CALLS have been made for one of the main routes through Cleethorpes to have its speed limit reduced.

North East Lincolnshire Council's Environment And Housing Committee will decide on Tuesday whether or not to lower the limit on Taylor's Avenue from 40mph to 30mph.

It follows a petition from residents of 21 households in Brampton Way and the surrounding area.

They have called for a 10mph reduction in speed limit "due to the high volume of traffic" which they say is not regulated to 40mph, as well as a mini roundabout or pedestrian crossing at the junction with Middlethorpe Road.

According to council papers published ahead of the meeting, the residents said: "There have been numerous fatalities and accidents on this road over the years and the noise pollution that emits from this problem is getting worse to the extent that windows and doors have to be kept closed, even in the summer.

"Something must be done soon rather than later before more accidents occur."

Despite the calls, officers have recommended that the speed limit remain at 40mph.

They have, however, recommended that the provision of a signalised pedestrian crossing be explored.

Council documents confirm that over the last five years there have been nine collisions leading to injures between, but excluding, the Hewitts Circus roundabout and Lynton Rise, only four of which were serious. There have been no fatal collisions on the stretch for more than five years.

Concerns have also been raised by the residents about cyclists and motorcycle riders using the footway linking Taylor's Avenue and Brampton Way.

The council said: "The high proportion of two-wheeled vehicle involvement would tend to support the conjecture that these vehicles are being ridden along the footway as their riders perceive this to be safer than using the main Taylor's Avenue carriageway."

It added: "It would be inappropriate to consider lowering the current 40mph speed limit on Taylor's Avenue in its present form.

"The current road alignment encourages drivers to travel at or about 40mph.

"To impose an unrealistic and lower speedlimit would only pass the problem on to the police who would be faced with having to enforce a limit that few drivers naturally observe."

Other options considered included traffic features along Taylor's Avenue aimed at reducing speed and helping motorists trying to enter the busy road. But the measures were discounted "due to the current financial restrictions facing the council".

The meeting will also consider a petition from residents of the Granville Street area of Grimsby, calling for a reduction in the 30mph limit. Again, officers have recommended that the speed limit remain the same with some slight changes to current traffic flow.

Elsewhere, a petition has been lodged calling for the 30mph speed limit in Station Road, Great Coates, to be reduced to 20mph near the nursery.

Officers have again advised that the current speed limit remains the same.

Decisions on each of the matters will be made at the meeting on Tuesday.

New Year, New Home! Find dozens of properties for sale and to rent in Grimsby, Cleethorpes and northern Lincolnshire at grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/property

THERE are no prizes for guessing which Barnet player Paul Hurst has picked out as the main threat to Grimsby Town this lunchtime.

John Akinde is the league's current top scorer and the reigning Player of the Month having plundered six goals in December to take his tally to 21 ahead of today's visit to Blundell Park (12.45pm).

After facing the frontman at Alfreton last season – and having been credited with an interest signing him before his switch to the Bees – Hurst knows exactly what to expect of the former Crawley man, left, this afternoon.

"John is the obvious threat, in terms of his goals and what he does for the team," he said.

"Ahead of the defence, we'll be looking for some protection to stop the service into him and so we have to stay switched on today.

"Saying that, we gave out the same advice when he played for Alfreton last season, and then he won a penalty!

"I don't think you can get too tight, because he is a big strong lad, and if he turns and gets away he is very difficult to catch.

"So we have to make sure we stop the supply, because he is very dangerous."

While Akinde is the obvious threat, Hurst says it is the experience among the squad assembled by Martin Allen that have made them such a tough nut to crack this season.

"As well as John, they have got a lot of experience in the ranks," he added.

"They have managed to keep a fairly settled team, and lots of his big players have stayed fit. But there's no getting away from the fact Martin has got some good players there.

"They have got on a bit of a roll, and then managed to maintain that – it's up to us to make sure that stops today."

"I expect it to be quite physical at times," he continued.

"As a player, I wasn't the biggest, but I loved those games when you can have a little kick at each other. But then you have got to play your football.

"Hopefully the conditions are a little better than they have been for training at times this week – and certainly than they were against Gateshead.

"Barnet can mix their game up, but I believe we can too and so we have to try and get the crowd behind us, and put them on the back foot."

