Residents 'thrilled' with greening efforts

BBC News

18-05-2025

Residents in Grimsby have been "thrilled" with efforts to bring more greenery to the town centre, the council has said.The improvements, including new seating, planting and "living walls", were made as part of Levelling Up Funding awarded to the town in May last year, according to North East Lincolnshire Council.Grimsby in Bloom was working with the authority as part of the project, and was providing the plants and flowers throughout the year for hanging baskets along Victoria Street, a spokesperson said.Residents told the authority the town was "more appealing" and the changes were "positive" for the area and "exactly what Grimsby needs".
As part of the improvements, new seating has been put in place and a number of "living walls" - structures attached to buildings and filled with plants - are being installed to improve the look of the town and to help air quality, the authority said.According to the council, Grimsby resident Janet Bird had given feedback that the improvements "look lovely"."All the bright plants and flowers really add to Victoria Street and make it more appealing," she said. "This is exactly what Grimsby needs."
Meanwhile, Christine Ward, who said she was a regular visitor to the town centre, explained: "It's such a positive for the area and definitely makes it a better place."The authority said a pop-up garden was being created along West St Mary's Gate and festoon lighting was being installed along Victoria Street as part of the project's next stage.Elaine Atkinson, chair of Grimsby In Bloom, said they had also received many positive comments from visitors to the town."To sit around these flowers makes you feel so much better. It makes the town look great, but it also does wonders for your personal health and wellbeing," she said.Councillor Philip Jackson said he was thrilled to see positive change in Grimsby which was part of the larger regeneration of the town centre."With demolition under way, the new cinema, state-of-the-art market and other leisure outlets are one step closer," he said."This is such an exciting time for Grimsby and North East Lincolnshire as a whole," he added.Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.