Cleethorpes Road Bus Lane Plan Slammed

North East Lincolnshire Council faces backlash from local traders and East Marsh councillors over plans to extend a Cleethorpes Road bus lane - a move they warn could cripple local businesses and put livelihoods at serious risk.

As part of the Council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan, the proposal would see free on-street parking spaces between Freeman Street and Victor Street removed to make way for a new bus lane, aiming to enhance local bus service punctuality. However, many argue that this move could severely impact local firms. 

East Marsh Ward Councillor Nicola Aisthorpe strongly opposes the proposal, warning, “We've already seen shops on Cleethorpes Road shut down recently, and this proposal could push even more to the brink. Small business owners are already battling soaring energy costs and rising national insurance contributions - pressures made worse by government policies. Instead of supporting local firms, the Council is making survival even harder with a short-sighted idea that risks pushing more local companies over the edge, on top of existing economic pressures."

She stressed the vital role of on-street parking for businesses and its importance for disabled customers, stating, “These parking spaces are not a luxury - they are a necessity. Businesses on Cleethorpes Road rely on them for customer access, stock deliveries, and day-to-day operations, as many do not have private courtyards or delivery bays. Taking these spaces away could be the final blow that forces more closures."

She also raised concerns about accessibility. "Some people simply cannot park further away and walk long distances. Removing these spaces risks cutting them off from retailers on Cleethorpes Road.  The Council should be making it easier for people to shop locally, not harder. This proposal must not go ahead."

Councillor Aisthorpe further criticised the Council for not doing enough to engage with business owners. She said, “These decisions should be made with a real understanding of their impact on people’s livelihoods. Yet, many traders feel they have not been properly consulted with this proposal and worry that the Council has not fully considered their needs”. 

Fellow East Marsh Ward Councillor Steve Beasant echoed these concerns, he said, “This proposal is completely out of touch with the needs of local retailers and residents. Taking away these vital parking spaces could drive customers away, making it even harder for businesses to survive. It feels like yet another example of plans being put forward without properly listening to the people who live and work in this community". 

He also pointed to inconsistency in the Council’s approach, stating, “In 2018, the Council removed a bus lane on Scartho Road because it was deemed unnecessary and disruptive. So why are they now insisting on adding one here, on a road where businesses depend on parking? It’s baffling.

“We all want better public transport, but changes must work for everyone - not at the expense of businesses already under immense pressure. The Council must rethink this proposal before it causes lasting damage to our local economy and harms our community”.  

Councillors Aisthorpe and Beasant are calling on the Council to reconsider the proposal urgently and prioritise the interests of local traders and residents before irreversible damage is done.