A petition opposing the £3.5 million extension to the Grant Street car park in Cleethorpes has been launched.
A local councillor who has added her name to it says that the plans are a “big gamble”, and a park and ride would be better for Cleethorpes.
The single-storey extension to the existing car park is set to increase the number of spaces from 65 to 339, with larger parking bays and electric vehicle charging points.
However, it has been revealed that the existing car park currently generates just £23,000 a year, with revenue used to pay back the £3.5 million loan.
The council hopes it would alleviate parking problems in the resort and reduce congestion, and that revenue will significantly increase after the upgrade.
Sidney Sussex Councillor Marie Green said: “The car park is empty most of the time. It is only really used on bank holidays.
“People on Grant Street aren’t happy about this. They don’t want to see another level added to it.
“And where is all this extra revenue going to come from? Even if the car park is promoted, the figures just don’t add up.
“It seems like a big gamble, and I don’t want our council to go into huge debt over this. It’s an awful lot of money to be spending on a car park.
“Nobody wants to pay to park. People will walk miles if they can save a few pounds, and they are more likely to park somewhere free like on a residential street.”
The scheme was approved in December, with work expected to take place out of season.
Councillor Green said that a park and ride system would be more effective and environmentally friendly.
“The traffic needs to be stopped before it gets as far as Cleethorpes,” she said.
“The pollution along Isaac’s Hill is already disgusting every weekend.
“A park and ride out of town would be more effective. Visitors could catch buses to stop all the traffic building up into Cleethorpes.”
A spokesperson for North East Lincolnshire Council previously said that the estimation was based off the car park’s current usage.
“A single-storey extension to the existing Grant Street Car Park is expected to generate a substantially higher income than at present,” the spokesperson said.
“Currently, almost half of the users park for four hours or more, a quarter of users park between two and four hours, and 11% of users park for up to an hour. With the number of chargeable spaces set to increase from 65 to 339, keeping the same uptake percentages will see an increase in the income generated from the car park. This revenue will be used to pay back the funds required to build the extension.
“Bigger parking bays, electric vehicle spaces, lighting, CCTV, being part of the Park Mark Safer Parking scheme, as well as improved signage to the car park, will all be part of the overall scheme and will support in increasing its uptake.
“With a current shortage of car parking in Cleethorpes during the peak tourist season, it is vital we cater for the volume of traffic we welcome to the resort. The single-storey extension to Grant Street Car Park will relieve some of the parking pressures in existing resort car parks and side streets, and also reduce the need for visitors to drive around the resort searching for somewhere to park, therefore, reducing congestion and helping the environment.”
The council would also like to hear from those likely to be directly impacted by the project and any improvements and additions they would like to see.
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A family-run jewellers with more than 50 years’ experience is relocating from Newark to open in Lincoln’s Cornhill Quarter next week.
Smiths The Jewellers was based on Balderton Gate in Newark for 18 years, but it will now move into the unit previously occupied by Oxfam at 26-27 Sincil Street.
The new shop will open at 10am on Saturday, June 4 and the business has collaborated with Chambers Florists, also of the Cornhill Quarter, to do a jubilee themed window display.
Smiths The Jewellers is a traditional family-run business selling a wide range of jewellery, both new and pre-owned, as well as buying unwanted and broken jewellery. The shop will also offer services such as repairs, alterations and valuations.
The four employees will move over to the new shop and two new jobs have also been created.
Business owner Sonya Smith is the third generation of a family of jewellers and she told The Lincolnite: “We had some amazing customers in Newark, and also who travelled from Lincoln. We are excited to be opening in Lincoln.
“The Cornhill Quarter is vibrant and such a nice place to be and will allow us to expand. We are a great family business with a lot of loyal followers.”
The trial of a Skegness woman who denies causing the death of Nottingham Trent University student Hope Starsmore by dangerous driving has been put back until next year.
Rebecca Porter, 33, of Cottesmore Close, Skegness, was due to go on trial at Lincoln Crown Court on June 27. Her trial was expected to last four days.
However a pre-trial hearing at Lincoln Crown Court was today (Friday) told more time is needed to gather evidence from expert witnesses.
Judge Catarina Sjolin Knight told Ms Porter her trial would now be listed at Lincoln Crown Court on April 17 next year.
Granting Ms Porter unconditional bail Judge Sjolin Knight explained to her: “Unfortunately there is very little realistic prospect of this trial being ready for June 27.
“I know that is difficult for you. I am sure it is also difficult for the family of the lady who was killed.”
At a previous hearing in October last year Porter pleaded not guilty to causing the death of Ms Starsmore on October 7, 2020 by dangerous driving on the A158 at Burgh le Marsh, near Skegness.
Ms Starsmore was rushed to hospital after a collision in Skegness Road, Burgh le Marsh, at around 8.15am on Wednesday, October 7.
Despite multiple operations, doctors were unable to save her and she died eight days after the crash.
Ms Starsmore had just started a course in medical science at Nottingham Trent University and wanted to become a paramedic.
Due to coronavirus, she had decided to live at home in Skegness and study. She also opted to commute to Nottingham once a week.
She was airlifted to Hull Royal Infirmary after the crash and placed in a medically-induced coma.
Her brother and her partner had been travelling with her on their way to Nottingham Trent University and received minor injuries.
Despite having moved to the Lincolnshire seaside, Hope had grown up in Corby, Northamptonshire.
Porter will next appear at Lincoln Crown Court on June 27 for a further pre-trial hearing.
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