Should Grimsby have been listed as one of Britain's 'coolest places' to live?
Cleethorpes pool may have to close
The leisure centre roof was damaged in last week's strong wind and rain and cannot be fixed until it has dried out.
This means if it rains the pool may have to close at short notice.
North East Lincolnshire Council ask swimmers to call ahead on 01472 323200.
Man remains critical after armed police surround his house in Grimsby
The man, believed to be in his 40s, was taken to Grimsby's Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital from a house in Laceby Road, Grimsby, after officers closed in on the home.
Paramedics called the specially trained officers after the man refused hospital treatment.
Keep checking your Grimsby Telegraph or www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk for updates.
Michael Owen retires: What are your memories of the England star?
UPDATE: Driver in critical condition after his car hits lamppost in Grimsby
A 57-YEAR-OLD Grimsby man remains in a critical condition after his car collided with a lamppost yesterday.
As reported, police believe the man was taken ill at the wheel before the crash in Estate Road One at 6.53am.
Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to call Humberside Police on 101, quoting log 64 of March 18.
Paul Hurst admits play-offs are now more likely for Grimsby Town
Teenage cyclist breaks four-year-old's leg in collision
Franklin College shortisted for RIBA award
Press regulation system could become a "dogs dinner", says MP
BREAKING UPDATE: Schoolgirl Kayleigh Lawrie, 14, predicted her own death on Facebook
KayleighLawrie, of Willoughby, near Alford, lost her life at the hands of a drunken driver on August 4 last year.
But moments before, the 14-year-old posted on the social network site "I think I'm going to die. xx. luv you all."
Lincoln Crown Court today (Tuesday) heard how Kayleigh pleaded to be allowed to get out of the car being driven by her father's friend because she was so scared by his 'Formula One' style driving.
However her father Scott Lawrie told her not to be so stupid.
Moments later driver Steven Hayter, 42, of Seymour Terrace - who was twice over the drink-drive limit - lost control of his Renault Clio near the B1196 Hanby Lane at Welton, near Spilsby.
He was attempting to retrieve a cigarette he had doped in the foot well.
Kayleigh died instantly, a 13-year-old boy also in the car was flown by air ambulance to Hull Royal Infirmary suffering from facial injuries while Mr Lawrie, 36, who was the front seat passenger was unhurt.
Today, Hayter was sentenced to six years in prison for causing death by careless driving whilst under the influence of alcohol.
Kayleigh's mum, Charlotte, said: "I am pleased that the man responsible is now behind bars but nothing will ever bring Kayleigh back and we miss her every single day.
"Kayleigh was a bright, happy, bubbly and loving 14-year-old, who lived life to the full."
Wireless internet for West Lindsey village halls
10 years since Iraq invasion but we will never forget ...
Legal health supplement contributed to 30-year-old's death
We're on the road to Wembley!
Nuneaton vs Grimsby: More misery for Mariners
Grimsby prepared for Sunday's FA Trophy final with a lacklustre display as they were beaten 1-0 at Nuneaton.
Boro had scored just two goals in their previous five games but flew out of the traps with Wesley York forcing James McKeown into a save after five minutes.
Kevin Wilkin's men continued to dominate their promotion-chasing opponents and broke the deadlock in the 17th minute when Andy Brown tucked away York's unselfish pull back.
Louis Moult was then twice denied by McKeown before half-time as the Mariners continued to struggle.
Brown had a good opportunity to bag his second of the evening 10 minutes into the second half but he scuffed his shot wide of the post.
Gavin Cowan then headed James Armson's free-kick into the arms of McKeown 12 minutes later as Grimsby showed no threat at the other end, succumbing to their fourth consecutive defeat.
Kevin Hooper belongs at the top of the boxing tree, says fight promoter Carl Greaves
FIGHT promoter Carl Greaves insists Kevin Hooper has proved he has the ability to compete at national level – even after defeat to Gary Sykes.
Greaves – a former British super-featherweight title contender – now doubles up as Hooper's manager on the professional boxing scene.
And while 'Super Hooper' suffered a unanimous points loss to 'Five Star' – at the Beachcomber, in Humberston, on Friday night – Greaves is convinced his man belongs at the top.
Greaves said: "Kev covered himself in glory really. There were lots of people writing him off before the fight, but he proved he can live the life at this level.
"Sykes has been there at the very top. He has been in the ring with all the best fighters, and beaten them – he is a top-level British fighter, right at the top of the tree.
"We can build on this. We are not taking it as a setback, we can regroup and come back and challenge for another title. Kev has proved he is within the top five list of British fighters."
