I was recently appointed to serve on the Planning Committee as a substitute for another member who was unable to attend the  meeting.  One of the applications received was from local businessman Steve Ives who wants to open an indoor football facility inside a disused factory on the South Humberside Industrial Site.  Against the advice of NELC planning officers and the Health and the Safety Executive, the Planning Committee, which included Liberal Democrat Councillors Bonner, Pickett, Little and James, approved the plans.  Also supporting the application was Liberal Democrat Councillor Dave Boylen who spoke at the meeting to support the application.  North East Lincolnshire Council’s planning officers recommended the application for the Omega site on the South Humberside Industrial Estate should be refused by the Planning Committee, after the HSE said it was too close to four businesses that have consents to store hazardous substances, but members of the committee voted to approve the application, saying that the need for local sports facilities outweighed the “bureaucracy” of the HSE’s advice. 

Two of the premises concerned have been disused since about 2004, and the other two sites have sporting facilities of their own which are much closer to their industrial sites than the prpopsed development.The HSE will have 21 days from the day it receives notification to decide whether to refer this matter to the Secretary of State, who would then be required to determine the outcome.  The applicant, Steve Ives, wants to turn a disused warehouse at the site into an indoor sports complex with changing facilities and a bar area. It is hoped that there will be two indoor football pitches and facilities for badminton and netball.Mr Ives said: “I am absolutely delighted. This has been 18 months in the planning.“I understand why the HSE needed to raise the issues they did, but this will benefit the town and there are policies in place to protect members of the public.“It is a facility for everybody. People who work at nearby businesses could come and play sport after work, and children and young people could use it too.

“I was born and bred in Grimsby and this is about putting something back.”Mr Ives hopes that work to convert the warehouse could start straight away.

Cllr Dave Boylen, who is supporting Mr Ives, said: “I think this will be a tremendous asset to the local community and I am pleased the committee saw sense. “We have to get youngsters off the streets and keep them occupied.”  Well done Mr Ives.  This facility is exactly what we need in this area.  Let’s hope that this is the first of many similar developments!