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Grimsby Town's Alex Rodman targets starting place

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ALEX Rodman hopes the confidence boost he gained from scoring in the win at Hyde will help him to pin down a regular spot in the Grimsby Town side.

So far, the former Aldershot man has been mainly been restricted to substitute appearances, with his only start this season coming in the defeat to Welling United earlier this month.

But within minutes of coming off the bench on Bank Holiday Monday against Hyde, Rodman scored what proved to be the winner, and strengthened his bid to win a regular slot in the process.

"Obviously I want to be playing week-in, week-out and the goal against Hyde will certainly do me no harm," he told the Telegraph.

"It felt great to finally get off the mark and it was made all the better for knowing that it helped to get us the three points."

"Whenever I go on to the pitch, I want to do all I can to stake my claim and grabbing the winner is always going to be a massive confidence boost towards doing that.

"We'll have to see how it goes. It's a long season and when the team are performing and getting results it's always going to be hard to get in if you're out of the team.

"I'll just keep working hard and my time will come. A goal does wonders when you're a forward player, and hopefully that will kick me on and begin to show in my performances from now on."

With the win over Hyde, Town moved to within a point of the Conference's early pace-setters and, although Rodman is not getting carried away, he admits that it is good to be mixing it at the top already.

He continued: "It is early but even when you're only a couple of games into the season, you want to be up there because otherwise, teams can start to run away with it a little bit.

"People are now going to be looking at us now and thinking 'crikey, Grimsby are going well'.

"I don't think we've quite hit fifth gear yet, but we'll keep working hard and hopefully it will be other teams chasing us at the top soon."

Grimsby Town's Alex Rodman targets starting place


Grimsby hotel extension to create 20 jobs

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A GRIMSBY hotel could soon have a large extension which aims to create 20 new jobs.

The owners of The Humber Royal, in Littlecoates Road, have applied for a 40-bedroom extension to meet a growing demand for hotel accommodation.

The prospect of a boom in offshore wind turbine energy, operated from Grimsby Docks, has fuelled demand from contractors.

The hotel has also enjoyed hosting an increased number of wedding celebrations, with three over the bank holiday weekend alone.

Icon Hotels is seeking planning permission from North East Lincolnshire Council planners.

The extension would be made up of five floors; the first, second, third and fourth containing ten bedrooms, each with an en-suite bathroom.

The ground floor would host a new restaurant with seating for about 60 guests, and it would have an external terrace. There will also be a new bar area, with two meeting rooms.

The owners said the hotel, which was built in the 1960s, will be made fit for the 21st century and create a better impression for visitors to Grimsby.

The Humber Royal gained four-star accreditation last year and has enjoyed high occupancy levels, as reported.

General manager Anne Bennett said the extension would boost occupancy every day of the week.

She said: "Grimsby has been crying out for extra hotel accommodation.

"There is a shortage in the area.

"It is important to keep expanding otherwise visitors will look out-of-town, to the Louth and Scunthorpe areas.

"We would not be considering expanding unless we knew the demand was there.

"The prospect of a growing wind energy sector is a big contributing factor in our planning for the future.

"The extension will help with the impression people have of the hotel which visually, from the outside, is not pretty.

"This will help with the view of the hotel."

She added the new restaurant and bar will be open to non-residents and members of the public could be invited to suggest ideas for a theme for the venues.

If planning approval is granted later this year the hotel extension could be completed within 18 months.

The extension at the front of the hotel would result in the loss of four parking spaces.

Last year, a planning inspector turned down an appeal from the firm following an application to North East Lincolnshire Council planners for a five-storey block with 18 apartments.

Residents were concerned about the visual impact on their properties and warned of the increase in parking in the streets around the hotel.

There are currently 111 parking spaces, including disabled parking at the front of the hotel for guests and visitors.

But Littlecoates Road resident Len Holman, 80, who spearheaded the opposition to the five-storey apartment block, claimed the parking figures submitted by the owners did not add up.

He welcomed the extension and said it will be a big improvement for the area and for business.

Mr Holman said: "It is a big improvement on the visual aspect, which is good.

"I am more than happy with it and would like to see the hotel do well.

"But what bothers me is the parking.

"They say there will be ample parking.

"But when you look at the design it looks like they are losing about 30 spaces.

"Reading the Grimsby Telegraph, we are number six on the list of speeding hotspots in the borough.

"This will make matters worse and risk accidents because there will be more people going in and out of the hotel car park looking for places to park."

He recommended the firm reinstate the car park at the rear of residents' properties in Littlecoates Road.

"It was used previously as an overspill car park.

Mr Holman said: "It would create as many parking spaces as they have at the front of the hotel and solve their problems. I don't understand why they don't open it up again."

