Mick Grant

Later today I have a meeting with the Humber Housing Partnership which will discuss provision of public sector housing in the Humber sub-region. As an area which is growing it is vital we get the provision of social housing correct. Working with other agencies in partnership we can hopefully get it right.  We have been working well with North Lincolnshire Homes over the last few months and I met with their chief executive Jane Duncan earlier this month to discuss our future objectives.

I have also spoken to a number of people about the proposed Timberlands/Lakeside link road. As ward councillors for the area every week we are in touch with the highways department lobbying for the road to be opened. We understand it is not the council's highways team but the developers who are dragging their feet and preventing the road from opening.  As we all live in the area we know the problems this is causing. If you go to the Lakeside complex it is a long journey, especially at weekends.  We will continue to lobby and put pressure on the developers until the road is opened.

On Tuesday afternoon I attended the Advance Crosby consultation session were people could see the plans and discuss the options which are available to them. 50 people attended in the first hour which was an excellent response.

It is a 10-year plan and we are still going out to consult. We want to hear from as many people as possible to find out what they think about the project. But we are not doing it all on our own. Fluid are the consultants and people from Crosby Enterprise Centre are also involved.

 We have also consulted with the Highways department and I have been assured the provision of car parking in the plan will not result in a huge loss of space. Instead we need to make better use of the total provision we have in the town centre.  I would urge everyone in the Crosby area to see the plans and make comments on them.

The front page of today's Scunthorpe Telegraph explains possible plans for the Advance Crosby scheme. You can see the article by clicking on this link

Consultation is now under way on the exciting plans and I would encourage as many people as possible to have their say. We would particularly welcome feedback from people who live in the area.  We know that some people may view the plans as controversial but we understand these are the aspirations of people who live in Crosby.  It is a 10-year plan and we need to get it right.

The Advance Crosby master plan will be available for residents to view tomorrow at the school on Gurnell Street from 2pm to 7pm. Smaller sessions will be held today from 10am to noon, and from 2pm to 4pm at Project House, West Street, with members of the project team on hand to discuss the plans. Similar events will be held at the same times on Thursday at Scunthorpe Central Library and on Friday at Pittwood House.

Today I put my name down to take part in a sponsored one mile run to raise money for the charity SportsAid.  I have already done my bit for the charity this year by taking part in a sponsored bike ride at the Sainsbury's supermarket.  Now I am doing my bit by taking part in a sponsored run. 

The event will take place on Sunday, March 9 at 11am in Central Park and I would urge as many people as possible to get involved. You can pick up a sponsor form from Sainsbury's and help the charity raise funds to help people get involved in sporting activities.

Anyone who would like to sponsor me should email me on cllr.mickgrant@northlincs.gov.uk or leave a comment in this blog and I will provide them with a sponsor form.

The council and North Lincolnshire Homes are in the early stages of discussions regarding demolishing Westcliff Precinct and re-building it. We have started tentative talks on a number of projects and one of them is in Westcliff. The current precinct is a 60s-style building and is a run-down magnet for anti-social behaviour. Residents have been telling us for years that something needs to be done.

Work is now very much in the early planning stages but the proposal is to demolish the precinct and build new homes, a new precinct and other facilities to improve the local community. The scheme would work in a similar way to that of Advance Crosby.

I would invite people to get in touch and let the council know what they would like to see at the site of the current precinct. We would like to know their thoughts and feelings. People can leave comments on this blog or they can email me at Cllr.MickGrant@northlincs.gov.uk

Yesterday I took part in a sponsored cycle ride at Sainsburys supermarket on Doncaster Road, Scunthorpe. They have put an exercise bike in the store and are riding from Scunthorpe to Delhi for Sports Aid.  A number of people over the next few weeks will be hopping onto the bike and raising money for charity.

Sainsburys asked me to take part in the charity challenge because I am a keen cyclist. I arrived at 11am and I jumped on the bike and started peddalling!  Staff announced I had started and many came up to talk to me as I did it.  I really enjoyed it and people were very curteous and generous.

 You can find out more about the charity at www.sportsaid.org.uk and make a donation by visiting Sainsburys supermarket.