£1.8m Freeman Street enhancement scheme given mixed response from shoppers and traders
THE future is bright for Freeman Street thanks to a new £1.8 million enhancement scheme.
Work is due to start in March to resurface Grimsby's famous street and redesign footpaths, and new lighting will be installed.
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All change: A computer generated image of the proposed Freeman Street enhancement, on show during the public consultation event in Freeman Street market, Grimsby.
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Street scene: Another artist's impression of the proposed changes to Freeman Street.
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Street vision: Donna Riley, left, project manager for Balfour Beatty and NELC, talks to Phyllis O'Connell, of Richard's Shoe Repairs, and Edward Guyton, of Teddy's card stall, during the Freeman Street enhancement, public consultation event. Picture: Rick Byrne
The proposal, drawn up by Balfour Beatty Working Partnership with North East Lincolnshire Council, was outlined to shoppers and traders in a public display at Freeman Street Market.
The latest plans are the first stage in a neighbourhood development framework created by NELC two years ago.
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That vision, which was announced in September 2010, as reported, included major demolition work and the creation of continental-style piazzas.
These latest plans have overtaken the previous £5.7 million vision and had a mixed response from staff and shoppers.
They welcomed some of the plans, which include improvements to Duncombe Street car park and improved footpaths from the car park to Freeman Street.
About 15 per cent of the money will go towards improving shop fronts.
The scheme aims to improve the look of the streets from Hainton Square and Nelson Street to the north, and is expected to create a focal point for economic and community activity. NELC is working in partnership with the Enrolled Freemen and Shoreline Housing Partnership.
Jason Longhurst, head of development for North East Lincolnshire Council said: "We are delighted that we have reached this stage in the regeneration of Freeman Street.
"The whole regeneration project will create a visible positive change for Freeman Street, addressing both the physical and economic deterioration of the area."
He said views of residents were welcomed and people can log them by visiting www.nelincs.gov.uk
Following this, a detailed design for the scheme will be drawn up. As yet, no decision has been taken about the materials to be used to enhance the footpaths.
At the display of the plan, concerns were raised about removing car parking outside the market.
The footpaths outside the market and across the road will be widened, with extra parking provided further along the street.
Phyllis O'Connell, of Richard's Shoe Repairs, said: "It is a good plan, but to widen the footpaths would be a waste of time. I don't think traders will take their barrows out on to the street.
"It is the market that brings people down here and I am really disappointed they are planning to take parking away from the front of the market. That is not good for the elderly people.
"I would like to see a speed restriction and there needs to be a crossing from the market to the bus stop opposite."
Edward Guyton, of Teddy's card and gift shop, said: "I am against it. It is a waste of public money. We have already fought to ensure you can get an hour's free parking on the front and now they are trying to take it away.
"It is fair enough wanting to improve it for customers, but we need them to be able to park up and rush round and pick up their cards, flowers and gifts and maybe a bit of meat and do it quickly. I am worried about losing the parking."
What do you think?
Once you have told the council what you think about the plan, let us know too by e-mailing viewpoint@grimsbytelegraph.co.uk or by commenting on this story.
Comments
by jasonoldy
Sunday, October 14 2012, 12:04PM
“So many comments on demolition! The structures need to be preserved, why would we want another generic, uninspiring, concrete high street?”
by jasonoldy
Sunday, October 14 2012, 12:00PM
“Given the history of the street and it's vista of the Dock Tower, I hope so. But, because of YEARS of neglect, I doubt 1.8mil will be the solution.”
by AfricanMeggy
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 4:58PM
“What is needed is a total demolition and a total new plan which would include a gigantic new shopping mall with acres of parking.It could have as a theme Havelock the Dane or Grim the Fisherman with a real size Viking ship and a statue. It would be a condition that the developers build attractions like rides,a 400 room four star hotel ,Cinema,Theatre, Casino and a museum to attract people from miles away to come and do their shopping.Freeman Street cannot go back in time.The street was related to an industry that is now dead! Complete rejuvenation is needed NOT a cosmetic fancying up that will be a waste of money. You cannot breath life into a corpse but if you have a complete NEW plan you could provide jobs for thousands of people and give Gy/Cleethorpes a whole new breath of life!”
by des22
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 3:56PM
“Just reading the top line again, it makes you wonder if someone at the GT wrote this piece or if most of it was a copy and paste job from a council PR handout.
"THE future is bright for Freeman Street thanks to a new £1.8 million enhancement scheme."
So silly. The future for Freemo is anything but bright. The only bright things will be £1.8m of paint and paving and signs. From the day it is finished there will be, or rather can be, no improvement in the economy of the street. Within a matter of 12 months the new top gloss will look as dingy and out of place as the "Welcome To Nunsthorpe" signs did.
There is only one way to regenerate and that is to get money into people's pockets through jobs. You can't invent prosperity, it has to have substance. Freemo hasn't got it and no amount of papering over the cracks will work.
