THERE is an "excessive need" for affordable housing in North East Lincolnshire, according to experts acting for the developer behind a plan to build 400 homes in Humberston.

Yesterday, the second day of an appeal hearing into Keystone Developments (LG) Ltd's proposal was heard at Grimsby Town Hall.

As reported, the company has appealed against a decision made by local planning councillors to refuse the plan.

The application was met with widespread opposition from residents and councillors, and was twice rejected by North East Lincolnshire's Planning Committee.

After the second refusal in April this year, developer Keystone Developments, part of Longhurst group, lodged an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.

This week's hearing is being presided over by Jessica Graham. At its conclusion, a recommendation will be made to Communities Secretary Eric Pickles, who will make the final decision.

During yesterday's proceedings, Keystone called two experts to give evidence in favour of allowing the application.

Traffic and transport development expert Mr Bennett said the area had good access to local facilities and shops, and easily accessed by public transport.

"The appeal site meets all the inclusive accessibility guidelines," he said.

"Traffic flow varies greatly in this area as it does anywhere, day to day, week to week.

"At the peak hour we have recorded only eight vehicles a minute, which is not particularly busy."

He was cross-examined by barrister Richard Langham, acting for North East Lincolnshire Council, who questioned Mr Bennett's evidence.

The second witness for Keystone was property consultant Mr Bainbridge, who said: "There is an excessive need for affordable housing in North East Lincolnshire.

"The site is sustainable and it will make a substantial addition to the current need for housing."

During the first day of the hearing, senior planning officer Joanne Farrar, acting on behalf of North East Lincolnshire Council, said allowing the development would harm the regeneration of Grimsby.

She said there is already housing land available in Grimsby and development of another greenfield site instead of a brownfield site would undermine the council's strategy to develop the area's many brownfield sites.

In response yesterday, Mr Bainbridge said: "I have not seen any correlation in or evidence that has shown that developing greenfield sites impacts on the development of brownfield sites."

CONCERNS have been raised about the rate at which empty properties in North East Lincolnshire are being brought back into use.

The council currently aims to bring 52 disused homes back into a habitable condition during 2013 – just two more than last year.

Speaking at the latest regeneration, environment and housing scrutiny panel, Councillor Karl Wilson (Labour, Heneage) said: "I think empty homes are blighting the community and are a target for anti-social behaviour.

"There was talk of raising the number brought back into use each year, but an increase from 50 to 52 seems very slight for such a key issue."

Responding to the comments, head of development Jason Longhurst said the number of empty homes being returned to use each year was just 30 three years ago.

He added: "We have got to balance the budget.

"It remains a key priority but this is a realistic figure for delivery without us needing significant additional resources."

Councillor Philip Jackson (Conservative, Waltham) said: "Compared to the 2,000 or so empty homes in the borough, bringing 50 per year back into use seems like a drop in the ocean."

Councillor Ray Oxby (Labour, South) added that he believes extra resources need to be allocated to target empty homes.

He added: "I recognise the resource constraints we are operating under, but I have real concerns about empty homes leading neighbourhoods in a vicious downward spiral.

"We need to consider the wider issue that stimulates the housing market and housing demand, and that is the economy."

Councillor Andrew De Freitas (Liberal Democrat, Park) said one way of encouraging private landlords to improve their properties would be to tax them.

He added: "Empty homes are a problem all across North East Lincolnshire.

"We need to be more proactive in taxing private landlords so that they bring their properties back into use.

"These are often substantial properties in desirable areas but unless there is some incentive to carry out the work, then landlords will continue to sit on them as a future investment.

"There are properties in my ward with a lot of potential but they are sat there doing nothing."

Councillor Jane Hyldon-King (Labour, Yarborough) said the authority must be wary of offering incentives for development to private landlords.

She added: "Unfortunately there are a handful of unscrupulous private landlords out there and I have heard cases of them being given grants to improve properties and then pocketing the money and not carrying out the work."

GRIMSBY Town legend John McDermott will be visiting a town bookstore on Sunday to sign copies of his eagerly-awaited autobiography.

The former right back, who played for the club for a whopping 20 seasons, will be visiting Waterstones in Grimsby's Freshney Place from noon to greet fans and sign copies of It's Not All Black And White.