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Grimsby hotel extension to create 20 jobs

Keep your distance in fog, urge police

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DENSE fog is causing problems for motorists again today.
Pc David Williams of Humberside Police traffic unit at Brigg said: "People need to make sure they put suitable lights on and keep their distance from the vehicle in front. Generally they need to take more care when the weather is like this because visibility is limited."
He said there had been no fog-related accidents reported to police.
However fire crews from Waltham, Binbrook and Louth raced to attend a property in Church Lane, Holton-le-Clay at shortly before 10pm last night.
But it turned out to be a false alarm due to low-lying mist drifting past and orange lights from inside the property.
 

Keep your distance in fog, urge police

Man's ear bitten in attack

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A MAN had part of his ear bitten off in an attack at a resort bar.
Lincolnshire Police appealed for witnesses after the serious assault took place at 1am on Tuesday in the street near to Scallywags public house on Sea Lane, Ingoldmells.
A 28-year-old man from the Doncaster area was verbally abused and assaulted before a part of one ear lobe was bitten off.

A 20-year-old man from the Walsall area was arrested nearby on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm and remains in police custody at Skegness.

The investigating officer Detective Constable Emily Wooll-Rivers of Skegness CID said, "This was a nasty incident, a man has lost part of his ear and is scarred for life. We have a suspect in custody but I would like to hear from anyone who witnessed what happened. The area was quite busy at the time and it is likely that someone saw something that my assist the investigation."

Officers can be reached on the non-emergency 101 number quoting incident number 23 of August 27. Alternatively witnesses can contact her anonymously on Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Man's ear bitten in attack

Replay: Web chat with Grimsby Town legend John McDermott

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Grimsby Town legend John McDermott took part in an exclusive Grimsby Telegraph web chat earlier today. The Mariners' record appearance holder was online chatting with fans following the launch of his new autobiography this week. 'It's Not All Black & White' takes readers from Macca's early days at Blundell Park, right through to retirement and beyond. Click on the console below to replay the discussion and see what Macca had to say:

Replay: Web chat with Grimsby Town legend John McDermott

State-of-the-art medicine storage system introduced at Grimsby's hospital

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AN £80,000 project is being introduced at Grimsby's Diana Princess of Wales Hospital to ensure medicines are safely stored on wards and in departments. A state-of-the-art electromechanical locking system is being rolled out - and Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is the first NHS trust in the country to implement it. It follows a trial in Scunthorpe, which demonstrated the innovative system saves nurses' time and ensures medications are safely locked away. Staff will no longer need to search the ward for the current key holder, as people needing access to the drug cupboards and fridges will be allocated their own unique 'intelligent key'. Read more in tomorrow's Grimsby Telegraph.

State-of-the-art medicine storage system introduced at Grimsby's hospital

New club set to open in Grimsby

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A NEW club is opening in Grimsby tomorrow. It is hoped the venue, at 120 Cleethorpe Road, will regenerate that area of town. Spokesman Gary Haley said: "We are hoping to bring some life back to this side of Grimsby. "For many years this side of Grimsby has been in decline with local pubs closing all the time, we are hoping to bring people back to this side of town, not only for us but the local shops and takeaways in the area as well. "We have a blank canvas and hoping with the support and feedback of the local area we can turn this into a venue for the community. "We are not tied to any brewery which means if people was things to happen in there we can usually sort things out." The club The official launch takes place at 8pm tomorrow – see your Grimsby Telegraph for coverage.

