UK's ‘capital of romance' set for £18.4m waterfront revamp – including regenerating pier & new landmark tourist building
A SEASIDE resort named the UK's capital of romance is set to undergone a major revamp.
Work will see refurbishment of the town's pier as well as the local park.
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Cleethorpes is set to undergo a significant regeneration project, including upgrades to the town's historic pier
Credit: Alamy
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Cleethorpes was previously described as a 'rundown' seaside resort but is now set for a major revamp
Credit: Alamy
Cleethorpes, which has an estimated population of around 30,000, was
Dating back centuries, this town first developed as a fishing hub before the popularisation of sea-swimming in the 1820s, when Cleethorpes was established as a tourist resort.
The introduction of the town's railway in 1863 solidified it as a Victorian seaside destination.
And now the town has undergone a massive initiative to revitalise its seafront and town centre.
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This is hoped to enhance Cleethorpes' appeal as a year-round destination.
The £18.4 million project focuses on three primary areas: the Market Place, Pier Gardens, and Sea Road.
It has been funded by a grant from the UK Government's Levelling Up Fund.
Revitalisation of the Market Place, which currently doubles as a car park, will see it transformed into a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly space.
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There will be areas for outdoor dining, markets, and events with the redesign aiming to reconnect the town centre with the seafront.
Meanwhile Pier Gardens, a 14,000 square metre Victorian linear park, is set to undergo a series of improvements.
Inside little-known seaside spot right next to the country's most iconic sites
Plans include the creation of outdoor leisure spaces, as well as areas for quiet reflection and facilities for various recreational activities.
As well as increasing biodiversity, the project aims to make the park more attractive to families and visitors.
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Finally, a new three-storey "multi-use tourism-focused landmark" building is
This development will provide retail and hospitality spaces, as well as public amenities and a changing facility for beach-goers.
The design seeks to revive Cleethorpes' Art Deco seaside style, enhancing the aesthetic appeal.
'Downtrodden' English ghost town where locals feel 'left behind' being turned into 'vibrant' shopping hub in £9m revamp
By Nicole Cherruault
A "DOWNTRODDEN" English ghost town is being turned into a "vibrant" shopping hub in a £9million revamp.
The town in northern Manchester set to totally transform as the
More than 600 people were consulted over renovation plans in Eccles, Salford and work has now started on demolishing the town's shopping centre, which was suffering from falling visitors numbers.
Following the demolition stage, a development partner will be appointed to bring new life to what residents described as a "downtrodden" town, reports
The objective, the council said, is to create a "vibrant" and a "fit for purpose" centre for people to enjoy.
Attracting more independent retailers, and new bars and cafes are among the council's top priorities.
And just three miles from Salford Quays and Manchester city centre, the redevelopment project looks set to transform the area into a buzzing place for young professionals and business owners.
This comes as locals despaired over the ailing town, saying they felt it had been "left behind" and it was in desperate need of some "drastic" improvements.
The council stressed that the demolition work will be a long process, with the initial phase due only to be completed by the end of the year.
However, Councillor Mike McCusker reassured locals that despite the renovations, the town centre "remains open for business", stressing that the works only affect a few areas.
He said: 'Whilst we work on the town centre of the future, today's town centre remains open for business,' said Coun Mike McCusker, lead member for planning, transport and sustainable development at Salford council.
'I want to stress that this demolition work only affects certain parts of the town centre.
'The shops and businesses on Church Street are still open for business and unaffected by this work.'
Meanwhile, Councillor McCusker, who represents the Eccles ward, shared his enthusiasm for the project, in particular for its focus on the local community.
In a statement, he spoke of his "excitement" for the times ahead in materialising their vision for a brighter, more dynamic Eccles.
He said 'Through our purchase of the shopping centre, we were able to put the future of the town centre in the hands of the council and the community.
'It has enabled us to begin this important and long-overdue programme of work, to deliver the vision we have developed with the community.
'The demolition work will take some time, but there are exciting times ahead for Eccles as we work to bring this vision to life.'
While construction work on the Market Place is anticipated to commence in the coming months, the Pier Gardens project is expected to start next year.
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Next to the historic pier, which first opened in 1873, four miles of golden sands stretch out, forming the town's main beach.
Visitor can enjoy a dip in the sea as well as a variety of water-based activities, which are also on offer at the town's boating lake.
Families may also be interested in the
And for rainier days, the town's Parkway Cinema also proves to be a popular attraction.
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If you're planning a staycation in the area, there area a wide variety of accommodation options available, starting from just
And there are also a number of restaurants and gastro-pubs in the area for dining out.
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A 'landmark' building is set to be constructed on the town's seafront as part of the regeneration work
Credit: nelincs.gov
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See if hawthorn trees are growing on the fort or around it. They may have originally been planted as an extra protection (you don't mess with those thorny branches!) or they came by themselves because they wanted to. That's one of the habits of the hawthorn – it's a 'come by chance' that chooses for itself where it wants to grow. You are never supposed to dig up a thorn tree, even if it is in the way of what you want to do. Revise your plans, think otherwise, and leave it where it is. It knows what it's doing – do you? The one exception might be if it comes up in the middle of your lawn and it is more than likely that the grass mower will hit it. In that case, you ask its permission, explain the reason, and then move it carefully to the protection of a nearby hedge. Once you have spent time discovering our fairy forts, you will look at life and at Ireland's landscape in a very different way. This, however, can only be done if it's still a little seedling. A thorn tree has roughly three times the length of root to the visible above-ground stem, so anything bigger just won't move. Next time you see a thorn tree in the middle of a huge ploughed field, you will known why. No farmer would willingly move it. You may also find on your explorations that a road or pathway makes a sudden curve, to avoid a fairy fort. In fact, it's always worth wondering why a road suddenly jerks away from the straight – what was it that caused the diversion? Usually it's a fort or the memory of an ancient boundary from long ago. We have many examples around the country of new roads having to be adjusted to take account of a fort or fairy tree. And also of the accidents and disasters which occurred when this situation was foolishly ignored. So what can you do? Well, there are those who say you can go inside if you do so with proper respect and humility. Others say not. It's up to you. Stand outside and let the place speak to you. Listen. Then, follow its advice. One thing for certain: once you have spent time discovering our fairy forts, you will look at life and at Ireland's landscape in a very different way.