Another thought here - perhaps our council and officers already know how daft the plan really is and spending this money is their idea of a job creation scheme for a few months.”
by Donnie1975
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 3:36PM
“Agree with the last post - NELC/Balfour Beatty should encourage development on brownfield sites in town before covering fields with a football ground and yet more retail outlets that people have to drive to.
The council clearly isn't optimistic about the future of Freemo as even the artist's impression has a for sale sign on the ABC Cinema!”
by socks_uk
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 1:45PM
“(I also posted this on the other news page about Freeman Street)
"Hmmm... just a thought...
Do you think the area from the market to Riby Square and Railway Street to Thesiger Street would be big enough to house Grimsby Town Football Club? And then move any businesses still trading in that area further down towards the Hainton Avenue end of Freeman Street and fill up the empty shops.
It could kill 2 birds with one stone and just look at the flyover already built to direct traffic under the road to a lovely entrance on Railway Street, right near the Railway Station already there!"”
by Seahunter_1
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 12:59PM
“Mmmm thinks I, 1.8m will buy plenty of C4 to do an excellent and lasting job of a Freeman Street enhancement scheme. That street has had it's day as a centre of commerce and no amount of money thrown at it will bring those days back. To be brutally honest if Google Street was to 'fuzz' out all the English shop, street, and road signs, anyone looking at the pictures would be forgiven for mistaking it for your average street in Aleppo.”
by Noblooyidea
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 1:20AM
“How much money has been spent over the years in consultations, meetings, architects plans, artists impressions, minor cosmetic changes, focus groups and council studies, probably enough to have rebuilt the area twice over. As many other commentators have pointed out shopping habits have changed, the type of outlet favoured by shoppers has changed but the views of the council of what ever political persuasion have not.
If the area is to be rejuvenated then some serious money will have to be spent and outside investment would be required. If external investment is going to be forthcoming then it will require an awful lot more than a proposal for some new paving and lighting columns. A half hearted attempt will only lead to good money being thrown after bad. And if Freeman Street does become the place to shop what will happen to Freshney Place and surrounding area will that become the new Freeman Street. Unless the area between the two is redeveloped to bring the two areas together in some manner which would require the bridging of a main road and the railway they would continue to exist in isolation from each other.
Many other places revamped areas of the town and found the centre has merely shifted and the periphery of the older area become the new eyesore. There is potential for redevelopment with all the passing trade from Cleethorpes, but it has to be properly thought out. The council can't afford to keep on navel gazing about the best course of action, it needs to make a decision, should Freeman Street be redeveloped as a shopping area or should it be flattened and start from scratch with residential and commercial development. And what's the betting exactly the same debate will be going on in ten, fifteen, twenty years time.”
by Noblooyidea
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 1:20AM
“How much money has been spent over the years in consultations, meetings, architects plans, artists impressions, minor cosmetic changes, focus groups and council studies, probably enough to have rebuilt the area twice over. As many other commentators have pointed out shopping habits have changed, the type of outlet favoured by shoppers has changed but the views of the council of what ever political persuasion have not.
If the area is to be rejuvenated then some serious money will have to be spent and outside investment would be required. If external investment is going to be forthcoming then it will require an awful lot more than a proposal for some new paving and lighting columns. A half hearted attempt will only lead to good money being thrown after bad. And if Freeman Street does become the place to shop what will happen to Freshney Place and surrounding area will that become the new Freeman Street. Unless the area between the two is redeveloped to bring the two areas together in some manner which would require the bridging of a main road and the railway they would continue to exist in isolation from each other.
Many other places revamped areas of the town and found the centre has merely shifted and the periphery of the older area become the new eyesore. There is potential for redevelopment with all the passing trade from Cleethorpes, but it has to be properly thought out. The council can't afford to keep on navel gazing about the best course of action, it needs to make a decision, should Freeman Street be redeveloped as a shopping area or should it be flattened and start from scratch with residential and commercial development. And what's the betting exactly the same debate will be going on in ten, fifteen, twenty years time.”
by para_handy
Tuesday, October 09 2012, 11:35PM
“"By the way who is jo" Lizidrip, one of the finest commentators ever had the strength to use her own name........she presumably spoke the truth too many times so joined the disappeared!
Freeman street is an anachronism.....it thrived when shoppers had far simpler tastes and never had to struggle parking cars at great expense! The concept of weekly shops never existed and consumer choice was only just awakening.
Top town, Meadow hall, Hull, Arndale, Trafford........the list goes on. Free parking and undercover shopping are the way forward. A Windswept sleeting near derelict Freemo doesn't come close and never will. We are in a time of austerity landed on us by the last Labour government......please don't let the NE£C throw money we don't have and can least afford at a universally accepted lost cause.
Freeman street is a bulldozer job......final......end....memories!
Or will this thinly veiled make over prolong the agony and waste money AGAIN.
All these meetings, optimistic schemes of revitalisation and hot air will be viewed in a few years time as a fiasco. WE ARE paying our council tax to these blue sky thinkers as they conjure up ways to spend OUR MONEY.
You only have to drive in any of the big out of town FREE shopping centre car-parks and join the thousands of FREE parker's to realise what is needed...and it aint a tarted up Freemo!”