A new vision for Cleethorpes to make resort a year-round holiday destination
NORTH East Lincolnshire Council chiefs want your ideas on how to make Cleethorpes prosper as an allyear destination.
After a post-pandemic summer which saw millions of visitors flock to the resort, businesses and residents have been urged to have their say on future attractions which could make it even more popular.
A set of drop-in public consultations for people to show off their imaginative ideas for Cleethorpes will be held in the coming weeks.
HemingwayDesign, a multi-disciplinary design agency headed by Wayne Hemingway, and GL Hearn, have been appointed to create a masterplan for the resort of Cleethorpes – from North Prom all the way to the Fitties, from Central Prom to St Peter’s Avenue.
The company were selected following a competitive tendering process and have previously been involved in many successful coastal regeneration projects along England’s coastline, including Scarborough, Lowestoft and Bognor Regis.
Wayne Hemingway, who founded Red or Dead and has more than 40 years’ experience in design, said: “You have an amazing coastline here. There’s so much natural beauty, alongside the traditional seaside offering and opportunities to capitalise even more on the staycation boom and the desire to live by the sea that has been accelerated by the pandemic.
“Our first job is to listen to the people who know best - the residents, businesses, those that visit, those that know and love Cleethorpes and want to see it continue to be a great place as society evolves.
“We want to know what people think of what’s here, and what could be here in the future.”
“We’re looking at everything, from how the resort looks, how it could feel in the future, what businesses could be here in the future and how the resort can purposefully evolve and respond to environmental, health and wellbeing and business issues.
“We want to really get under the skin of local perceptions and understand why people feel like they do.”
North East Lincolnshire Council leader, Councillor Philip Jackson said: “We do genuinely want to hear how we make Cleethorpes better. It is starting from a strong base. It is already popular and we need to build on the staycation market and take account of the green agenda and encourage people to stay in the area. We need to make Cleethorpes an all-year-round attraction, opening up more in winter and have all the pubs and restaurants busy with trade.”
He added: “The southern part of the resort does well. But the North Prom is a bit behind, not that it is not doing well. It needs more investment.
“We want to encourage more ecotourism and show off our saltmarsh, which is often seen as a negative part of Cleethorpes. But people want to enjoy our outstanding natural environment and that will be another string to our bow.
“We want new ideas on how to improve Cleethorpes, not just the usual complaints about things that are not right. We need a fresh pair of eyes and that is what HemingwayDesign have done successfully at other resorts.”
Among some of the ideas put forward initially were nature trails along the coastline, a trampoline centre, a splash pool and more areas for children to play safely.
Councillor Jackson said once the public consultation is completed by December 12 a masterplan for Cleethorpes will be drawn up and presented to cabinet members in March. That will lead to a bid for Government Levelling Up funds.
From now until December 12, there is a survey live online where you can feed in your views, available from www.thinkcleethorpes.co.uk, and there will be opportunities to have your say at some round table events being planned in the coming weeks.