Although Hooper was condemned to a straight decision by the judges – who scored the fight 98-92, 97-94 and 96-95 in favour of 'Five Star' – there were stages in the bout when the Grimsby man made life uncomfortable for Sykes.
In Pictures: Kevin Hooper's title fight
Indeed, the 28-year-old recovered from a nervy start to put himself back into contention – dominating the middle rounds before the Yorkshireman eventually triumphed.
Nonetheless, cheered on by around 450 home supporters, Grimsby's Hooper emerged from his first national title shot with an enhanced reputation.
Coach Sean Wood added: "Kev did the town really proud. He was fighting for a big title, against a man who made it to the final of Prizefighter last year.
"He went in there up against it. We didn't get the result, but we can use the experience – we now know that we belong at that level.
"Kev has never claimed to be a world beater. He is a father of three, from Grimsby, just doing his little bit for the town – he should be very proud."
First Person: Look to NHS for savings
TEMPTING though it is, one should not attach too much importance to the decision by Moody's to strip the UK of its AAA credit rating.
After all, this doesn't tell us anything we didn't already know – Britain is a debt-junkie, incapable of living within its means.
Even so, this is a useful opportunity to examine some basics. For a start, the government simply spends too much relative to its revenue-generating capability.
Of course, tax rates can always be raised, but here's why this doesn't work. If the government raises taxes on, say, high earners, it gets less money in, not more. Increase taxes on essentials and you might raise some money, but you impoverish working people, and the ones you hit the hardest are the poorest. Raise taxes on multinationals and many either leave or just don't pay up. Increase taxes on smaller businesses and the economy suffers. And so on.
In short, we're at the revenue limit. We have not only reached, but gone well beyond, the private sector's willingness or ability to fund the state.
Borrowing is neither a sustainable long-term option nor even a viable near-term one. Where interest rates are concerned, the rating downgrade can only add to the pressure which sterling is already under. Of Britain's 11.5 million mortgage payers, most are on variable rates, and official figures show that a rate rise of just two per cent would be enough to put half of these households in real trouble. Don't even ask how a mortgage rate squeeze on household disposable incomes would affect the high street, but do ask yourself what might happen to commercial real estate (and the banks) when rental streams dry up.
So that leaves us with spending cuts. It's not a nice option but, where Britain is right now, there are no good choices, only bad ones or worse ones. In America, Medicare spends three per cent of its budget on management. In the NHS, that figure is 14 per cent, and the difference between these numbers costs us £10 billion annually.
Now extend this cost comparison across the public services and you begin to see how an arrogant, pampered state management class is bleeding Britain into bankruptcy.
Humberston says no to 400 homes again a year after development was turned down
A YEAR has gone by since Humberston said no to 400 homes in the village – and now they have said it again.
Humberston Village Parish Council (HVPC) voted unanimously not to approve Keystone Developments' second application to build homes on greenfield land off Humberston Avenue, as reported on www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk
It was a year and ten days since they made the same decision on March 8, last year, but the first application was finally rejected by North East Lincolnshire Council in November – after huge public outcry.
However, a revised plan – which has been criticised for being no different from the original – was submitted earlier this month and campaigners have vowed to fight it just as hard, as have local politicians.
Harry Hall, chairman of HVPC, said: "We remain unchanged and absolutely oppose this development.
"Nothing they can do will convince us to support these 400 new homes on this land."
North East Lincolnshire ward councillor John Fenty (Con, Humberston and New Waltham) also attended the meeting and promised to "stand firm" against the development after the decision was announced.
"There are plenty of places to build and this is absolutely the wrong place for this kind of development," he said.
At the meeting at Wendover Hall on Monday, Save Our Fields Campaigner Nikki Hale was allowed to speak on behalf of residents before the parish council made its decision.
She offered the same reasons the group successfully used to campaign against the last application:
There is no need to sacrifice greenfield land for housing that is not needed – we already have three unfinished, major developments in the area.
Roads cannot support additional traffic – there have been numerous accidents on congested highways (Tollbar, Hewitt's Circus and Lovelane Corner) and one fatality in recent months.
Drainage is inadequate – flooding has been so bad in winter months that wildlife has been swimming in it.
A pond in the new plans could be dangerous to nearby schoolchildren and a dyke could attract fly tipping and litter.
Historical and environmental significance – hedges date back to the 18th century and barn owls, deer, waders and many other species use the area.
Public transport is insufficient and has been reduced in recent months.
Local schools are already at capacity.
Amenities are insufficient.
It seemed the group and the parish council were singing from the same hymn sheet as Mr Hall called for a vote immediately after the speech.
