A local business owner has warned that a proposal by North East Lincolnshire Council to remove parking on the eastbound carriageway of Cleethorpe Road could lead to the closure of his business and several others in the area.
A letter sent to local businesses, seen by Gi Grimsby News, outlines plans to replace parking spaces between Freeman Street and Victor Street with a new bus lane as part of the Council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan.
Dean Wilkinson, who owns Carpets Galore alongside his father, Ken Wilkinson (pictured), warned that the change would be devastating for local businesses.
He noted that several shops on the street have already closed, while others are struggling to survive amid rising costs, and now face yet another threat.
According to the letter, the objective of the bus lane extension is to “improve the punctuality of local bus services.”
The letter reads: “In order to deliver the bus lane extension, the Council would need to remove the existing parking on the Eastbound carriageway of Cleethorpe Road to provide a bus lane and a single lane for all other vehicles.
“The Council are giving local businesses the opportunity to comment on the proposed bus lane extension and to understand any requirements businesses may have for parking and loading/ unloading in the area.
“Any feedback the Council receives in relation to parking and loading/ unloading requirements would help to inform any future Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) for this scheme. In the event of the Council developing a TRO for this scheme, there will be a further opportunity to submit comments to the Council.”
After 33 years at his current location, Dean said he fears that suddenly losing parking would “kill” his business and many others, calling the situation “awful” and a risk to livelihoods.
Speaking to Gi Grimsby News, Dean said: “If they take the parking away, we’re all done. Every shop down here is saying the same thing. We’re losing properties fast. Elegant Lighting is leaving. Flooring Express has already gone.
“The Council have given us just two weeks to respond to this. We’re all sick to the back teeth of it. Once again, it’s just another way of getting funding. I employ all these people, and so do the other shops down here. I’ve been here for 33 years, and now, all of a sudden, we could lose our parking.
“If we do lose that parking, we’re finished. It’s an awful situation. I don’t like stirring things up, I keep myself to myself, but this will be the end of it.
Dean explained that he had already spoken to the owners of other neighbouring shops, many of whom expressed similar concerns.
He continued: “Things are bad enough in this country at the moment – we’re all panicking about the National Insurance increase and the upcoming Minimum Wage increase, and then we get this. It feels like they just want to smash our businesses to bits.
“About 18 months ago, the Council asked everyone to renovate their properties. I was lucky because I had maintained mine, but they pressured other building owners around here to fix theirs up. Now, after they’ve spent that money, they want to take their parking away.“
Dean said that alternative nearby parking on Orwell Street car park would cost around £1,600 a year to use.
He continued: “We have around 20 deliveries a day to this shop including trucks up to 38-tonnes. I have no rear access, so I have no choice but to park at the front to load and unload. Suppliers won’t deliver unless they can be within a certain distance of the building to unload.
“This area is being systematically destroyed, and businesses are leaving.“
A North East Lincolnshire Council spokesperson said: “This proposal is currently at the pre-consultation stage and no decision has yet been made.
“We appreciate resident’s comments and will take these into consideration moving forward. Please send any comments are sent to transport@nelincs.gov.uk.”
Part of the Gi Grimsby News team since 2020.
Reporter.
Part of the Gi Grimsby News team since 2021.