The book, which was released in August, promises to lift the lid on his remarkable career and gives a humorous and interesting insight to his time at Blundell Park.

Author Simon Ashbury, who co-wrote the book with Macca, said: "John is a true Grimsby Town legend and many people have been waiting for him to write a book about his career.

"It's certainly a very entertaining read and I've enjoyed writing it immensely.

"John has got some very, very funny anecdotes from during his career at Blundell Park.

He added: "I hope it will give Grimsby Town fans a real insight into the life of a footballer away from the glare of the Premier League.

"I do hope that fans will find it an entertaining and interesting read."

John, who still holds the record for his number of appearances with the club, was awarded Grimsby Town Player of the Year three times throughout his career.

A spokesman for Waterstones said: "We're really pleased to have John with us, he's a local legend and we can't wait to meet him ourselves.

"We expect his visit to be very popular with local football fans and we're really looking forward to it in store."

Amanda Austin, centre director at Freshney Place, said: "This is really exciting news, John McDermott is extremely popular with football fans in the local area and his visit will be much anticipated I am sure.

"We're very proud to have him visit Freshney Place, he's a great role model to any young football fan and we're really looking forward to having him with us."

Sports news starts on page 43 today.

DO YOU know a very special person who deserves the honour of switching on the Christmas lights in Grimsby this year?

The festive season may seem a long way off, but preparations are already underway for The Big Christmas Event 2013, which will take over Top Town on November 21 and 22.

Last year's inaugural celebration of all things festive – run by the Grimsby Telegraph and North East Lincolnshire Council, along with key partners – was a huge success.

And the 2013 extravaganza promises to be bigger and better than ever before.

Editor Michelle Lalor said: "Christmas is a magical time and this event is all about harnessing that festive spirit and bringing people together.

"There was a fantastic atmosphere last year and there's going to be even more attractions and reasons to discover Grimsby at Christmas this time around.

"The most important person at the event will be whoever is chosen to switch on the lights – so get nominating now!"

You could nominate a tireless fundraiser, an inspirational business leader, or simply a brilliant parent – the choice is yours!

All you need to do is fill out the online form below.

Who knows, your VIP could be travelling in Santa's Sleigh and illuminating Grimsby for the festive season!

Telegraph advertising director, Rachel Salter, said: "Last year was a roaring success and brought big crowds to the streets of Grimsby.

"This year promises to be even better and over the coming weeks we will share details of the entertainment and fun that will shape this year's event.

"Keep reading your Telegraph to find out more!

"The people of Grimsby and the surrounding area deserve this event and we hope to bring it to them for many years to come."

Jason Longhurst, head of development at the council, said: "After the success of last year's inaugural Christmas event in Grimsby, we are looking forward to bringing the town alive with festive spirit once again.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for people to come together and celebrate the advent of the festive season.

"As well as a market selling delicious local produce, shops will be opening late allowing people to stock up on gifts and essentials ready for Christmas.

"There will be plenty of entertainment for all the family, so be sure to put the dates in your dairy today."

Amanda Austin, director of Freshney Place Shopping Centre, added: "We are delighted to be supporting the Christmas campaign again this year.

"We are very excited about the Christmas 2013 light switch-on and all of the events happening in both Freshney Place and across the town centre.

"Thursday, November 21 marks the launch of late-night shopping at the centre and is the start of the Christmas events, so make sure you put the date in your diaries!"

A SENIOR councillor has called for a clear statement on the future of a new football stadium for Grimsby Town FC after a further delay.

The deadline has passed on the submission of a study into a proposed football stadium next to Peaks Parkway.

Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on North East Lincolnshire Council, Councillor Andrew De Freitas, pictured, called on both the club and the council to make it clear to residents whether they intend building a stadium or not.

A study by consultants Simons was due to have been submitted to the council by the end of last month.

Councillor De Freitas said: "There are no plans for a stadium submitted."

Club director John Fenty said the club did not wish to comment.

A VIOLENT thug with a history of attacking women broke a woman's nose after angrily punching her during a confrontation.

She was left drifting in and out of consciousness and later needed an operation to repair her damaged nose, a court heard.

