Who allowed 'Tardis-like' machine on Cleethorpes' North Promenade?
DO you think it's right that this "Tardis-like" machine can be plonked on a seafront without planning permission and prior warning?
The eight foot by four foot cash machine and payphone appeared on Cleethorpes' North Promenade overnight, prompting the question "is this allowed?"
-
‘Appeared from nowhere’: Keith Ramsden, from Waltham, can’t believe his eyes as he takes a stroll along Cleethorpes Promenade. Picture: Jon Corken
Well, the answer, apparently, is yes.
Although today, the company behind it, BT Payphones, has admitted "it's not ideal", explaining that it usually seeks permission anyway.
NEED A NEW BOILER OR NEW LUXURY BATHROOM ??? THEN READ OUR...
P&P Plumbing & Heating services
View detailsIF YOUR LOOKING TO REPLACE YOUR BOILER OR BATHROOM, THEN CALL P & P PLUMBING. WE OFFER, A, FULL DESIGN, SUPPLY & INSTALLATION SERVICE. SO TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO READ OUR REVIEWS, & THEN GIVE US A CALL.
Terms: TS & CS APPLY
Contact: 01472 803004
Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013
Except in this case, the contractors "have jumped the gun".
Business development manager for BT Payphones, Andrew Munroe, said: "Although we believe we do not need planning permission, we always ask for it out of courtesy.
"In this case, it appears our installers have jumped the gun and installed ahead of schedule. We have an application in process but we do not have consent yet. This isn't ideal."
Concerns have also been raised about it becoming a target for vandalism and theft because the north prom is a magnet for boy-racers and night-clubbers.
Planning laws are plagued with grey areas and are the subject of numerous rows in Grimsby and Cleethorpes but the idea something this size can appear on the streets without notice has shocked residents.
Walker, Keith Ramsden, 61, of Waltham, who walks along the prom every day couldn't believe his eyes.
He said: "It just appeared out of nowhere like the Tardis from Doctor Who. It looks terrible!
"It is totally out of character with everything else and I can't understand how it has been allowed to be put there. It looks a mess. It would be a lot safer at the station. Here it seems vulnerable."
Fellow walker, James Anderson, 47, of Cleethorpes, added: "It looks like it has just come up from the ground, I can't believe they can do this.
"Someone is bound to vandalise it. You have to have planning permission for this, that and the other yet this is allowed? Let's just hope we get rid of it."
The machine was put there after Cashzone, which works with BT Payphones, identified Cleethorpes as needing more cash machines – but no-one has been able to use it yet because it is 'temporarily out of service'.
While BT Payphones believes permission is not required, the picture isn't quite so clear at North East Lincolnshire Council.
Jason Longhurst, head of development, said: "We have had no prior contact with the company regarding the siting of the cash machine, which we would normally expect. It may be subject to planning controls."
The firm said they only put the machines – of which there are 500 in the UK – where payphones have previously been sited, and there was one there at one point.
However, an application will be submitted officially and North East Lincolnshire Council will then decide if it can stay.
39 Comments
View all
by chimchereeGC
Tuesday, February 05 2013, 1:00PM
“Oh Maurice, get over the village hall for goodness' sakes!!! Its almost built and looks nothing like this, seriously, you are obsessed man!”
by DannyWilde
Friday, February 01 2013, 1:56PM
“Right near the grim arcades that won't encourage gambling!”
by Grantyy
Friday, February 01 2013, 1:44AM
“Move it to the station, the position it's in now probably sees one tenth of the footfall if that, not many go up that way anymore compared to how many get off the trains or how easy it is to nip to the train station from one of the swashy or O'Neils, If we need a Cash machine on the seafront it's up the other end away from Barclays and all the banks on St Peters Ave, maybe BT would have got a better response if it communicated with the locals as to where we most want and need a cash machine instead of just thinking 'Seafront, Kaching! or Once there it can't be moved' we'll see!.”
by AfricanMeggy
Thursday, January 31 2013, 9:52PM
“There can't be much happening in Gy/Cleethorpes today if that is the only story to tell! I think davendogs story about the seagulls was the best comment.”
by davendogs
Thursday, January 31 2013, 8:31PM
“Oh well. The seagulls may like it. It'll keep their feet warm. As a kid I always wondered why the gulls sat on the railings only had one leg. It dawned on me that they kept one leg tucked up to keep it warm and then swapped over.”
by Thezodiac
Thursday, January 31 2013, 7:57PM
“Were's Jason from NELC to comment?
Surely this is right up his street.
Mind how you go...............”
by lashbaby
Thursday, January 31 2013, 7:46PM
“Look at some national front pages, daily mail today, some bird involved with David Mellor 21 years ago, is that news? Yesterdays sun some woman from a soap gonna die and exit the show. Newspapers need to smell the coffee quickly before they become completely obsolete.”
by JohnPatrick
Thursday, January 31 2013, 3:46PM
“Looks no worse than the old red phone boxes that used to be dotted around our towns, indeed the colour blends in far better than the red of old phone boxes ever did. I wouldn't call it an eyesore, certainly compared to some of the dilapidated stuff on the opposite side of the road it looks positively delightful and smart.”
by jules_22
Thursday, January 31 2013, 2:58PM
“@animal_owner I'm laughing my head off at the stupidity of your comment! As if the police would even contemplate that the people on here with the negative/funny views would be the perpetrators should (when) anything happens to the thing!! I'm guessing that maybe you work for BT then??”
by urbanspaceman
Thursday, January 31 2013, 1:53PM
“Hardly front page material...Makes us look like yokels who would point at the big shiny metal birds flying over!”