At last Thursday’s Full Council the Leader of the Tory Group Councillor Philip Jackson and Liberal Democrat Councillor for the East Marsh Steve Beasant quizzed the Labour-run Council over their regeneration of Grimsby Top Town.

Councillor Jackson noted that businesses were satisfied with the recent regeration of Top Town, the Grimsby Telegraph reports:

Mr Jackson recalled that at the March full council meeting, Mr Shaw had claimed that 66 per cent of respondents to a council survey had expressed satisfaction with the regeneration work, and asked to see evidence of this. However, Mr Shaw said he had undertaken a survey personally by asking businesses in the area for their opinions.

He said: “Myself and deputy leader Mick Burnett went into the Lyric Cafe and the owner said her business was six per cent up on what it was before the work started.

“She did say while the work was going on she had had a bit of disruption, but as she said you can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs, and she runs a cafe so she should know.”

Mr Jackson suggested that Mr Shaw had misled the council by implying that an official survey had been carried out.

However, the leader replied: “I did say I had undertaken a survey. I never said the council had undertaken a survey.

“I do apologise if members didn’t hear what I said on the night. Councillor Jackson needs to apologise for that remark in keeping with the spirit of comradely behaviour that we are supposed to be having tonight.”

Liberal Democrat Councillor for the East Marsh Steve Beasant asked the Portfolio Holder for the Environment Dave Watson: “How many times had the new slabs on Station Approach been dug up?”

The Grimsby Telegraph further reported upon the exchange between Counillor Watson and Steve:

David Watson dismissed suggestions that the paving at the junction of Bethlehem and Station Approach had been relaid on ten separate occasions.

Councillor Steve Beasant (Lib Dem, East Marsh) said he had been told this by taxi drivers.

However, Mr Watson told full council that there had been three occasions when small areas of the paving had been relaid. He added that the whole “table” at the junction had been dug up and relaid once and steps taken to reduce the risk of another failure.

Mr Beasant described the road as “wibbly wobbly way” and claimed it was a danger for cyclists, adding: “When are we going to come up with a solution to rectify it?”

Mr Watson replied: “If Councillor Beasant has any critical areas that are causing concern then we will seek to rectify them.”