He had been repeatedly taunting and insulting her during a series of earlier problems between them, the court was told. Christian Madsen, 33, of Cooper Road, Grimsby, admitted assaulting Molly Webb, causing actual bodily harm, on November 11. Edward Bindloss, prosecuting, told Grimsby Crown Court that Miss Webb was with friends in a club in the early hours when Madsen kept pointing at her, branded her a flirt and claimed she was a "slag".

She tried to ignore him but, after she left with others to go to a house in Grimsby, he tagged along with the group and made more comments about her.

She asked him: "What's your problem?" and told him to leave her alone.

Madsen claimed Miss Webb threw a glass towards him, which missed, and that he punched her once. He pleaded guilty on the basis that he landed only one blow, even though serious injuries were caused. The prosecution could not prove otherwise, said Mr Bindloss.

"She was in and out of consciousness because of the blow," he said.

Miss Blow as taken to hospital and a cut above her eye was glued. She had a swollen and blackened eye.

Her nose was broken and she needed an operation to rectify it.

Madsen had convictions for wounding in 1999, when he knocked a man to the ground and punched and dragged him, and in 2001, when he hit a female in the face during a drunken argument, causing a wound that needed 16 stitches.

He also had a conviction for wounding and affray in 2008 when he got into an argument with a man at a taxi rank. The man's wife intervened and he punched her several times.

Andrew Bailey, mitigating, said it was five years since Madsen had been convicted of a violent offence.

There seemed to be a pattern where Madsen reacted to situations, rather than starting them, said Mr Bailey.

Judge Peter Clark told the court: "It's a bad record of getting involved in fights. He's hit a woman before and now he's hit another woman."

He told Madsen: "You are a big man. You swung a single blow because this woman threw a glass at you."

Unemployed Madsen, who has an 11-year-old child and three-year-old twins to look after, was given a 36-week suspended prison sentence, a one-year supervision order, 120 hours' unpaid work and a four-month 7pm to 7am curfew to stop him "going out on the razzle".

He must also pay a Government-imposed £80 victims' surcharge.

THERE is no substance to the council's refusal of a plan to build 400 homes on Humberston Avenue, according to the company behind it.

The statement came on the closing day of the appeal into the Keystone Development (LG) Ltd's proposal held at the Grimsby Town Hall.

As reported, the company has appealed against a decision made by North East Lincolnshire planning councillors to refuse the plan.

The application was met with widespread opposition from councillors and residents, and was rejected twice by North East Lincolnshire's Planning Committee.

After the second refusal in April this year, Keystone Developments, part of the Longhurst group, lodged an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.

The hearing, which started on Tuesday and finished yesterday, was presided over by inspector Jessica Graham.

Both Keystone and the Council gave their closing arguments for and against the passing of the application.

Speaking on behalf of North East Lincolnshire Council, solicitor Richard Langham explained that the current public transport provisions were inadequate and would lead to an over-reliance on the private car.

"No one would consider a 2.9km walk to the Tesco store or want the prospect of changing buses to get there," he said. "This would in turn create a larger burden on the already over-capacity junctions.

"I submit that these details show the location is not a sustainable development and for all the above reasons I ask you to recommend the refusal of planning permission.

On behalf of Keystone, Ian Dove QC said: "With information made clear during the scrutiny meeting there was no substance in the refusing of the planning application."

He went on to say: "There is a strong positive case for development of the appeal site that will bring about significant benefits in terms of housing in the region.

"In light of the information shown during the inquiry I believe there is no sensible basis to do other than recommend to the Secretary of State that planning permissions should be granted."

THE joint bosses will resist making wholesale changes for tomorrow's trip to Luton – despite the bitter disappointment of last weekend.

Paul Hurst revealed certain players have weakened their position in the side following last Saturday's humbling defeat to Nuneaton.

It is unsurprising therefore, that the duo will make 'one or two' changes for the trip to Bedfordshire.

But Hurst, right, insists that it will not be a totally different eleven that take to the field at Kenilworth Road tomorrow.

He said: "They've certainly left themselves open to being left out of the team tomorrow.

"I can tell you now that we won't be playing a totally different eleven but there will be one or two changes.