Minister 'minded to agree' consent for Able Marine Energy Park

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ASSURANCES over branch railway provision and the mitigation areas for birds are to be thrashed out in the coming days as the port developer delivering the £450-million Able Marine Energy Park looks to meet today's Government requests. A further delay in securing development consent for the 325-acre scheme has been announced, with December 18 the new date when Under Secretary of State for Transport, Norman Baker MP, could grant the necessary permission. He has, however, indicated he is minded to follow the planning inspectorate's positive recommendation, with energy security and the economic boost it would bring critical to the decision-making process. The issues that have led to a third delay to a scheme that could create 4,000 to 10,000 jobs with a purpose-built, renewables-focused port and logistics facility at North Killingholme, are not insurmountable, but frustrating, according to Teesside-based Able UK group development director Neil Etherington. He said: "It is frustrating, but these are things we can resolve. We will get these things sorted out within the timescale that has been announced. We have already invested £30-million into protecting species of birds, changing 430 acres of farmland into wetland. It is too early to talk in detail, but we will be having meetings with both Network Rail and Natural England over the course of the next few days. "It has been a very complex review, evaluation and inspection, and it was pleasing to see the recommendation of consent from the examiners, and that the Secretary of State is minded to follow that. "It is a champagne on ice moment, rather than the cork is popped today." A response has been requested by the Department for Transport by September 25, addressing a "substantial risk of ecological compensation measures not working", and that the project will "not jeopardise any future operations of the Killingholme Branch railway". This response will then be published with comments invited from interest parties over a further month. Mr Baker will then consider it all before reaching a final decision. Reaching today's position where he is minded to agree, Mr Baker was said to consider "the project would play a part in ensuring the security of energy supplies by contributing to the development of renewable energy in the form of offshore wind; it would support economic growth by creating a new cluster of offshore energy businesses in and around the development; and would help to meet the expected substantial demand for port capacity to support the offshore wind industry". The scheme, championed by global wind energy pioneers, involves 325 acres of land around the last strategic deep water bank of the Humber, assembled over the past decade. An element of the consent involves compulsory purchase of some outstanding land parcels – including 11 acres from Associated British Ports, which the Secretary of State has no issue with. The Humber corridor is critical for offshore wind in the UK, with more than a third of the total capacity planned up to 2020 in favourable sailing time. Grimsby has already established itself as a key operations and maintenance hub for southern North Sea farms, stretching from the Greater Wash to the North Yorkshire coast. Centrica, Siemens, Dong Energy, E.on and RES are all now established in the town, with indigenous companies also heavily involved in the sector. Cllr Liz Redfern, leader of North Lincolnshire council, said: "I take today's announcement as a major leap forward in the creation of the Able Marine Energy Park. It is subject to a couple of issues being resolved, but I am confident that these can be sorted in time for the Government's final decision in December. "The land in North Lincolnshire is without doubt the biggest enterprise zone in the UK. It will totally transform the Northern Lincolnshire economy and wider region. "This project will well and truly unlock the economic potential of this area and will have a major impact on local industry; not least it will initially create 500 construction jobs, plus thousands more." The importance nationally was underlined too. Deputy chief executive of trade body RenewableUK, Maf Smith, said: "Today's announcement marks an important step forward in the development of the UK's offshore wind manufacturing sector. This project demonstrates the massive scale of the opportunity we have to revitalise coastal areas around the country, creating tens of thousands of green-collar jobs by focussing specifically on marine renewables. "Development of sites like this will be important in building a national and regional cluster of supply chain companies.. We know that the Government wants to take more time to look at certain aspects of the decision, and we look forward to their swift examination of these details so that we can get a green light once and for all and the project can start providing the economic boost for the area that we know it can. "This summer has proved to be a watershed season for the UK's offshore wind industry. The Prime Minister David Cameron officially opened the world's largest offshore wind farm, London Array, and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg opened the Lincs offshore wind farm. Looking ahead, Government has given planning consent to an even bigger project, Triton Knoll, to be built off the east coast of England. This means that the work is out there for ports to capitalise on.. We know that the UK is the top destination for offshore wind investment and this is the type of project we need to make sure British companies and workers feel the benefits of that investment."

Minister 'minded to agree' consent for Able Marine Energy Park


Pedestrian hit by bus on Laceby Road in Grimsby

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POLICE closed off a road in Grimsby for more than an hour after a pedestrian was hit by a bus this morning. The incident happened at 9.30am on Laceby Road, near the junction of Chelmsford Avenue. A woman in her 20s was injured and taken to Grimsby's Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital for treatment to undetermined - but not life-threatening - injuries. The road is now open. Keep checking here for more information.

Pedestrian hit by bus on Laceby Road in Grimsby

Peter Chapman: For Your Eyes Only at The 'Sheaf in Louth

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IT was disappointing to discover that The Wheatsheaf public house in Louth's leafy Westgate may not have played host to actor Daniel Craig, the Putin-like hero of recent James Bond films. The visitor who, noticeably did not remove his sunglasses and hat may well have looked like him. But, we are told, on one of the suggested sightings he was not only not in The Wheatsheaf but also not in Louth nor, indeed, in Britain. Mistakes can easily be made especially in respectable pubs like The Wheatsheaf. Just such a one in Farnham, Surrey – The Bush (hotel) – was a favourite of mine many years ago and one day about 1963 I was approached by a sheepish customer and asked for my autograph. Who, I asked, did the lady think I was? Well, she said, you're Gerald Harper, aren't you? For folks who do not recall that name I remind you that he was star of the Adam Adamant series and other equally famous TV programmes. He was also a good looking chap ... which made me think my autograph hunter needed specs. (Mind you, my mother wasn't surprised. But that's mothers for you!) But when I continued to be mistaken for Harper G – and it kept happening – I simply signed the autograph books largely to save long-winded and convincing explanations. It is a fact, however, that well known people have frequented The Wheatsheaf in its long history. I recall seeing Kate O'Mara there one day in the early 80s. And it really was her. No, I didn't ask for her autograph. Nor, sadly, did she ask for mine!

In the courts of North East Lincolnshire...

