HAVE YOUR SAY

There's a chance to speak out in public about a proposal to replace the ambulance based in Brigg with two fast response vehicles (large cars), which has formed the topic of many conversations in the town since the Telegraph exclusively 'broke' the story.
Put a note on your calendar, in your diary, or on your email address book system to get along to the Angel Suite, off Market Place, on Monday, March 17 (approx 8pm).
For that's when Brigg's Annual Town Meeting will be held.
This is a special once-a-year event when members of the public are free to raise any topics of interest, and question councillors.
Brigg Town Council has already decided to invite the East Midlands Ambulance Service to attend. That's the organisation proposing the introduction of the fast response vehicles, which it says will lead to better patient care.
You may have seen yesterday's report in the Scunthorpe Telegraph, or read it on this website, headlined Ambulance loss could put lives at risk - claim.
That claim was made by Coun Tom Glossop - one of many councillors to express concerns.
Although the article was a half-pager, even that did not leave space for all our representatives' comments to be included.
So here are a few which did not make it into the paper.
Coun Roy Clarke explained how ill-health meant he sometimes needed an ambulance, and morphine injections administered.
This procedure, he explained, needed two staff to be present, but he understood the cars being proposed would be crewed by only one. "I am totally against that," he said.
Coun Edward Arnott was keen to discover the percentage of Brigg call-outs needing stretchers.
But Town Mayor Coun Michael Doherty, chairing the meeting in the Angel Suite, replied he could not answer the point 'as the town council was never consulted on that'.
One of North Lincolnshire Council's Brigg area representatives, Coun John Berry wondered where the nearest ambulance to Brigg might be based, if the one at Health Place was withdrawn.
"Possibly Scunthorpe, if there’s one available. Or maybe Grimsby," he suggested.
He thought the issue might well fall within the local government scrutiny system, under which North Lincolnshire Council had a right to be consulted on health matters.
On March 17 the Annual Town Meeting will follow immediately after the March meeting of the town council, which members of the public are very welcome to attend.

Pictured above are Brigg's three representatives on North Lincolnshire Council, who all contributed to the debate. Left to right: Coun Carl Sherwood, his brother Coun Nigel Sherwood, and Coun John Berry.

Did you know you can access scores of previous postings on Brigg Blog?
When you first visit the Blog you will see the words 'Nigel Fisher's Brigg Blog' in Blue, underneath the title to the Blog, and above the latest article posted.
Click on the words 'Nigel Fisher's Brigg Blog' and it will take you into the archive section, which has a search facility. You will also see the posts listed in date order on the right-hand side of the screen.

UP AT AUCTION

Well-known business premises in the centre of Brigg failed to sell at auction.
The Monument Works site, on Bigby Street, had a guide price of £240,000.
The site formed part of Colliers CRE’s South Yorkshire Auction at the Magna Centre, Sheffield Road, Templeborough, Rotherham.
The lot comprised a single storey showroom and warehouse property with extensive glazed frontage to Bigby Road and loading from along Princes Street to the rear.
Would-be buyers were told a small area to the front of the property had been let for conservatory sales.
It remains to be seen whether a firm, or individual, comes forward to make another offer, or whether the site is included in a further Colliers CRE auction.
Older readers will remember when this was the site of W A Sass’s extensive garage, which included showroom, repair bays and petrol pumps.
The firm sold British Leyland cars, like Minis, towards the end.
After that, part of the site was taken over by a local business renting out videos.

GOING BACK IN TIME

Did you know you can access scores of previous postings on Brigg Blog?
When you first visit the Blog you will see the words 'Nigel Fisher's Brigg Blog' in Blue, underneath the title to the Blog, and above the latest article posted.
Click on the words 'Nigel Fisher's Brigg Blog' and it will take you into the archive section, which has a search facility.
You will also see the posts listed in date order on the right-hand side of the screen.
Happy reading!

ON AT THE WOOLIE

Entertainment at the Woolpack Inn, in Brigg Market Place, continues with band night tomorrow (Friday).
Saturday night 'turns' booked for Saturdays next month are: March 1 King B, March 8 Gray, March 15 Squadron, March 22 Carolyn.