"I said at the time, there weren't many players that I could think of anything positive to say about so, the few that did perform stood out quite dramatically.

"I'm pretty sure that there'll be a couple of changes – an obvious one being Alan Goodall."

The Fleetwood full-back is expected to make his Mariners debut tomorrow as a direct replacement for the suspended Aswad Thomas.

The injured Sam Hatton will also miss the clash, while Clayton McDonald remains a doubt as he continues his own injury comeback.

But Hurst says that players such as Andy Cook, left, Scott Neilson and Ross Hannah are beginning to push for a recall to the first team.

He added: "People are giving us more reasons to consider them – Andy Cook being one of them.

"Scott Neilson is looking a lot sharper in training, so he's another one.

"We started Alex Rodman last week and he was one of our better players, and Ross is getting back up to speed.

"There's a lot of options there for us and it's up to us which ones we want to utilise.

"There will be changes, but the biggest change we want to see will be in performance and the desire and commitment.

"We want to see a vast improvement and we want to see a reaction from the players."

NEW car parking charges at Grimsby Hospital, which were introduced this week, have been labelled "extortionate" by disgruntled visitors.

As announced last month, free parking for up to 20 minutes has been scrapped, and replaced by a minimum charge of £2.50 for up to one hour. The cost for between one and two hours has gone up from £1.90 to £3.50.

The announcement came just days before it was revealed that hospital chief executive Karen Jackson had been awarded a £25,000 pay rise, and the new prices came into force on Sunday.

A Cleethorpes resident, who did not wish to be named, was outraged after being charged £3.50 for a visiting Accident & Emergency on Monday night.

She said: "It is extortionate. The frustration is that when they introduced parking charges in that car park it was to support security because previously there were a lot of break-ins. This is clearly not about security, it is about making revenue for the hospital.

"Evidence shows that having visitors helps patients in their recovery.

"Now people are going to think about how often they can afford to go and visit."

Dave Townend, of Scunthorpe, was equally annoyed after being charged £3.50 for visiting a relative on Sunday.

He said: "I was very angry to say the least. I do hope my relative isn't in hospital much longer. I did not see any notices in the car park or the hospital making me aware of the price increase, but now I know about it. I, like many others, will park on the road nearby."

Local councillors also fear the price hike will result in even more cars parking in the already congested residential streets surrounding the hospital.

Councillor Norma Lincoln (Lab, South) said: "There will be traffic chaos. People who are visiting their relatives are not going to pay the charges – they are going to park wherever they can find a space on the street. It is a damn shame it has come to this."

Councillor Andrew De Freitas (Lib Dem, Park) said: "People in my ward are already very much affected by the parking problems caused by many of the employees of the hospital using the side streets, and another hike in charges is going to make the problem even worse."

Councillor Ron Shepherd (UKIP, Scartho) said: "The parking is happening predominantly in the streets surrounding the hospital but we are also seeing cars parking down Pelham Avenue and other streets in the ward of Scartho. The charging for parking is just disgraceful and not justified."

THESE are the defiant words of stab victim Eric Chapman, who fended off a robber who tried to hijack a car in his getaway from a jewellers shop.

As reported, Grimsby robbers Christopher London, 25, and Damion Clark, 30, were locked up for a total of nearly 14 years after an armed robbery at Eastgate Jewellers, Louth, on June 24.

Passers-by disabled their getaway motorcycle as the pair, armed with hammers and wearing crash helmets, tried to flee at about 1.20pm after the daylight robbery.

Clark ran into Queen Street car park and tried to haul Grimsby businessman Eric Chapman, 62, from the driver's seat of his red Citroen C3.

As the ex-serviceman resisted, Clark pulled out a knife and stabbed him in the head, narrowly missing his right eye.

Sentencing the pair at Lincoln Crown Court on Tuesday the judge told Clark: "You opened the door and tried to drag him off, but he was made of stern stuff and did not budge."

Speaking to the Grimsby Telegraph, Mr Chapman said: "I'm a Yorkshireman, I am bound to be."

He added: "That car is my pride and joy. I have worked hard to get it and I wasn't going to let him have it."

He told how he was driving out of the car park when he saw the man in a crash helmet running towards his car, pursued by a number of other people.