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THE following people have been sentenced at Grimsby Magistrates' Court: Paul Humphrey, 34, of Priors Close, New Waltham, was found guilty in his absence of driving without insurance on Durban Road, on March 21, 2013. His licence was endorsed with six penalty points, fined £600 and ordered to pay £85 costs and £60 victims' surcharge. Macauley Roberts, 18, of Neville Street, Cleethorpes, admitted stealing four cans of Stella Artois, valued at £5.49, on June 5, 2013. He was given a six-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £5.49 compensation. Nathan Smith, 23, of Wootton Road, Grimsby, admitted damaging a front door of a property on April 3, 2013. He was given a six-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £200 compensation. John Webster, 30, of Hague Avenue, Rotherham, admitted between December 1 and December 31, 2012, sending a letter to a person, from HMP Everthorpe, while prohibited by a restraining order imposed by Grimsby and Cleethorpes Magistrates Court on November 9, 2012. He was given a six-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £15 victims' surcharge. Steven Woods, 30, of Stanley Street, Grimsby, admitted stealing an electric razor, valued at £93.96, belonging to Asda and being in possession of a Stanley knife, on June 13, 2013, while subject to a six-month conditional discharge imposed by Grimsby and Cleethorpes Magistrates Court for theft on January 10, 2013. He was given a six-month community order to participate in a chance to change activity for nine days. The Stanley knife was forfeited and destroyed and he was ordered to pay £85 costs and £60 victims' surcharge. Malcolm Furness, 55, of Macaulay Street, Grimsby, admitted failing to comply with a community order made by Grimsby and Cleethorpes Magistrates Court on February 19, 2013. The community order was made more onerous to have treatment for drug dependency at Addaction, Cleethorpe Road, Grimsby. Luke Page, 30, of Harold Street, Grimsby, admitted stealing four cans of lager, valued at £5, belonging to Wellington Street Stores, on July 6, 2013; also being in possession of a quantity of cannabis, a controlled drug class B on July 6, 2013. He was given a six-month community order to participate in a alcohol activity and ordered to pay a £60 victims' surcharge. Darren Bowditch, 34, of Monkston Park, Milton Keynes, admitted drink-driving in Kings Road, on July 26, 2013. A breath test revealed he had 67mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg. He was disqualified from driving for 16 months, fined £200 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £20 victims' surcharge. Dean Campbell, 21, of Coniston Avenue, Grimsby, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm on March 31, 2012. He was given a six-month community order and ordered to ay £250 compensation. Anthony Setterfield, 50, of Pasture Street, Grimsby, admitted assault, by beating, on May 24, 2013. He was given a nine-month community order and ordered to pay £250 costs and £60 victims' surcharge. Jonathan West, 22, 0f Springbank, Grimsby, admitted using threatening behaviour towards police officers on May 4, 2013 while subject to an antisocial behaviour order. He was given a six-month community order and ordered to pay £85 costs and £60 victims' surcharge. Carl Forson, 36, of Hainton Avenue, Grimsby, admitted being in possession of a torch, gloves and spanner in connection with a theft on August 17, 2013; also receiving stolen goods, on August 10 and 12, 2013. He was committed to prison for three-months. James Woodward, 36, of Imperial Avenue, Cleethorpes, admitted failing to comply with a community order made by Bath and Wansdyke Magistrates Court on February 1, 2013. The community order was made more onerous to participate in a specified activity for five days. Ian Taylor, 26, of Boulevard Way, Grimsby, admitted damaging a police van window on September 7, 2012. He was ordered to pay £110 in compensation and £85 costs.

In the courts of North East Lincolnshire...

'Now here we are – celebrating our 60th year together'

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A COUPLE are celebrating 60 years of happy marriage after falling in love at first sight.

Ron and Chris Cooper, of Grimsby, met at a Christmas party in 1948, an event which left Chris knowing she would marry Ron.

Chris said: "Ron walked me home afterwards.

"The next night we went out and my friend walked me home. I turned to her and said I am going to marry him, and she told me not to be daft.

"Now here we are – celebrating our 60th year together.

"Ron was always late. Every date we went on he would be late for it, yet he was always on time for his football!

"We courted for about six years before we married at the Holy Trinity Church, in Loughborough.

"We spent our honeymoon in Scarborough and just like our wedding day, it was boiling hot.

"I don't really enjoy the beach but we both liked looking around and taking in the beautiful surroundings.

"We also enjoy browsing antique shops, which is why there are so many bits in the house.

"Every time someone comes round and shows an interest in something, I tell them to take it away."

Ron said: "I really like sports, especially when it's on the telly.

"I used to run a lot. I ran the London Marathon in 1986 and I still hold a faster time than my grandson.

"Now we are very happy to relax and spend time in the garden."

Chris added: "He spends a lot of his time in the allotment and I am happy to relax here.

"I think that is what is key to a long, happy marriage. Being able to get on and not arguing.

"The most important thing, however, is making sure the last thing you say to each other every night is I love you.

"Even if you are apart always call and say it.

"We think it is quite an achievement to reach 60 years and according to the card, so does the Queen."

