Plans that would see Grimsby and Cleethorpes brought under the same MP would be a ‘disaster’ according to residents.
The boundary commission has opened a fresh consultation as it rebalances the areas represented by Members of Parliament.
Northern Lincolnshire would look very different under the proposal, with the creation of a Grimsby and Cleethorpes seat.
Scartho, Humberston and New Waltham would be grouped with Immingham, Barton and Brigg into a South Humber constituency.
The merger of Grimsby and Cleethorpes has proved highly controversial during the consultation, and the overwhelming majority of responses have been negative.
“Merging Grimsby and Cleethorpes would be a disaster. The towns are very different with very different needs and issues,” one resident wrote.
Another said: “Cleethorpes is a town in its own right, not an appendage to Grimsby, and should therefore be treated as such in any boundary considerations.”
Others argued that it was important the resort kept its independence.
“I am absolutely against combining Grimsby and Cleethorpes. Grimsby has had a far too big say in Cleethorpes politics for years. The council is already combined – we must have our independent MP,” one comment said.
“Cleethorpes is and always should be an independent entity. It has its own people and therefore it’s own representation in our great parliament.”
Another suggested a tweak to the name, saying: “I’m concerned about Cleethorpes losing its voice. Keeping the name Cleethorpes in the new constituency would be a crucial part of keeping this identity – how about ‘Cleethorpes and Grimsby’?”
Some saw a political motive in the shake-up of the boundary lines.
“Parts of the generally Conservative Cleethorpes have been added into the Great Grimsby constituency in an obvious attempt to bolster the number of Conservative voters in the historically Labour voting Grimsby,” one comment says.
Several suggested that Grimsby be merged with other industrial areas of North East Lincolnshire.
“Grimsby and Immingham together with the other South Humber Ports have more in common than linking Cleethorpes with Grimsby. This is due to Grimsby, Immingham and the other South Humber ports being focused on industry including fishing, car transportation, renewables and food manufacturing,” one resident suggested.
This would leave Cleethorpes free to combine with the nearby villages of Humberston, Waltham and New Waltham.
Cleethorpes MP Martin Vickers has backed the proposal, saying: “The recommendations deal with local sensitivities as best as possible within the guidelines by which they are governed and, I believe, will lead to minimal disruption for local people.”
However, he urged that the name ‘South Humber’ be abandoned for Northern Lincolnshire.
“Local opinion is quite clear; people regard themselves as from Lincolnshire and use of Humber or Humberside is widely disliked and is not acceptable,” he said.
The goal of the redistricting is to balance MP’s seat sizes so that each has roughly 74,000 electors, ensuring votes have equal weight.
Great Grimsby is currently significantly smaller than this.
The second round of consultations will run from February 22 to April 4.
Public hearings will be held for the region in Hull on March 14 and 15, and responses can be submitted online through the Boundary Commission Review website.
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
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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