"I recommend we refuse this development on the grounds of over-intensification, road capacity, drainage and danger to children," she said – and other councillors supported the motion.
However, NELC is not bound by the decision and will make its own when the proposal goes in front of the planning committee at a date which has not yet been confirmed.
See tomorrow's Grimsby Telegraph for the latest news on the other plan for homes on Humberston Avenue.
10 years since the invasion of Iraq but we will never forget ...
TODAY marks 10 years since forces invaded Iraq for the second Gulf War – an anniversary that will bring memories flooding back for many people in North East Lincolnshire.
Local troops and their families were among those affected by the outbreak of war, which was launched following intelligence claiming that Saddam Hussein was manufacturing weapons of mass destruction.
Since the invasion began, 179 British military personnel have been killed in Iraq, including three from this area.
Trooper Kristen Turton, 27, of Holton-le-Clay, was killed on April 19, 2007, by a roadside bomb as the Queen's Royal Lancers approached a river crossing north of Basra.
His mum Jenny Turton, of Holton-le-Clay, said: "The pain never goes away and it never gets any easier. I think you just learn how to cope and to continue to live.
"Tristen was the 144th person to die in the conflict and there were more after him.
"We have never understood why British and American troops were used to fight somebody else's war. If they hadn't gone out there, then our son would still be alive.
"Iraq has been mentioned on the news a lot as the 10th anniversary approached and there have also been a lot of reports of soldiers suffering from Post Traumatic Stress.
"I often think of the lasting impact it must have had on those who witnessed the blast that killed Tristen. It must have been absolutely horrific for them and they will never be able to wipe what they saw from their memories."
The other local men who were killed were Flt Lt Andrew Smith, 25, of Cleethorpes – who was co-piloting an RAF Hercules when it was hit by ground-to-air fire in Iraq on January 30, 2005 – and Capt Dai Jones, from Louth, who died when a roadside bomb blew up the Land Rover in which he was travelling in August 2003.
Among those who know how fortunate they were to see their loved ones return from the conflict alive is Carol Atkinson, 52, of Tennyson Street, Grimsby. She remembers son Duane Atkinson being deployed as an ambulance driver with the Parachute Regiment in Basra, taking part in the invasion of Iraq from Kuwait in 2003.
She said: "He had been to Bosnia and Croatia on peace-keeping missions before, but that was his first actual war.
"I remember him going away very well. It was a very worrying time for us because we didn't know what was going on out there.
"He would call and say everything was okay but we knew that wasn't always the truth."
Taking legal 'health' product led to death of Cleethorpes man in DR Congo
A LEGAL health supplement that has now been banned in the UK contributed to the death of a 30-year-old contractor working in Africa, an inquest heard.
Ben Chen Nash, of Wollaston Road, Cleethorpes, had bought energy product Jack 3D before he died suddenly and unexpectedly in the Democratic Republic of Congo on October 27.
It is the same product that Claire Squires drank before she died, a mile from the finish line of last year's London Marathon.
The active ingredient DMAA has now been banned but yesterday, Coroner Paul Kelly recorded that it – or similar products – had contributed to the otherwise unexplained death of Mr Nash.
His father John Nash told the court: "He always liked to keep himself in good condition and go to the gym but would have had no idea that this product could be dangerous."
Ben had been working as an electrical contractor since last spring and was just two weeks away from going home for good when he was found dead in his living quarters, the inquest heard.
His father had booked a holiday to Canada for the two of them just days before and Ben was "over the moon".
The day before his death, Ben had gone to work – where he often did 12-hour days in the sweltering African heat – and visited the gym afterwards, as he regularly did.
He and some colleagues then went for a meal, accompanied by a chaperone as the town where they worked was very dangerous.
They had been drinking alcohol, but not excessively, and Ben was last seen on the sofa at 2.48am.
At about 6am, a colleague called for medical assistance because he could not wake Ben up, and he was pronounced dead at 7am.
His body was brought back to the UK for a post mortem examination, although it took until November 12 because Mr Nash told the court that officials in the African country had demanded bribes.
Dr Willam Martin Peters, consultant pathologist, said the examination revealed that a sudden and unexpected heart attack was the cause of death.
The results, he said, "could not find a sufficient reason why this young person might have had a heart attack".
Dr Kelly recorded that the death was due to a heart attack, contributed to by over-exertion in a hot climate and a combination of DMAA and other energy supplements.
Ben's father urged others to be more aware of the product – which he believes is still on sale.
He added: "It goes under more than 25 names, including geranium extract – people think this is a plant but it is an amphetamine.
"Because of the nature of this 'health' product, it is not being properly policed."