Ron added: "It was nice to get the card, but I don't know how she knew about our anniversary – she didn't even put any money in it!"

'Now here we are   – celebrating our 60th year together'

Fractious about the fracking? Or is it a necessity?

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The word 'fracking' has become a staple of news reports recently. The Grimsby Telegraph's parliamentary correspondent, David Torrance, explores the controversial subject and what it means to North East Lincolnshire.

EVER since drilling companies suggested that trillions of cubic feet of shale gas might be recoverable from underneath parts of northern England, the word "fracking" has become a fixture of the political lexicon.

And it is a controversial one. For many, particularly in the Conservative Party, fracking – the process of injecting high-pressure water, sand and chemicals into shale rock in order to release gases – offers a cheap, domestic solution to the UK's future energy needs.

But to opponents, the technique has cons as well as pros.

Environmental campaigners point to the United States, where fracking has revolutionised the energy industry but also given rise to concerns about contamination of water supplies and even minor tremors.

That may sound far fetched but in 2011, Blackpool experienced two small earthquakes measuring 1.5 and 2.2 on the Richter Scale following local fracking.

Drillers claim this is due to bad practice rather than the process itself.

Nevertheless, fracking is firmly on the UK political agenda.

Earlier this month the Prime Minister said the process could result in cheaper energy bills, thousands of jobs and windfalls for communities affected.

He also pledged that fracking would not damage the British countryside and would only result in a "very minor change to the landscape".

Cleethorpes MP Martin Vickers is one of those "generally" in favour of exploring the potential of fracking.

"Clearly tests have got to be made and I'm mindful of potential hazards," he said, "but I have seen no evidence it's excessively dangerous.

"Because of our energy needs it's something any sensible government should explore."

Although much speculation has focused on sites in the north of England – described as "desolate" by the Tory peer Lord Howell – none of the geological surveys have indicated that North East Lincolnshire would be directly affected by fracking activity.

"I have seen maps which shows it extending into Lincolnshire, but not necessarily into my constituency," Mr Vickers continued.

"Obviously the energy companies are focusing on large reserves, and that's not this area."

But Dr Vicky Dunn, co-ordinator of the Green Party in North East Lincolnshire and a candidate in next year's European Parliament elections, believes fracking is distracting energy firms and the Governments from investing in renewable sources of energy.

"We don't want to drain any public support from renewables," she said, "while there are a lot of worries about it and we don't want to be chasing off in wrong direction; renewables are a lot more certain.

"Now it may be at some point fracking can deliver something, but we're worried about water contamination and safety – it seems like a pretty dodgy avenue to go down when we have other options."

Dr Dunn also rejects the US analogy used by many supportive MPs.

"It simply is not going to be like it is in America, where they've got big open spaces; it's more difficult here," she said.

It might also lead to US-style anti-fracking protests.

For the last few weeks the West Sussex village of Balcombe has found itself at the centre of noisy demonstrations near a test-drilling site.

Policing it is costing millions, while the Green Party MP Caroline Lucas was even arrested.

This week, meanwhile, George Hollingbery, a Parliamentary Private Secretary to Home Secretary Theresa May became the first Conservative MP to break ranks, warning that fracking could be "disastrous" in the part of Hampshire he represents.

There are also concerns about the extent to which local authorities will benefit from fracking deals. Lancaster and Wyre MP Ben Wallace believes the one per cent of revenues agreed between the industry and Government is "risible", particularly as only a third of that figure will actually end up in council coffers.

Mr Vickers accepts there are details that need to be ironed out, but he still thinks fracking "is a must".

"We have energy cost problems," he said.

"And we've got to consider every option as we can't end up being reliant on gas reserves under Russian control.

"Fracking is essentially an opportunity to – in effect – replace North Sea gas, and so we've just got to bite the bullet."

In fact, the bullet was bitten some time ago.

Over the past few decades more than 2,000 onshore wells have been drilled in the UK, approximately 200 of which have used techniques similar to fracking. But what is new is the political controversy surrounding the technique.

In that sense, although Government ministers may have thrown their weight behind fracking, the hard part is just about to begin.

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Fractious about the fracking? Or is it a necessity?

Ex-police chief arrested over alleged assault and stalking

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A SENIOR member of Humberside Police staff has been arrested on suspicion of assault and stalking.

Retired Chief Superintendent Colin Andrews, pictured, who now works as business manager for the force's criminal justice unit, was held after a woman and man were allegedly assaulted.

The experienced detective has been released on bail and suspended from his job while officers investigate.

It is believed Mr Andrews, 57, spent a night in the cells at a police station in Hull after the arrest on Tuesday.

During his career as a police officer, which began in 1975, he was involved in cases on the south bank, including the investigation into the death of skydiver Stephen Hilder, at Hibaldstow airfield, in July, 2003.

