East Marsh Councillors Cry Foul Over Cleethorpe Road Bus Lane Proposal

Plans to carve out a new bus lane in Grimsby’s Cleethorpe Road have been met with a chorus of opposition from East Marsh councillors. The scheme, part of North East Lincolnshire Council’s ambitious Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), could see the dismantling of free on-street parking between Freeman Street and Victor Street. While the council’s intentions to boost bus service punctuality are noble, the councillors believe this could be a blow to local businesses. East Marsh’s Cllr Nicola Aisthorpe has branded the proposal as ‘short-sighted’, warning that the loss of these essential parking spaces could prove fatal for local shops, already reeling from recent closures. Beyond business, Cllr Aisthorpe has voiced fears over accessibility, with locals potentially forced to trek from distant parking spots. She, along with Cllr Steve Beasant, have accused the council of not adequately engaging with the traders who stand to be most affected. The council, however, assures that the consultation process has concluded and that all feedback will be taken into account moving forward.