EAST MARSH INVOLVE

The next meeting of East Marsh Involve will be held on Tuesday 29 October, 6pm at the Grimsby Neighbourhood Centre, which is on the corner of Wellington Street and Weelsby Street.

On average at least 30 residents attend the East Marsh Involve and at the last meeting almost 60 residents attended. At each meeting many issues are normally discussed and actioned upon, including matters relating to: crime, anti-social behaviour, the environment and other matters of interest and concern relating to the of the East Marsh.

At the last meeting Councillor Steve Beasant promised to draw up an action plan and report back on a number of issues relating to: the Old Art College in Eleanor Street; Oxford Street/Duke Street area; Rutland Street/Tunnard Street; and 105 Robert Street.

All residents are welcome to attend meetings of East Marsh Involve which are held on the last Tuesday of each month; present at each will normally be John Willis (Humberside Police), Ward Councillors, Alan Burley, Shoreline Housing, and the Community Wardens.

SIMPLY RED IS OUT OF FAVOUR WITH NEW LABOUR

The ups and downs of politics often throw up some interesting news items, and I found two tonight on the BBC website.

Firstly, it appears that the New Labour luvvie Mick Hucknell appears to out of favour under the leadership of Gordon Brown.

Mick who is better by his fans as Simply Red was one of the first major celebrities to come on board when Neil Kinnock took charge in the early 1990’s.

In Mick Hucknells’ words “I’ve been shoved aside” by Gordon Brown.

The second story relates to American Presidential race, and the BBC has reported that a 106 year-old American nun who is living in Rome will be voting for Barack Obama.

Apparently she has not voted since 1952 when she voted for President Eisenhower.

Even though Sister Cecilia Gaudette is hard of hearing, she keeps herself informed by reading newspapers and watching TV at the convent.

“I’m encouraged by Senator Obama,” she says.

“I’ve never met him, but he seems to be a good man with a good private life. That’s the first thing. Then he must be able to govern,” she adds.

SCORES ON THE DOORS IS ‘HITTING SUCCESS’

The launch of North East Lincolnshire Council’s Scores On The Doors website has shown that more and more restaurants and caterers are stepping up to the plate and providing excellent hygiene and food management standards.

Nearly 350 inspections have now been uploaded on to the Scores On The Doors website, which launched in April.

The site grades restaurants and other premises selling or serving food from five stars to zero stars, judging the premises on a range of food hygiene and management criteria.

The council’s environmental health manager, said: “The results in the first five months of offering an online service have been promising. Nearly nine out of 10 premises have been awarded two or more stars, showing at least an adequate state of compliance.

“Only five per cent received no stars, which means they will receive education from the council on how to improve standards and quality in their kitchens and restaurant areas.

“We have also had close to 22,000 hits on the website, meaning our online service is fast becoming an important destination for people looking to choose a venue for a night-out or celebration.

“The site serves a twin purpose. Making these results available is encouraging under-performing businesses to raise their game, while highlighting good and excellent practice in others.”

Results for July, released this week, show 11 premises receiving five stars. Only two - Annies in Grant Street, Cleethorpes and Sara Barbecue Kebabs & Takeaway in Freeman Street, Grimsby, received no stars.

Councillor Steve Beasant, portfolio holder for communities and neighbourhoods, said: “I am pleased to see a high-level of compliance amongst our local eateries. I’m sure, as the Scores On The Doors website becomes more popular, we will see more and more restaurants reaching a five-star standard.”

Go to Scores on the Doors for more information

The 10 five-star premises are: Eskimoo Milkshakes; Freshney Place; Paul Butts’ Fish; Cygnet Foods, Birchin Way; Russells; Frenchies; Great Coates Nursery School Kitchen; Grimsby Hall and Lodge; Grimsby Police Station Staff Restaurant; McDonalds Restaurant, Birchin Way; Scartho Junior School Kitchen.

BREATHE EASY OFFERS SUPPORT FOR SUFFERERS OF RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS

A local support group has been set up in the East Marsh and will operate from the Hope Street Medical Centre, Grimsby. The support group has been set up for anyone affected by respiratory condition, either: patients, friends, family or carers.

The new Breathe Easy Support Group will be part of national network of support groups, and there are over 200 throughout the UK, which have 5,000 members between them. More than 20,000 people belong to the Breathe Easy network.

Breathe Easy Support Groups help to provide a network of friends, events and activities that support and empower people affected by lung disease.

Provide mutual support, inform and educate their members and also promote their group, the British Lung Foundation and respiratory disease.

Members can get involved in other aspects of the group, such as fundraising, organising social events and campaigning.