JOBS are set to go at the council-owned company which runs leisure centres in North East Lincolnshire as cuts in Government funding continue to bite.

Lincs Inspire has started a consultation process with staff as part of a review of leisure services aimed at saving £265,000.

The company would not reveal how many jobs are at risk, but the Grimsby Telegraph understands that the review involves staff working at its leisure centres, swimming pools and sports stadia.

It is believed that library and Grimsby Auditorium staff who have recently transferred to Lincs Inspire are not affected.

Although Lincs Inspire has not released specific details about the proposals, the company said it was focused around a more efficient way of working and would not see a reduction in services to customers.

The union Unison, which represents several Lincs Inspire employees, said the consultation, which runs until April, was being carried out in three phases.

The first phase involved a consultation with 12 members of the senior management team, resulting in one compulsory redundancy.

The second phase, which commenced this week, involves 19 full-time equivalent positions in operations management and assistant operations management roles.

It is proposed that six of these positions are made redundant.

The third and final phase will involve the remaining staff, and will begin when the second 28-day consultation is completed. No indication has been given to the union as to how many redundancies will be made in this round.

Jacqui Jennissen-Green, assistant branch secretary at Unison in North East Lincolnshire, said: "Lincs Inspire have indicated that they have cost savings to make because of the budget cuts.

"The consultation is across the organisation but we have been told it will not include the library staff that have transferred over or the Auditorium staff.

"We were informed last year that there would be a restructure. We were fully engaged from the start of the consultation and we are doing everything we can to support our members and mitigate any compulsory redundancies."

A spokesperson for Lincs Inspire, said: "As a wholly owned subsidiary of North East Lincolnshire Council, Lincs Inspire is required to contribute to the overall pressure on council budgets and their plans to tackle the required savings following cuts in Government funding.

"It would not be appropriate at this stage to comment further on the details of the consultation, although the proposals are in line with more efficient ways of working but do not include a reduction in our services to customers.

"We are working closely with staff and the unions and will provide ongoing support to staff involved."

New Year, New Home! Find dozens of properties for sale and to rent in Grimsby, Cleethorpes and northern Lincolnshire at grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/property

TRIBUTES have continued to flood in for a man who died when he was struck by a train near the Littlefield Lane crossing in Grimsby.

Scores of people have taken to social media to send their heartfelt condolences to the man's family.

The tributes come after police yesterday confirmed that the man was 54 years old and from the Grimsby area.

He has not yet been named.

A spokesperson for British Transport Police told the Telegraph that they were still working to identify the man.

The incident happened shortly before 8am on Thursday morning between the Littlefield Lane crossing and Boulevard Avenue.

Emergency services rushed to the incident but could not save the man, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

He was struck by the 7.26am Cleethorpes to Manchester First Transpennine Express train.

Soon after the incident happened, messages of condolence began to pour in via Facebook and Twitter.

Reverend Mary Vickers, urban and industrial chaplain in North East Lincolnshire tweeted: "Praying for all affected by the earlier train accident in #Grimsby: victim's family/friends, train driver, emergency services, rail staff."

Meanwhile on Facebook, Kristie Johnson wrote: "Feel sorry for the person involved and the train driver x"

Claire Carlile posted: "Thoughts go out to the gent's family, friends ...."

Trace Fleming added: "I don't know you or the circumstances that led to this happening but sleep peacefully whoever you were.

"You were someone's son or daughter. Heartfelt thoughts go to their family and friends and also to the driver who must be in terrible shock, along with all passengers on board ... so very sad."

Vicky Watson wrote: "Heart goes out to the family of victim and the poor driver who wouldn't have been able to do a thing about it so sad xx"

A statement issued by British Transport Police yesterday read: "Our officers were called to the line close to Littlefield Lane crossing, Grimsby, on Thursday, January 15 at 7.45am, after a report that a man had been struck by a train.

"Colleagues from Humberside Police and East Midlands Ambulance Service also attended, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

"The incident is not being treated as suspicious, but a file will be prepared for the coroner.

"The man is being identified and his family are being informed."

In addition to the tributes paid, many have offered their condolences to the driver of the train.

A spokesperson for First Transpennine Express said measures were in place to help support train drivers who have been involved in such tragic incidents.

