Residents object to plan for 75 new homes on former Littlefield’s site
FEARS OVER ROAD SAFETY, FLOODING AND IMPACT ON ENVIRONMENT
DEVELOPERS have revealed plans to invest £17 million building 75 new homes in Grimsby, on a site providing jobs and making the neighbourhood safer.
But residents near the former Littlefield’s venue have objected to the plans by Barton-based Keigar Homes Ltd, raising concerns over road safety, flooding and impact on the environment.
The seven-acre site was used as a restaurant and club, with a sports field attached.
The field next to Littlefield’s restaurant was formerly a cricket pitch and during the 1970s it was where The Mariners trained.
It was also known as Charltons for a while, in honour of the footballing legend and striker renowned as “the hammer of the Scots,” Bobby Charlton. Arsonists attacked the restaurant in 2016 causing a massive fire which took several days to fully extinguish. It caused large explosions and was one of the biggest fires in Grimsby in the last decade.
After the fire it had permission for a restaurant, bar, club and a dance studio
Now Keigar Homes aim is to build 75 homes ranging from two-bedroom up to five-bedroom houses.
They will be built off one main road which will loop around the whole site, without cul-de-sacs.
Garry Whall, managing director of Keigar Homes Ltd, said: “The site has a history associated with antisocial behaviour and is one of Grimsby’s biggest hotspots. A lot of people use the footpath and we will be making that a lot safer. There will be much safer links through to Westminster Drive and on to Westward Ho.”
He added: “We build houses to a standard that will help the area. These are proper family homes, not starter homes. This is a great location and we think it is a lovely area to provide semidetached and detached homes which will be close to Grimsby Institute, the doctors practice and the town centre. “We are promoting it as helping the council with its ambition to regenerate the town. There is no where near the town centre with a site as good as this.”
Mr Whall said the junction will be widened to cope with the increase in the amount of traffic. Highways consultants approved the access as motorists will have good visibility in both directions.
The firm has not been able to conduct public consultation meetings with residents due to coronavirus restrictions, he said. He expected construction to create up to 15 new jobs.
But Carlton Road resident Brian Hewitt said people were worried about the impact of extra vehicles on road safety. He said: “Traffic calming measures have already been placed, with road bumps, wider and pavements on a road in the proposed position would add considerably to it.” Another resident, Geoffrey Mudd said: “Parking at the present time is of concern when cars, lorries and buses try to negotiate the corner. More traffic, 75 dwellings with about two vehicles per household, equals mega problems.”
Grimsby Town Cricket Club also called for talks with the developers to discuss flooding and the chance of cricket balls heading straight at the home on the boundary.
A spokesman said: “We know from experience that in most senior games, over 60 each summer, at least one ball will clear the fence to our north, and sometimes several in one game. We note the plan to remove trees and lower the height of other foliage along the relevant border and this may exacerbate the issue. It would be less common, though not exceptional, for the ball to reach the houses planned on the southern edge of the development. The club wishes to operate in harmony with any new neighbours and therefore recommend consideration of mitigation measures.”
The developers say construction work could start within six months of planning permission being granted. The application is with North East Lincolnshire Council for public consultation.
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We are helping to regenerate the town. There is nowhere near the town with a site as good
as this