Saturday, October 21, 2006

Power to the people

ENERGY is what we need, what we worry about when it comes to price and why the south bank is showing its mettle again when it comes to industry.
The announcement in Houston this week that a mighty £210-million is to be ploughed into the Humber plant is a major win for the Humber.
Let's not forget that ConocoPhillips is a totally global company. It is not confined to the refinery here, the UK or even Europe. There are huge developments in the middle east and the major plants it has on its home patch, as well askink ups wuith companies in Australia.
So with this in mind it is a huge compliment to Immingham that it has gained this investment, and while permanent jobs are not the issue, it is the galvanising of the whole operation, the strengthening of what exists that puts a smile on those who watch our economy.
With biomass in the pipeline for Stallingborough, and plans floating about from existing power stations here to do more, energy is well and truly being added to the exciting portfolio of clusters this bit if Britain is right to boast about.
Let's just hope with all this generation on our doorsteps, we can avoid the power cuts that plague us from time to time... I hate for you not to be able to read this blog!

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Never before has a town wanted more...


MORE, you want more? Yes sir, and lots of it.
We're celebrating the serving up of £250,000 of funding to underline Grimsby's role as Europe's Food Town today. And rightly so.
This is a cluster that is vital to the region, and something that has emerged from the darkest depths of despair.
Rather than shut down, sign on and close off, major food processors and the associated industries grabbed the remains of the fishing industry here, starting well before the trawlers became lesser spotted visitors to our docks.
The likes of Young's, Coldwater, Seachill, Five Star, Sealord (the list goes on) have made sure there is a prosperous industry here, to the extent where nowadays 70 per cent of the seafood consumed in Britain has Grimsby indellibly printed on the traceability sheets.
But why settle for 70 per cent? And why just the fruits of the sea. The forward thinking arm of North East Lincolnshire Council has badgered the regional development agency - holders of those vital European and national purse strings, and made sure there is a good portion of the funding there to strengthen this great food empire.
The swathes of land ripe for development are here, the excellent transport infastructure and the service sector for such an industry is thriving too. Bluechip firms such as Smiths Detection are making locating here a prioirty, knowing the market for their futuristuc technology for food processing is here. But we need to make sure that the food industry knows this. Money available to help companies often facing tight margins with drastically fluctuating raw material and energy costs need a helping hand from time to time - even the big boys. They need to afford time out form producing these culinary delights and bang the Grimsby drum around the globe.
One thing is for sure, no matter what industry they are in, share holders are never full and when it comes to the product supermarkets can never sell it cheap enough.
I've volunteered my services for the Food Town Marketing Group, the team that will help decide how to spend the £250,000 - I await to hear if I can help.

Monday, October 09, 2006

Green light for Amsterdam

THE extra flight a day from Humberside Airport to Amsterdam is a big boost for business.
With so many international firms based on the south bank, this will give even more flexibility for thoser who are turning the wheels of industry.
Linking up with Eruope and the rest of the world will be even easier, with greater efficiency for those involved.
It is also a great step towards Humberside's ambitions to fit in with government policy. Reducing the landtravel side of travelling is part of the agenda, and steps like this will encourage, and facilitate more, the possibilities of using Kirmington and Schiphol rather than driving to Heathrow, Gatwick or even Manchester.
While there is a premium to pay, people can often organise teansport easier to Humberside, avoiding the shy-high parking rates of international airports. Then there's the convenience, and for some, putting a price on being back at home or in the office within 20 minutes of arriving in the UK is not an easy task.
With three flights a day already this wouldn't have put on if there wasn't clear demand. Let's hope this is sustained and goes from strength to strength.
A strong regional economy needs a strong regional airport to play its strategic role in quality transport links.

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Building for the future

Having been party to the reasoning and explanations behind the latest design for development of Grimsby town centre, I feel a pat on the back for both Mark Hodson and the local planning authority is required.
The prestigious plot at the junction of Frederick Ward Way and Victoria Street South should rightly be reserved for a landmark building. The retail 'sheds' across the road and the awful telephone exchange don't really do that main entrance to Grimsby town centre for visitors any favours.
And while the red-brick design released earlier this year was certainly something better to look at, the new vision is a massive improvement on that. Rather than fitting in completely with what is already there (that's a lot of red brick if you drive the length of Frederick Ward Way), this really stands out as something special. More glass gives it transparency and the curves on the major junction give it a futuristic feel.
If we are to encourage people back into the town centre, to regain control of it out of office and shopping hours, then how better than to raise the bar and make it a place to be proud of.
Cleethorpes has seen a boom in smart cafe bars, restaurants and shops, on the back of modern living. There's no reason why with the right designs in the right places, this cannot come to Grimsby. I firmly believe Mark Hodson has a great vision for this town, and the fact that the local authority now has people who are willing to go back to these great creators and ask them to improve again, a forward thinking set of minds, can only be good for the town.
Let's hope this vision is soon a reality.