The first meeting of the Grimsby Breathe Easy Support will take place on Friday 31 October at 1.00 pm at Hope Street Medical Centre, DN32 7QL.

Margaret Tait from the British Lung Foundation will be the guest speaker. For more information, please telephone Rachel Branson (Group Secretary) on 01472 313537.

To find out more about the British Lung Foundation click on the following link: http://tinyurl.com/3f4kxr

COULD YOU BE THE FIRST YOUNG MAYOR OF NORTH EAST LINCOLNSHIRE?

ELECTIONS are to take place this autumn to appoint North East Lincolnshire Council’s first-ever Young Mayor.

The appointment will be made following a vote on November 3. The new Young Mayor will take office for a trial period of six weeks, from November 17 until the New Year, to allow the council to assess the scheme. Should it prove successful, future elections for a Young Mayor could become the norm in North East Lincolnshire.

Becky Smith, the North East Lincolnshire representative on the national Youth Parliament, said: “This is an absolutely brilliant opportunity for young people in our area. It is going to involve them in the community more than ever before, and this new post will allow the council to take a key step into including young people in the administration and decision-making of local community services.”

Youngsters between the ages of 12 and 18 who live or attend school or college in North East Linconlshire will be eligible to nominate candidates, stand for election and vote.

Nomination packs are available from Paul Windley on (01472) 324121 or via paul.windley@nelincs.gov.uk. The deadline for the return of nominations is October 21.

Ballot cards will be distributed to eligible voters via schools and colleges.

MANDELSON RECEIVES A GOLDEN HANDSHAKE

There is definitely one thing about Mr. Mandelson he’s is never out of the news, when he is government. Hopefully, it will prove to be a good thing our local businesses and industry.

However, at the moment it appears he is in the news for all the wrong reasons: yet again!

According to the Independent on Sunday: Peter Mandelson will pick up a £1m “golden goodbye” package following his departure from Brussels, despite walking out after serving only four years as Britain’s European Commissioner.

They reckon he will receive a £104,000 salary as a minister in the House of Lords, and qualifies for a total of £234,000 in “transitional payments” over the next three years to help him readjust to life outside the European Commission (or shall we say to normality – for some anyway).

He will also be guaranteed an EU pension when he reaches 65 – in 2018 – starting at £31,000 a year and rising in line with the cost of living. The overall cost of funding such a pension is put at £750,000 (which will note doubt fall on the British tax payers).

It appears that the new Lord is exempt from the Credit Crunch and doesn’t know the meaning of living on the ‘bread line’ because he can also look forward to an additional annual payment of £78,000 for the next three years. I just wonder why he had to seek out Mr. Blair’s advice before accepting the job the other week.

The gold-plated package will help Mr. Mandelson pay off the mortgage on his £2.4m house in Regent’s Park, London. The minister bought the property in 2006, two years into his term in Brussels, with a £750,000 loan – some four times his then salary.

There is no wonder that the minister is coming under a great deal of scrutiny and he hasn’t even taken his seat in the House of Lords. The details of this pay off are already causing disquiet amongst MEPs as well his relationship with Oleg Deripaska: I am sure these affairs will not go away quickly.

A senior Tory member of the MPs’ European Scrutiny Committee, urged Mr. Mandelson to reject the pay-out. He said: “It is not as if he’s lost his job. If he takes this money, it will be a bad example for a government criticising severance payments and City bonuses.”

ANOTHER DRUGS DEN CLOSED DOWN BY POLICE ON GRIMSBY’S WEST MARSH

A fourth “crack house” has been closed down in Grimsby this is the second closure in the West Marsh area the first was in Bramble Close. There have been similar closures in both Patrick Street, and Roberts Street (East Marsh).

Officers swooped after a closure order was granted for 33 Henry Street, where there have been persistent problems with drug dealing.

Residents’ lives have been made a misery as a constant stream of “customers” visited the property day and night.

However, they will now be turned away after police put two signs up, simply saying “Closed”, in the windows of the house.

Police said residents of the street, and the West Marsh area, will now be able to enjoy a little “peace and quiet”.

District judge granted the closure order at Grimsby Magistrates’ Court yesterday, after officers served the occupant with a closure notice on Tuesday.

The district judge praised the work of the local community and the local PCSO, who prepared a body of evidence.

Following a raid in September, police uncovered a quantity of Class A drugs – including what is believed to be heroin – and associated paraphernalia.

Prior to any ‘crack house’ closure the police have to carry out a great deal of paperwork: in this case, like with the other three instances their efforts have paid off. Let’s hope that normality can return to the local community as quickly as possible.