Hopes rise for welfare of nesting Grimsby swans following temporary installation of fencing

Protected - the plucky Riverhead swans

PROMPT action by Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue should help to safeguard a pair of mute swans that are nesting at Grimsby's Riverhead.

In the past, similar nests have been subjected to attacks by ne'er-do-wells throwing sticks, stones or bricks.

But this year, the wildlife rescue charity has been quick to install protective fencing. 

This will not guarantee the birds' safety, nor success for their nesting attempt, but at least it has increased their chances.

Says CWR: "We have introduced protective measures at the River Freshney as part of a licence granted by North East Lincolnshire Council. 

"This licence has given us the ability to prevent the illegal disturbance and destruction of the swans' nest.

"Sadly, it had  already been victim to mindless attacks and bottles being thrown on to it." 

The statement continues: "Many members of the public have approached our volunteers and said how they were thankful that these measures had been put in place as they often see people acting in a cruel manner towards these swans. 

"We should like to say a big thank you to HSS Hire who have provided these fence panels for free, NELC for their support, and to our volunteers, Michaela and Tia, for installing the equipment.

"We will continue to relay any updates to the local authority and Humberside police if and when necessary."

* The children's author, Enid Blyton, once lost a pair of swans that were nesting by a pond at the edge of her garden when they were stoned by two boys through a gap in the edge. She later wrote: "I think  both those boys should have been well and truly whipped, don't you? There are just a few things that I think whipping should be the punishment for, and cruelty to birds or animals is one of them."  

Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue has expressed gratitude to supporters including volunteers Michaela and Tia

                                            

Is there life after Equans? Council ponders its options after June 2025

                                                  

A PARTING of the way is on the cards for North East Lincolnshire and its private sector partner, Equans (formerly Engie).

The contract between the two organisations expires in June next year, paving the way for NELC to take back services in house or to strike up deals with other organisations.

The council  leadership does have a plan, but, at present, it is intent on keeping this under wraps.

That means the future is uncertain for staff currently employed by Equans which provides the following services: 

• Facilities Management

• Housing Enforcement and Grant Administration

• Disabled Facilities Grants

• Highways and Transport

• Parking Services

• Design Services (Architectural Services, Highways Design, Civil Engineers, Quantity Surveyance, Landscape Design and Principal Contractor role)

• Planning and Development Management/Planning Enforcement

• Flood Risk Management

• Building Control

• Strategic Planning

• Security

• Some support services including procurement and communications. 

It was back in July 2010 that NELC decided to offload these activities - initially to Balfour Beatty Workplace which sold on to a French company, Cofely GDF Suez, thence to Engie before Equans  (owned by another French company, Bouygues) came on the scene in October 2022.

A report to councillors states:  "The contract is due to end on  June 30, 2025.

"A new delivery model is required as the existing contract cannot be extended beyond July 1, 2025.”

The following options have been considered behind the scenes:

• Reprocure the services on the open market 

• Bring services in-house

• Review the contract service by service with different approaches for different areas

• Establish an arms-length delivery company to deliver the services based on similar existing arrangements with Care Trust Plus and Lincs Inspire

• Partnership or joint venture.

"The review found no real financial or service benefit to any one option, and thus recommended that any solution should be considered entirely on which option offers the best potential to meet its current and future challenges and opportunities. 

Another factor that has come into the equation is the prospect of  local government which will involve the election of a mayor, increased revenue from Whitehall and closer working than hitherto with two sister authorities -  North Lincolnshire Council and   Lincolnshire County Council.

The likelihood is that NELC will opt for a hybrid arrangement, with some services coming back in house and others set up in such a way to involve partnership with private sector companies.

However, for more details we need to be patient.

House sparrow is most commonly seen bird in Lincolnshire gardens says RSPB

 

Male and female house sparrow - regular garden visitors (photo: RSPB)

AN RSPB survey has revealed that the house sparrow is the most numerous bird seen in Lincolnshire gardens.

At the start of the weekend, the charity published the full list of birds from the research carried out during January's annual Big Garden Bird Watch.

The Top Ten in Greater Lincolnshire were:

1 House sparrow 
2 Starling 
3 Woodpigeon
4 Blackbird 
5 Blue tit
6 Goldfinch 
7 Great tit 
8 Robin 
9 Long-tailed tit 
0 Collared dove 

Also recorded (in order of number of individuals) were the following:

Chaffinch
Dunnock 
Magpie 
Jackdaw 
Carrion crow 
Feral pigeon
Greenfinch 
Coal tit 
Wren 
Pheasant 
Rook 
Common gull 
Great spotted woodpecker 
Song thrush 
Tree sparrow 
Fieldfare
Pied wagtail 
Moorhen 
Sparrowhawk 
Mallard 
Buzzard
Jay 
Red kite 
Blackcap 
Bullfinch
Stock dove
Redwing
Siskin
Herring gull
Kestrel
Green woodpecker 
Nuthatch
Goldcrest 
Mistle thrush 
Reed bunting 
Yellowhammer 
Barn owl 
Brambling 
Lesser spotted woodpecker 
Grey heron 
Mute swan 
Treecreeper 
Ring necked parakeet 
Raven 
Grey wagtail 
Red-legged partridge
Redpoll
Tawny owl 
Marsh tit 
Linnet 
Hooded crow
Willow tit 
Great black-backed gull
Skylark
Chiffchaff
Little owl
Black redstart 
Hawfinch 
Corn bunting 
Gadwall 
Great crested grebe 
Grey partridge 
Lapwing 
Lesser black backed gull 
Meadow pipit
Teal 
Tufted duck 
Waxwing 
Wigeon

Calling all enterprising A-level students! Council offering internships this summer - with pay thrown in

 

A GREAT opportunity beckons for A-level students to find out about the world of work.

This summer, North East Lincolnshire Council is offering paid internships across the spectrum of the authority's activities.

There will be places in the following departments:

* Legal

* Culture and Tourism

* Environment

* Business support

* Careers advice

Says a council spokesperson: "Successful applicants will be working three to four days per week for five weeks during the summer holidays.

"It’s a great opportunity to develop new skills, be part of a great team and make a difference."

More details at:  https://bit.ly/3xv4J6d

NELC is also offering internships for degree students currently between their first and second year of study or between their second and third year. 

Work placements are for 30 hours per week for 12 weeks from Monday 3 June.

More info at:  https://bit.ly/3UarbdI

Grimsby News report about development threat to rare butterfly caused a bit of a flap at council HQ

 

The Wall - one of Britain's rarest butterflies survives (just)  in Cleethorpes

ON April 4, the Grimsby News carried a report under the headline, 'Tiny but scarce butterfly threatens to hold up controversial Cleethorpes  salmon-farming project'.

It included the following sentence:  "When members of North East Lincolnshire Council’s planning committee approved the project at a meeting in November last year, there was no reference to the tiny butterfly - either in the agenda papers or during the debate."

 

This was incorrect.

Although any reference was absent from the main agenda, we have since been advised that it was contained in a 'supplementary agenda'.

In a response to a request from North East Lincolnshire Council, we have therefore  amended our  post of April 4 accordingly.

However, it should also be stated that the existence of a supplementary agenda was not made plain to  the public and press.

Furthermore, it was published less than 24 hours before the start of the meeting, allowing potentially interested parties such as Natural England, almost no time nor opportunity to comment.

We understand that North East Lincolnshire Council's planning department has now resolved to update its notification processes in event late of supplementary information being supplied in advance of committee meetings.

Meanwhile, we stand by our assertion that there was no reference to the rare butterfly during the debate.

If there had been discussion about the under-threat insect, we should have reported it.

Cleethorpes' first cuckoo of spring 2024 seen calling amid buckthorn fringe between saltmarsh and sea

The first Cleethorpes cuckoo of 2024 was watched calling amid sea buckthorn on the fringe between the saltmarsh and the outer beach shortly after 10 o'clock this morning.  The bird had flown here all the way - via either Spain or Italy -  from its wintering grounds in the Congo where it shares the same jungle habitat as gorillas. It is this thought that this bird was taking a breather before continuing its journey to elsewhere in Britain. Cuckoos used to be common throughout North East Lincolnshire, but they have declined rapidly over the past 30 years.

Rare photograph of tank's 1918 visit to Grimsby likely to prompt plenty of interest at Louth auction

 

Flashback to 1918 when Egbert was star attraction on streets of Grimsby

AN historic photograph of a tank, plus crew, which did service in the First World War is set to under the hammer next week.

Grimsby, Scunthorpe and Boston were among the Lincolnshire towns visited by the tank, known as Egbert, to raised funds for the war effort.

A contemporary newspaper report states: "Egbert is not merely a 'show tank' but but one that has done splendid work at the Front. 

"Hundreds, or probably thousands, of folk have marvelled at its wonderful construction, its strange mode of  locomotion, its vicious-looking machine-guns peeping from different parts of its curious 'anatomy' and its battle-scarred appearance."

The report continues with a sad piece of information:

"In its last engagement, Egbert went into action with an officer and four crew.

"Of the gallant little party, four were killed, and it remained for the survivor to bring the tank safely back to the British lines. 

"Its mascot, a French gollywog soldier, is carried on the front the machine. 

"It was indeed a remarkable sight to see the weird engine war amble along on its way. Everyone was amazed at the ease with which the monster travelled, and the manner  by which it was was manipulated by its crew."

The sale is being conducted online and at its premises on Eastgate, Louth, by auctioneers John Taylors, on Tuesday April 16.

Also included in the same lot - number 211 - is other Grimsby- and Cleethorpes-area memorabilia including local postcards and back numbers,  from dates between 1944 and 1969,  of  the Grimsby Evening Telegraph.