Mr Chapman, who owns Mopp'nBucket cleaning business serving Grimsby, Cleethorpes and Louth said: "I did not know what he had done earlier. All of a sudden he wrenched the door open and tried to drag me out. He wasn't the sharpest tool in the box because I still had my seatbelt on, so I wasn't going anywhere no matter how hard he tried.

"Then this knife came out and he struck me at the side of my head. It was millimetres from my eye so the possibilities are more frightening than the reality. It could have been so much worse. But I have served in war zones, so it hasn't bothered me. I would do it again."

Within moments, police arrived and arrested Clark, who was charged and later convicted of unlawful wounding.

Mr Chapman said he took the rest of the day off on the advice of his wife Christine, but went back to work at 4am the next day.

He said: "I am fitter now than I have ever been in my life."

The business owner said he was disappointed he was not eligible for compensation because his injuries were classed as minor.

He told how police took him to the neighbouring doctor's surgery in Queen Street where he was treated for the cut to his eyebrow. There is still a lump there.

Mr Chapman said: "It was lucky I was wearing my glasses because the blade could have got my eye."

A DAD has been awarded a £6,000 payout after claiming bungled dental work left him in intense pain for years and in need of expensive corrective treatment.

Dockworker and single parent Darren Aldous, 42, of Immingham, sued Dr Ruben Calvo Parra Martinez, Dr Guillermo Enrique Madriz Dominguez and Dr Ignacio Jose Duran Puertas, who were working at the Medimatch dental practice in Cleethorpe Road, Grimsby, at the time, after claiming they failed to diagnose and treat deep-rooted tooth decay in several of his teeth. Mr Aldous has had to have crowns fitted – treatment that he says could have been avoided if his tooth decay had been treated.

He agreed a £6,000 out-of-court settlement with the dentists, who no longer work at the practice.

Mr Aldous told the Grimsby Telegraph: "Being a lone parent, it affected me badly for a long time as I was unable to sleep and you are never the same in the morning.

"I lost confidence because the first thing people see when you meet is a smile and when people don't see a smile, you end up feeling isolated.

"I can feel the difference now that I am with the community dentist in Cleethorpes."

He added: "It is not about the money. It is about other people who may experience the same treatment. I was passed on to three different dentists.

"I have had to have root canal work done and will have to have that every ten years. That is going to cost between £4,000 and £5,000."

Mr Aldous said: "I went to Dr Martinez in June 2008 because I had really painful toothache. I was told I needed three fillings. With this being a routine treatment I wasn't worried at the time. I also told him I could feel the root of a tooth from a previous extraction, but he assured me it was my wisdom tooth."

Continued pain caused Darren to return to the Grimsby practice in October. Dr Dominguez took X-rays which showed he had significant decay in two teeth and a retained root left from a previous tooth extraction, which confirmed Mr Aldous' earlier suspicions.

However, it was claimed Dr Dominguez failed to treat his tooth decay, but removed the remaining root in November and gave him a filling in one tooth in March 2009.

Mr Aldous returned and had six fillings and two teeth restored by Dr Puertas in February and March 2010.

He said: "I'd had enough. It felt like appointment after appointment and an endless list of treatments, meaning I had to take a lot of time off work for dental appointments, which was hard because I'm a single parent.

"I knew I needed a second opinion. I remained in constant pain and had been for over two years. My teeth were in such a bad condition, my confidence plummeted and I had bad anxiety during this time."

Mr Aldous registered at a different practice soon after, where his new dentist, Dr Agata Siemasko, found extensive decay in several teeth.

The Dental Law Partnership, which specialises in dental negligence, took up Mr Aldous' case and says it was provided with evidence that he suffered as a direct result of the treatment he received at Medimatch.

Emma Pearsall, his lawyer from the DLP, said: "X-rays clearly showed several of Darren's teeth were decaying. We would claim each dentist had the opportunity to diagnose and treat this but failed to do so. Darren now has to undergo several root canal treatments and have crowns fitted as a result of their treatment."

Medimatch dental practice declined to comment and it is understood the dentists involved in Mr Aldous' case no longer work at the practice.

None of the dentists admitted liability.