He headed up the force's operations branch and oversaw the investigation into the murder of nine-year-old Aaron Smith, who died in a fire started by his stepfather, David Burtonshaw, in 2005.

He was also responsible for reopening the investigation into the murder of Hessle driving instructor Keith Slater, who was stabbed on his doorstep in 1988. It led to the conviction of Martin Brown for his murder in 2007.

Mr Andrews retired as a police officer last year, but took on a civilian role within the criminal justice unit.

He continues to work as a senior investigating officer and has recently concluded a two-and-a-half year investigation into historic sexual abuse at the St William's children's home, in Market Weighton.

A spokesman for the force said: "Police were called at 7.09pm on Tuesday reporting an alleged assault of a 38-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman outside an address in Park Grove, Hull.

"Police resources were deployed and a 57-year-old Hull man was arrested at 7.50pm on the same evening in west Hull.

"The 57-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of two counts of assault by beating and one of stalking. He has been subsequently released on police bail pending further inquiries.

"He is a police member of staff and has been suspended, pending further investigation."

Both assault by beating and stalking carry maximum prison sentences of six months and can only be tried by magistrates.

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Ex-police chief arrested over alleged  assault and stalking

Strictly Come Dancing teaser trailer released

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The first teaser trailer for the new series of Strictly Come Dancing has been released. Waltham dance star Kevin Clifton will appear on the hit BBC TV show alongside fiance and fellow professional Karen Hauer. Kevin will join the programme alongside four other new dancers; Anya Garnis, Iveta Lukosiute, Aljaz Skornajec and former So You Think You Can Dance USA finalist Janette Manrara. The quintet have stepped in following the departures of Erin Boag, Vincent Simone, Flavia Cacace and Aliona Vilani earlier this year.
Vanessa Feltz was this morning confirmed as the first of fifteen celebrities who will whirl - or possibly be dragged - around the famous Strictly dance floor. Other big names rumoured to feature in the new series, which begins on September 7, include X Factor judge Louis Walsh, rugby player Ben Cohen, designer Julien Macdonald, singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor, model Abbey Clancy and Hairy Bikers cook Dave Myers.

Strictly Come Dancing teaser trailer released


Time to be called on 4,000 pubs, says drinkers' guide

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Is your local pub stuck in the 1980s? Editors of the Good Pub Guide 2014, estimate between 2,500 and 4,000 pubs in Britain will go out of business in the next year for offering "indifferent" food and failing to modernise. Though the potential closures are bad news for staff and customers, the new edition of the national guide, published today, says it is high time "bad pubs" went out of business, giving visionary and energetic licensees a chance to open new ones. In addition to forecasting the demise of thousands of outdated pubs, the guide also highlights a north/south divide when it comes to the price of a pint. Drinkers in the south-east, including London, Kent and Sussex, fork out the most for a pint with a beer in the capital costing an average of £3.60. Meanwhile, pub-goers in many northern counties can enjoy a pint for little more than £3 with Staffordshire pubs offering the best average price at just £2.95.

Time to be called on 4,000 pubs, says drinkers' guide

'Insensitive' plans for funeral home near OAPs get go-ahead

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CONTROVERSIAL plans to open a funeral home next to a housing complex for elderly people have been given the go-ahead.

Sentiments Funeral Home Ltd was yesterday granted planning permission to convert a disused doctors surgery in Aspen Court, Cleethorpes, into a funeral directors.

The application provoked a furious response from residents, who say the choice of location is "extremely insensitive".

However, Sentiments insist the building will be used as a satellite office for its accounts department, and that all funerals will continue to leave from its main premises in Chantry Lane, Grimsby.

Speaking at yesterday's Planning Committee meeting, Sentiments director Gary Walters attempted to reassure residents over its planned use of the building.

"We would like to apologise to any of the residents if we have caused them distress," he said.

"The last thing we would want is to cause upset to anyone. We have also been very considerate to our neighbours in Chantry Lane."

Mr Walters told the committee that although viewings could be arranged at its new Cleethorpes branch if necessary, these would be avoided "wherever possible".

He added: "There will be no hearses or florists going in every day. All the funerals will leave from Chantry Lane as they do now. No preparation work will be carried out at the premises."

Ward councillor Margaret Cracknell (Con, Haverstoe), speaking on behalf of residents, expressed concerns about the inclusion of a chapel of rest and preparation room in the plans.

She said: "Just about every dwelling surrounding the site is occupied by an elderly person and the proximity of the nearest dwelling is very close. For such a distance this use is beyond belief."

Councillor Cracknell also expressed concern about the proximity of the building to the Annie Chapple Centre, which hosts events for young and old alike.

"Residents who use the centre are upset with this proposal. Residents feel very strongly that walking past the application site they could be confronted by the to-ing and fro-ing of a coffin."

The application was approved by six votes to five.

Speaking after the decision, Clifford Denison, 80, who lives above the proposed funeral home, said: "It's disgusting. It should never have been put in.