MOMENT OF FAME

The Scunthorpe Telegraph's report indicating golfing legend Tony Jacklin is to make a return to North Lincolnshire brought back memories of the day when many Brigg people turned out for a glimpse of the great man - at the height of his fame.
Jacko - fresh from his Open triumph - is seen getting out of his car at Brigg Recreation Ground in 1970.
He was there to present prizes at the Brigg Preparatory School sports day.
The star's car looks like a Jensen and other interesting models in the car park include a Triumph 2000, a Mark 1 Ford Cortina, a Humber and a Riley.
Away in the distance you can see the houses of Central Square and East Parade, including the family home of the Fishers. And our dad, Ken - a keen amateur photographer - made the short walk across to 'The Rec' to record some close-ups of the VIP visitor.
I think Tony might have been living in a large house at Elsham at the time.

WHEN THE EARTH MOVED

Woke up with a start in the early hours this morning, sat up and said: "What the hell was that?"
Then went back to bed - none the wiser.
That will have been the case in many Brigg homes. Not until this morning did we discover there had been an earthquake/tremor.
Many in Brigg will be looking anxiously at roofs and chimneys to ensure there's been no lasting damage. So fingers crossed.
It's all a bit Old Testament. Last summer we had the floods and now a quake.

D-DAY LOOMS

A decision on the future of the garages at the end of East Parade is hoped for within the next few weeks.
In an earlier entry (with photo), this Blog highlighted the unslightly state of the lock-ups, many of which have been badly vandalised.
At last night's town council meeting, Town Mayor Coun Michael Doherty reported on a meeting of the Hawthorn Avenue Residents' Association he attended where the topic was raised.
Coun Doherty said it was understood North Lincolnshire Homes had still to decide what to do with the garages, a few of which were still in use.
Coun Nigel Sherwood, who serves on North Lincolnshire Council, said he had also raised the issue and received the same response.
The next meeting of the Hawthorn Avenue Residents' Association will be on Thursday, April 24 at the Ancholme Inn, Grammar School Road (7pm).

WELL DONE!

Polite applause greeted Town Mayor Coun Michael Doherty's announcement at last night's monthly town council meeting that Saturday's coffee morning in the Angel Suite had raised £433 for local hospice care.
Coun Doherty thanked all his colleagues who had helped in any way with the success of the event.

CASHING IN

Planning permission to replace an existing cashpoint machine with a new model at Barclays Bank, 9 Market Place, Brigg, has been granted by
North Lincolnshire Council.
Mr C Marshall has also been given approval to erect a single storey utility and garage extension (including demolition of existing garage) at 9 Glanford Road.

RESIDENTS PETITION COUNCIL

A petition relating to the lack of street lighting in Almond Grove, Brigg, will be presented tonight (Monday) at the February meeting of Brigg Town Council.
There will also be a report on the Hawthorn Avenue Residents' Association.
The town council meeting, which is open to the public, is to be held in the Angel Suite, off Market Place (7.30pm).
See you there?

ON THE MOVE

Now Nick Blackburn's car business has relocated to Unit 4 on Atherton Way, we can ponder what use the lot on Bigby Road might be put to in the future.
As so many pieces of available spare land in Brigg are creating interest for new housing development, maybe this one will, too, subject to planning approval.
The car lot site is very near to the railway line. And later this year, heavy freight trains will be running on a regular basis through Brigg.

BOOST FOR HOSPICE CARE

A successful coffee morning was staged today (Saturday) in the Angel Suite by the Town Mayoress and Mayoress, Coun Michael and Pat Doherty, helped by son Matthew and many other members of the the community.
The total raised has yet to be announced, but the proceeds will help the Lindsey Lodge and St Andrew's hospices - beneficiaries of this year's Mayoral Appeal Fund.
Coun Maureen Glossop took charge of the raffle, which offered a variety of prizes, and there were stalls (including some in the Courtyard), plus refreshments on sale. Background music was also provided.
The Mayor thanked everyone for their support, having wisely chosen to stage the event at the same time as the very popular farmers' market, going on in the nearby Market Place.
Dry weather helped ensure more people turned out than would have been the case if it was cold and wet.

NEARLY DONE

Work being carried out at the junction of Yarbrough Road and O'Hanlon Avenue, Brigg, should be completed later today.
That's the forecast from Coun Nigel Sherwood, who spotted the recent Brigg Blog entry about the repairs.
We wondered what was going on, as there is no signage to say which utility is on-site. His inquiries suggest it's emergency sewer repair work - explaining why we hadn't seen a road closure notice.