He said: "If colleagues are involved in an incident, they are immediately offered all and unlimited support from the business.

"This will include immediate withdrawal from train operating duties, management welfare checks and conversations and unlimited sick leave if required.

"Incidents can affect individuals in differing ways and no one case is the same. This is fully endorsed by representing unions."

AS long as it remains a possibility, Paul Hurst will not give up on Grimsby Town lifting the Conference Premier title this season.

Fifteen points currently separate the Mariners from today's visitors – and current league leaders –Barnet, who are six points clear at the top of the table.

But despite seeing his side suffer two dismal defeats over the Christmas period, the Town boss insists while it is still within their reach, no-one at the club will give up hope of overhauling Martin Allen's side.

Speaking ahead of this lunchtime's televised clash with the Bees (12.45pm), Hurst said: "It's possible so we have to believe, but we know it's a tough ask.

"At this time, Bristol Rovers and Macclesfield are in a better position, but we have got to play Barnet twice yet as well.

"There have certainly been enough examples of times when a team that has got a big lead starts to just dwindle – maybe a few nerves kick in, or they have a bit of bad luck.

"So while there are points to play for, then you have to believe in your chances."

He added: "One thing that won't change, and it won't after this afternoon, is that we have good players here.

"We have to try and get back on another winning run, and I really believe that we can do that."

"I look at things over the course of a season," Hurst continued, as he assessed his side's current form.

"Obviously we lost against Lincoln in the local derby, and that was hard.

"We then played a team in Macclesfield that was third in the league, having beat them once, and now we have got Barnet coming up.

"Before those defeats, our record against the top teams has been very good – I would suggest it's the best in the top half of the division

"I would like to maintain that – and that means we have to take something from our match against Barnet today."

A GAMBLER who made at least £1 million profit through "rigging" poker games and "cheating" other players has been jailed.

He will have to pay back £1 million within the next six months or face an extra six years in prison.

Darren Woods, pictured, of Healing, who made his name in Las Vegas, masterminded a poker fraud in which he played as several different gamblers at the same time and also racked up lucrative commission payments.

He was jailed for 15 months at Sheffield Crown Court but a confiscation order was also made in the sum of £1 million.

That was the agreed sum of his benefit from criminal activity, but the police believe he pocketed far more.

A total of £911,217 had already been restrained after police investigations and, of that, it was ordered that £283,673 be paid as compensation to a Gibraltar-based gaming company, to be used to recompense players who were victims of his collusion offences in online games.

Prosecutor Andrew West told the court: "At the moment, he has assets well in excess of £1.4 million."

Efforts would be made to obtain other money held by gaming companies, said Mr West. The gambler's father was involved in laundering £230,000 linked to his son's attempts to fleece the system and other punters, the court heard.

Woods, 29, of Stallingborough Road, denied 13 fraud offences between January 2007 and January 2012, but part way through a trial, he changed his pleas to guilty on nine of them.

His father, Morteza Gharoon, 56, of the same address, admitted a money laundering matter, involving £230,000.

Gharoon also admitted possessing cannabis, valued at £246, that was found when his home was searched on November 16, 2011.

Alasdair Campbell, prosecuting, told the court earlier that Woods fraudulently used internet poker sites and pretended to gaming companies that he was other people when he was playing and gambling.

He used other people's identities to play as several people at the same time and also gained extra commission payments above what he would have been allowed to earn if he had been using just his own name.

Woods bought a number of private online networks to disguise his identity and to allow him to set up accounts in the names of others.

He bought different computers in a bid to fool the companies' security systems, said Mr Campbell.

Gharoon helped Woods by allowing his bank account to be used for the transfer of two sums of money totalling £230,000.

In July 2011, Woods won a world series of poker games in Las Vegas, scooping winnings of 213,000 dollars. He was made bankrupt in 2006.

Judge Paul Watson QC told Woods: "You are an intelligent, able and even gifted young man but you turned your talents towards defrauding online gambling companies and cheating other players of online poker.

"In individual games, other people playing against you stood to lose money because the odds had been rigged in your favour by the creation of multiple identities which were undisclosed to other players.

"Cheating undermines confidence in the recreational gambling industry.

"Those who might choose to gamble recreationally may be deterred if the system is unfairly balanced in favour of other players by such conduct as yours."