"This is upsetting people on the estate – most of them are over 50."

Another Aspen Court resident Mary Ward, 74, said: "We don't want it. We are all elderly and we don't want reminding of what's going to be. The Annie Chapple holds parties for children and it will not be very nice for them."

Bob Ayling, 79, chairman of the Belvoir Park Residents' Association, said: "I'm against it. To me it is not exactly the place to have a funeral directors."

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'Insensitive' plans for funeral home near OAPs get go-ahead

Shock as large snake pops out of drain in Cleethorpes

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A LARGE black snake which popped up out of a drain in a back garden in Cleethorpes – in front of a shocked Cleethorpes family – may not be the only one!

The Peck family were shocked to see the Mexican King Snake slither out of the grate covering a drain at their home in Mill Place.

Reptile experts say the constrictor snake – which can grow up to 4ft long – may have hatched from a nest of eggs, which could have been laid in the sewers of Grimsby and Cleethorpes.

Petrified Linda Peck said: "My husband Geoff and I walked past our back door, which is made of glass, and saw what looked like a very large slug on the drain.

"My husband went outside to have a better look but it had gone back down.

"About ten minutes later, we looked again and saw the head of the snake poking out.

"It began to come out of the drain and towards the house. I was terrified – there was a big black snake coming out of a drain towards us!

"We shut the door and called my son, Simon, who is a firefighter and is afraid of nothing.

"Simon tried to pick it up but it snapped at him so he put a recycling box on top of it.

"He then remembered seeing a reptile shop nearby that was opening the next day, so he ran to the shop hoping to find somebody.

"Fortunately there were people inside and they came straight out to help. They identified the snake and told us it was not venomous, which was a relief.

"I spoke to some of the neighbours afterwards and they said they had seen the snake in the street about three weeks ago.

"I never want to see it again in my life."

Simon said: "When mum called me, she was crying down the phone. I thought somebody had died until she finally explained it.

"I was expecting to find a grass snake or something small. It was a lot a bigger than that when I arrived.

"It was a deep black colour and I thought it might be venomous.

"I have seen a lot of shows on the TV about snakes and I tried to grab its tail but it tried to twist round so I let it go. I got a shovel to cover its face and covered it with a recycling box. "We were very lucky there was somebody at the reptile shop to help."

Charlotte Marshall, the owner of Medusa's Reptiles, in Dolphin Square, Cleethorpes, came to the family's aid. She said: "This guy came running in saying there was a big snake in the garden and could we help. As he described it, we knew straight away it was a Mexican King Snake. We picked up a plastic container and a stick and went to the house. The snake looked quite skinny, like it hadn't eaten in a while.

"They are quite common as pets because they are easy to look after. It was very young, so either someone has bought it recently or a female snake has escaped a few months ago and has laid eggs.

"He could be one of the hatchlings living in the drains.

"My advice when dealing with any snake you find is not to go near them. Call a specialist and stay well away from the snake."

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Shock as large snake pops out of drain in Cleethorpes

Taking part in Great British Bake Off was 'real privilege' for Lucy Bellamy

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SCARTHO'S Great British Bake Off star has spoken of the pressure appearing on the top show after being voted off – but she's not crying over spilt milk!

Lucy Bellamy sadly failed to impress judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood with her simple tomato bread, made from produce out of her garden.

The 38-year-old also came last in the muffin challenge, which she admits she has never made before.

Lucy said: "I was really looking forward to bread week because I love making it – but Mary and Paul didn't love my bakes.

"I went for bread with flavour and I think they were looking for more of a show-stopper.

"For my tomato bread, I used basil, tomatoes and garlic from my garden.

"I had a long chat with Mary about gardening and produce. She said because she lives in the South, she can grow different things."

Lucy got into baking by growing her own fruit and veg. She learned to bake from her paternal grandmother and one of her biggest passions is bread.

Judge Paul described her bread as "just a cob loaf with tomatoes on it".

However, Mary said: "It's exactly what you say it is; a tomato bread.

"It has a really good flavour to it."

Lucy said the most challenging part of the programme was the pressure.

"You make different decisions while being filmed," she explained.

"The pressure is quite a factor and makes you do different things than you would normally do at home."

Lucy also struggled with creating muffins.

She said: "I have never made them before and you can't practise making them before the show.

"It was difficult because I have never cooked bread on the hob before.

"It was the most challenging part."

Paul described her muffins as too small and doughy as they were raw inside.

Lucy added: "When I came last in the muffin round, I was pretty sure it was myself going because I had a good idea how everyone else was doing.

"I'm not upset I'm out of the programme, I went in it for fun.

"It was a real privilege to cook for Paul and Mary because they give you so much feedback – more than you see on screen.

"Paul is fantastic, he's such an expert on bread. He can tell you by just looking at it what you have used and how much longer it needed in the oven."

