery buildings and gates; safeguarding Holme Hill school buildings; Corporation Bridge piers and tarmac; preserving Barcroft Street school slate sharpening stone; remedial works to The Cenotaph on Bargate; and a new kitchen for East March Community Centre. Other points of discussion are outlined below.
The prospect for Victoria Mills is as a public space for communal use; committee members were in agreement that it could become a real asset to the town. As is known, NELC has already spent funds on its preservation but its future use will depend on expressions of interest being put forward by the public with final decision made by a committee made up of representatives from such as NELC and RIBA. It is highly likely that designs will include windows and project will be at least 2 years in the making and cost £10,000s more. The committee has asked for a possible organised visit.
Plans for Eleanor Street buildings are looking really positive; the towns people in particular look forward to the Art School being renovated and the old nursing home ‘ a significant building’ having been designed by Herbert Scaping as a private house is, particularly looked forward to being habitable again by Emily. She does not support the idea that frontages will be saved with new construction being built at the rear.
The Listing of The Kasbah on Grimsby Docks is welcomed as a focus for the on-going regeneration of the docks area; the hope is that it will become an area of light industry - bars and cafes are NOT viewed as being suitable as in other docklands – with individual businesses taking on buildings in partnership with ABP. Committee members were assured that this part of the docks are not closed to the public in fact businesses which are in the area currently would welcome everyone’s custom! The possibility of arranging a visit to this area and or a meeting with an ABP representative was discussed. The Dock Tower is now well on the way to being a safe structure with cement having been removed and replaced with lime mortar; the aim is to hopefully enable people to go up it once again as used to happen.
Cleethorpes regeneration funding for Alexandrea Road and Seaview Street shops has attracted £1.2 million of funding which it is estimated will improve 22 properties over 4 years. It is up to individual owners to complete grant applications by supplying 4 quotes for work to be done. The council itself cannot enforce improvements, merely suggest and persuade.
The discussion was informative and very positive and Emily was thanked for her update.