Work is scheduled to begin in early 2026 to transform the Cleethorpes marketplace into a pedestrianised area.
The plans include a new one-way system and are part of wider £18 million regeneration plans across the resort, aiming to reconfigure the street to create more flexible spaces for outdoor seating, markets, and events.
Councillor Hayden Dawkins, Portfolio Holder for Culture, Heritage, and the Business Economy for North East Lincolnshire Council, is responsible for the project. Gi Grimsby News spoke to him to answer key questions about how the scheme will affect residents and businesses – read on for the full Q&A.
Gi Grimsby News: Where will cars park?
Councillor Dawkins: “The council have opened up the carpark behind the Old Vic and there is a carpark just behind the Dolphin. There will also be bays where people can nip in to do their shopping.
“Although there is free parking that is violated at the moment. You will find there’ll be a lot of people that are parking in there all day. If we was to enforce that car park, we’d issue tickets left right centre because a lot of people are parking there, that work in the resort or whatever else.
“St Peter’s Avenue is a prime example of free parking bays and Alexandra Road and near High Street car park, so there’s quite a lot of free parking that will remain. There’s enough to cover the displacement caused by the closure of the marketplace as a car park. For example, I often park in the Grant Street car park. There are many places across the UK where you cannot park outside businesses. The Old Vicdoesn’t get used very much, but it’s hardly known about at the moment.”
“Grant Street car park is not used to its full potential. I use that one quite often because I find it only about a third full. That’s within walking distance of Saint Peter’s Avenue and the marketplace. We reduced the High Street car park to short stay there because we didn’t want it to be full of long-term parking all day. Most people complete their shopping within 2 hours. If it’s any more, then there are long stay car parks, such as St Peter’s.”
Gi Grimsby News: What about disabled parking?
Councillor Dawkins: “The spaces in the marketplace are not currently designed for disability access. Realistically, where would you park in the marketplace now? On a blue badge, you can park in areas where other people cannot park. There are laybys in Osborne Street which will remain. North East Lincolnshire still has free disabled parking, which is not true of many parts of the country.”
Gi Grimsby News: Won’t businesses be affected by the changes?
Councillor Dawkins: “There will be bays which will allow people to nip into local businesses and shops. The pedestrianised area will allow many businesses to push out, and there will also be an entertainment space, which we don’t have in Cleethorpes, apart from Meridian. The businesses will be able to use this space to generate trade. In the summer, there will be seating areas outside where you can sit and have a meal, like what’s offered in other parts of the country. We have all these nice restaurants, some of which are new, and they want to push out. Delivery drivers will be able to park and make a short journey to collect their customers’ food, very much like what we do in Grimsby Town Centre, when people order from McDonald’s and places like that.”
Gi Grimsby News: How will the roads around the Market Place be used?
Councillor Dawkins: “The flow will go the opposite way up Cross Street, the parking bays will still remain in Short Street and Cross Street.”
Drivers will be able to turn off St Peter’s Avenue as they do now, drive down Short Street passed Sainsbury’s, then drive up Cross Street to the mini-roundabout on High Street, where Boyes is. At the opposite end, where Market Street meets The Dolphin on Alexandra Road, the following changes occur.
“The flow of traffic will be opposite to what it is now. At the roundabout on Alexandra Road, turn left and drive toward the marketplace. You will then have two options: you either turn right into Osborne Street, or you carry on round and follow it into Cosgrove Street.”
Gi Grimsby News: What about deliveries to businesses?
Councillor Dawkins: “There will be bollards which can be removed to allow deliveries. Deliveries will still take place. I’ve seen deliveries with my own eyes, and most local delivery vehicles are van-sized and can get through Cosgrove and Osborne Street without issue. Any long or large vehicles will be able to use the escape road, which runs through the marketplace and is controlled by the security team, NELC, who will lower the bollards and allow the vehicles into that area to offload, and then’ll they will be required to move straight away.”
Gi Grimsby News: How will the area be improved for pedestrians?
Councillor Dawkins: “You have cars that go right up to the curb edge. There’s no way you can get a pushchair or a wheelchair on some of these footpaths. The area will be safe for pedestrians, which is one of the main considerations. The footpath (outside the Market Tavern) is not up to required disability standards. We are pushing people onto the roads, there are a lot of vehicles that come through here and a lot of vehicles come through here at speed, especially in the evening.”
Gi Grimsby News: How will the area be transformed to make it more attractive to locals and visitors?
Councillor Dawkins: “There’s a lot of greenery going in, most people like trees, there will be a lot of planters, a lot of seating areas. It’s all about putting some greenery back into this concrete jungle. There will be opportunities for music and something different in Cleethorpes.”
Roy Horobin
Joined the Gi Grimsby News team in 2025.