Lucy still keeps in touch with the Bake Off team.

"I particularly keep in touch with Francis and Howard, but all of us meet up for dinner and talk about baking," she said.

"We all got together last week and had a great time."

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Taking part in Great British Bake Off was 'real privilege' for Lucy Bellamy

'Small matters' separate Humber from energy park dream

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MEETINGS with involved parties will be held in the coming days to thrash out the two "small matters" that separate the Humber from realising much of its energy estuary dream. The future of a disused railway branch line and assurances about compensation habitats are matters than can be addressed to give what is hoped will be smooth final passage for Able Marine Energy Park at North Killingholme, according to developer Able UK and North Lincolnshire Council. Yesterday's confirmation that the Under Secretary of State for Transport, Norman Baker, is "minded to approve the project" was tempered with a further delay until December 18 to allow for the remaining issues with the 906-acre site to be resolved, as first reported on www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk With industry-wide unrelated delays over policy and subsidy, group development director Neil Etherington, while frustrated, is not concerned about the impact another few months will have on a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," of bringing forward the renewable energy focused port facility of monumental scale. "It is obviously good news that the panel which carried out the very detailed and complex examination of our application recommended granting consent," he said. "Ministers do recognise the regeneration and economic benefits for both the local area and the wider development of the offshore renewable energy industry. "At the same time it has to be said that a further delay is disappointing." The original recommendation, until yesterday confidential, was given in February, with an original decision anticipated in May, and then July. "One has to wonder why the issues relating to the concerns of Natural England and the question of protecting future operations of the Killingholme branch railway could not have been dealt with at the same time," he said. "This application has been under consideration for around four years and, as part of the planning process, we have put forward measures to spend over £35-million protecting wildlife and the environment. "We will be taking immediate steps to address the issues raised and sincerely hope that there will be no further delays." Unperturbed by the issues raised, Marcus Walker, head of planning and regeneration at North Lincolnshire Council, said: "It is very good news that the Secretary of State has given a clear indication where he wants to go with the application. We now need to tie up a couple of loose ends. "There are two issues, one is the unused little branch line, so we need to talk to Network Rail to resolve that, and the second is the black tailed godwit, on which £35-million has already been spent with a compensation scheme on the north bank. "We have to have further discussions with Natural England to convince them further on the practicality of delivering that site. We will work alongside Able on that. We have worked with them for the last five years and we will continue to do so to bring these small matters to a close." A response has been requested by the Department for Transport by September 25, addressing a "substantial risk of ecological compensation measures not working", and that the project will "not jeopardise any future operations of the Killingholme Branch railway" – last used in 2005. This response will then be published, with comments invited over a further month. Mr Baker will then consider it all before reaching a final decision. In reaching his position, Mr Baker was said to recognise "the project would play a part in ensuring the security of energy supplies by contributing to the development of renewable energy in the form of offshore wind; it would support economic growth by creating a new cluster of offshore energy businesses in and around the development; and would help to meet the expected substantial demand for port capacity to support the offshore wind industry". 'Giant step forward' AREA politicians have welcomed the Government's stance moving forward. Constituency MP Martin Vickers (Cleethorpes & Immingham) has championed it together with fellow South Bank MPs, the two local authorities and the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership, throughout. He said: "It is a giant step forward. In effect the minister has given his agreement subject to two issues. Able UK is reasonably confident they can resolve the issues. "It is another show of confidence by the Government in northern Lincolnshire and the Humber region. It has been a long battle but we are almost there now. The Secretary of State also acknowledges 9,000 potential jobs, which as a figure, no-one has contested. That is a massive boost for the area." Councillor Liz Redfern, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: "I take this as a major leap forward in the creation of Able Marine Energy Park. It is subject to a couple of issues being resolved, but I am confident that these can be sorted in time. "This project will well and truly unlock the economic potential of this area and will have a major impact on local industry; creating thousands more jobs."
Editor's Comment News today that the £450 million Able UK marine energy park plan has once again been put on hold is not too disappointing, as the announcement came with the strongest hint yet that Under Secretary of State for Transport, Norman Baker MP, could grant the necessary permission. The issues that have led to a third delay to a scheme that could create thousands of jobs are not insurmountable, but it is frustrating that the project has been delayed still further. But let's keep the champagne on ice! Meanwhile, the topic of fracking – another method being looked at to meet our future energy supplies – is discussed on today's Business Telegraph Extra spread. Would you welcome it in North East Lincolnshire or, as with many things, would we prefer watch from a safe distance? We may not know, yet, whether the method of injecting high-pressure water, sand and chemicals into shale rock in order to release gases offers a cheap, domestic solution to the UK's future energy needs. Or what real risks are linked to it. What is certain is that fracking is firmly on the UK political agenda, and this will not be the last we have heard of it.

'Small matters' separate Humber from energy park dream

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