Plans for new museum in North East Lincolnshire

A new museum could be on the horizon for North East Lincolnshire Council.

Authority leader Councillor Phillip Jackson has confirmed his administration has asked officers to examine various options for a new facility – however details are scant at the moment.

The party’s manifesto, he said, included protecting and promoting the area’s heritage.

“We were very concerned North East Lincolnshire has a lot of historic artefacts which are currently stored under lock and key in warehouses in industrial estates in Grimsby and aren’t available to view by the general public.

“We think it’s important we are in a position where we can get some sort of improved museum offering available so people are able to see these artefacts.”

He is particularly keen to shed light on the Doughty Collection of ship models and pictures.

“[They] were bequeathed to the borough of Grimsby on the understanding they would be available for people to see and at the moment they aren’t,” he said.

North East Lincolnshire Council leader, Philip Jackson. Picture: Calvin Robinson.

It is hoped the costs could be incorporated into part of the Grimsby Town Deal, a 10-year £60 million pot which aims to get partners working together to regenerate the area including tidying-up and making the most of the borough’s water fronts and making it a better place to live, study and work.

The authority has also just received £3.2 million of cultural development fund moneys from the Government which could help.

North East Lincolnshire has had several big announcements over recent weeks as regeneration projects appear to be kicking off including investment in the Innovation Centre, Cleethorpes Central, Freeman Street and the first phase of the South Humber Industrial Investment Programme (SHIIP).

Councillor Jackson acknowledged that the previous administration had put down the foundations for projects such as the Town Deal.

He said: “Over the last 20-25 years we’ve had a lot of strategies and regeneration plans published for North East Lincolnshire, many of which have not come to very much so it is important that we start to get some delivery on the ground.

“We are starting to see some of that now and our administration wants to accelerate that and keep our foot on the pedal

“It’s only by regenerating the area we’re going to bring in the new jobs and wealth creation, new businesses and business rates and council tax from the new houses which are being built to maintain the financial viability of the local authority.”

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