The changing face of Grimsby Docks has been showcased to civic heads and business leaders who visited North East Lincolnshire and its port to mark Lincolnshire Day 2023.
The party, including Greater Lincolnshire council leaders, MPs, business representatives, and Lincolnshire’s Lord-Lieutenant, celebrated the day on Friday 29 September ahead of Lincolnshire Day itself on Sunday 1 October.
This is the third year that a Greater Lincolnshire authority has hosted Lincolnshire Day celebrations, starting with North Lincolnshire Council at Normanby Hall, in 2021, Lincolnshire County Council at Lincoln Castle in 2022, and North East Lincolnshire Council this year.
North East Lincolnshire’s Deputy Leader, Cllr Stan Shreeve, welcomed people to the borough: “I am delighted that we can use the opportunity that Lincolnshire Day presents to show our peers and colleagues the work that is happening here, which will benefit both industry and the community.
“We are extremely proud of the partnership working on a local, regional, and national level that has led to the change we now see happening in and around the Docks.”
Leader of North Lincolnshire Council, Cllr Rob Waltham added: “This is the third year we have come together for Lincolnshire Day and I know there are many more to come – it gives us an opportunity to celebrate our history and heritage while also committing to a new future for every community and every resident.
“I was born here, my dad was, and grandparents too – in fact, I’m the seventh generation of my family from Lincolnshire and it means a great deal personally. It is equally important to mark this day in anticipation of the better, brighter future we will all create together.
“From the economic success and opportunity across the whole county, to the many amazing communities and residents, today allows us to celebrate all that is great about Lincolnshire.”
The Leader of Lincolnshire County Council, Cllr Martin Hill OBE, said: “The Lincolnshire Day Civic Celebration Event is a chance for us to not only celebrate our great county, but to also demonstrate that the invisible lines of local government do not separate us; from the Humber to the Wash we are one Lincolnshire.
“By hosting the event in a different area of the county each year, we’re able to show a diverse range of projects that make our county great. From reaffirming our shared environmental goals, to showcasing our rich heritage and this year, it’s been a pleasure to join other local, civic and political leaders in Grimsby to discover how the Docks area is being regenerated, and the new industries that are thriving in the county.”
Port owners ABP are extremely proud about what is being achieved in Grimsby. Simon Bird, ABP’s Humber Director, said: “I am delighted the political leaders have chosen to come to the Port of Grimsby as part of their Lincolnshire Day event. There is no better place to see exciting business growth for the future. Whether it is the leading role in offshore wind operations the Port plays, the growth in car handling or the inspiring heritage-led regeneration that is taking place in the Kasbah, the Port of Grimsby is playing a significant role in driving economic growth for the area.”
From one of the town’s most stylish, renovated buildings – The Great Escape – to what is the world’s largest offshore wind maintenance hub at Ørsted, invited guests witnessed the transformational journey underway.
They toured Ørsted’s multi-million-pound East Coast operations and maintenance (O&M) facility, which supports more than 600 high-skilled jobs, and saw how the Kasbah Conservation Area, which includes surrounding buildings, is being transformed through the Greater Grimsby Heritage Action Zone project.
The tours started and finished at The Great Escape – the transformed Consolidated Fisheries building, which is now a fantastic base to support people in recovery from addiction.