Gordon Stables, mitigating, said Woods had no previous convictions and had often given money to deserving causes, including charities.

"All of those who feel they have lost out will be compensated, every last one," said Mr Stables.

This would come from money to be confiscated from Woods.

"He has, by his own actions, effectively destroyed his name within the poker world," said Mr Stables.

"He will not, in future, be welcome at live tournaments. He used to attend many. He will not, in the future, be welcome on online gaming sites.

"He will not, in future, receive the sponsorship that he benefited from in the past.

"He was a poster boy for at least one website, who used his picture and his name for their own promotional ends."

Woods had also lost the chance to earn money from coaching other players.

"He has lost his livelihood but, more than that, he has lost something he loved and something that he was very good at," added Mr Stables.

"His means of earning a living is denied to him."

Adrian Farrow, representing Gharoon, said the Tehran-born former merchant seaman had built up a successful rental property business.

He had previously run three fast food takeaway businesses but sold them to invest in rental property.

"He doesn't agree with gambling and it is a matter of regret to him that his son embarked on that skilful course of career," said Mr Farrow.

"He recognised that his son had that skill."

Gharoon was given a six-month suspended prison sentence, with no conditions, and will have £18,910 confiscated from him after this sum was said to have been his benefit from the scam.

New Year, New Home! Find dozens of properties for sale and to rent in Grimsby, Cleethorpes and northern Lincolnshire at grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/property

GRIMSBY Town welcome league leaders Barnet to Blundell Park for today's lunchtime Conference clash.

After Wednesday night's postponement at Gateshead, the Mariners should be well-rested ahead of the televised visit of Martin Allen's side.

And they'll need to be as the London outfit are currently six points clear at the top of the table, having only lost twice in their last ten games.

But after struggling for form over the Christmas period, a win for Paul Hurst's side would really get them up and running for 2015 and could breathe new life into their promotion charge.

Don't worry if you can't make it to Blundell Park, you can follow the action with our live and interactive coverage from 12.45pm. 

If you're planning on watching the game live on BT Sport, why not follow along with us too and share your views on the game with Mariners fans around the world?

JACK Mackreth has been recalled to the Grimsby Town team for this lunchtime's clash with Barnet.

The winger replaces Craig Clay in the team that drew 0-0 with Gateshead in the FA Trophy last weekend.

Other than that, it's very much as you were for the Mariners, as they bid to topple the league-leading Bees.

Town: McKeown, Parslow, Nsiala, Pearson, Magnay, Mackreth, Brown, Disley, Arnold, John-Lewis, Palmer. Subs: Bignot, Hannah, Clay, Pittman, McLaughlin.

Don't worry if you haven't made it to Blundell Park, you can still follow our Big Match Live coverage at grimsbytelegraph.co.uk from 12.45pm

JACK Mackreth has been recalled to the Grimsby Town team for this lunchtime's clash with Barnet.

The winger replaces Craig Clay in the team that drew 0-0 with Gateshead in the FA Trophy last weekend.

Other than that, it's very much as you were for the Mariners, as they bid to topple the league-leading Bees.

Town: McKeown, Parslow, Nsiala, Pearson, Magnay, Mackreth, Brown, Disley, Arnold, John-Lewis, Palmer. Subs: Bignot, Hannah, Clay, Pittman, McLaughlin.

Don't worry if you haven't made it to Blundell Park, you can still follow our Big Match Live coverage at grimsbytelegraph.co.uk from 12.45pm

GRIMSBY Town have recorded a superb 3-1 victory over league leaders Barnet this afternoon.

Goals from loanee Ollie Palmer - his first for the club - a penalty from Lenell John-Lewis and Jack Mackreth's second half strike were enough to see Town record their first league win in three.

It had looked ominous for Town when John Akinde tucked away a sixth-minute penalty for the visitors after being clipped in the box.

But in what was one of their most promising performances of the season, Town hit back with Palmer rifling home from just inside the area after the ball had broken to him.

It wasn't long before Town took the lead when, after John-Lewis was bundled over in the box, he stepped up to stroke home from 12 yards.

As Town took a 2-1 lead into the break, it was clear the next goal was going to be crucial - and it was Town who got it when Mackreth steered home Carl Magnay's fine cross from the left from only yards out to seal a fantastic victory over the current leaders.