BOATERS BEWARE

Boat-owners using the River Ancholme in Brigg in the spring are being warned to watch out for unusual work being undertaken on one of our bridges.
It's the one carrying the railway line over the New River; you can see it clearly from the Ancholme Leisure Centre.
As part of the extensive refurbishment of the railway line through our town, in the build up to more heavy freight trains passing through, contractors will be working on the railway bridge from scaffold decking suspended below the bridge.
This will restrict 'available navigable headroom to just under half of the normal channel width at any one time'.
The work will be carried out between March 24 and June 23, during which boaters are being advised to 'proceed with extreme caution in the vicinity of these works and to satisfy themselves that it is safe to navigate'.
The Environment Agency's Anglian Region says it regrets any convenience caused.
For further information, contact its Louth office on 08708 506506.

ROME WASN'T BUILT IN A DAY

Regular readers of this Blog and Tuesday's Brigg page in the Scunthorpe Telegraph will be aware of our concerns about the public money ploughed into this computer-controlled facility in the bus shelter in Cary Lane.
It's supposed to give people the latest travel information, but has been out of action for many months.
Our last update reported a message on the screen suggesting someone ought to plug in the keyboard.
Well, things are moving at last. A check the other day revealed the blank screen had been replaced by this Microsoft screensaver. Next, perhaps, bus times will at last reappear.
We were going to make a public information request to North Lincolnshire Council, in the hope of discovering how much the service costs. But maybe enough money has been spent, without further staff time being invested.
All Brigg's public transport users want is something which tells them the time of the next bus to 'Sunny Scunny' - before the vandals and graffiti 'artists' render the facility unusable.

JUST A THOUGHT

The small piece of land adjoining Brigg Servicemen's Club - near to Old Courts Road and Coney Court - would make a great little car park for staff at the new Wilkinson store, only a few yards away in Cary Lane.
The club has been trying to offload this area of land for some time.

TIME FOR A TURN

Brigg's Ancholme Inn, on Grammar School Road, will play host to Craig Barry and His Rhythm Men on Friday, February 29 (7.30pm). Tickets are £6.

DIGGING FOR VICTORY

Back in 1992 the Conservative Government set up a Cones Hotline so annoyed members of the public could report incidents of roads being dug up, sometimes without warning, by utility companies, and then left...without explanation.
Yesterday, someone came and excavated a big hole in Yarborough Road, Brigg, near its junction with O'Hanlon Avenue.
At 7am today, Yarbrough Road remained closed to traffic, and suspended above the hole in the road was a mechanical digger, surrounding by wire fencing.
There's no signage at all to indicate the identify of the firm doing the work. Or to suggest what the workmen are up to. Nor do I recall seeing any public notice about a temporary road closure.
Unfortunately, John Major's Cones Hotline was disbanded within a few years of being set up, and there aren't actually any cones laid out on Yarborough Road.
So we'll just have to hope whoever is responsible for whatever repairs gets the job finished quickly.
In the early 1960s, actor Bernard Cribbins had an unlikely comedy hit record about a hole in the ground - "so big and sort of round it was" - which ended up with someone wearing a bowler hat being buried in the hole.
A bit extreme - but it would be nice to know which boss (with our without bowler) from which firm is behind the Yarborough Road work. And why it's necessary.

WHEELIE SURPRISING

Brigg has reason to be proud of its pedestrianised town centre, designed to allow people to shop in comfort, untroubled by cars and heavy lorries rumbling by, as used to be the case when the A18 passed through Wrawby Street, Bigby Street and the Market Place.
Sadly, as this column has said before, not everyone pays attention to the spirit of pedestrianisation. And the authorities do little, or nothing, to enforce it.
Yes, commercial vehicles can enter to make essential deliveries of bulky items. But last night - after all the shops had shut - there were FIVE vehicles...three parked in the Market Place and two in Wrawby Street. No deliveries were taking place. Indeed, one of these vehicles was a car and another a 4 x 4.
The paving stones in the pedestrian area will last a lot longer if they only have to take the weight of human traffic, rather than the four-wheeled variety.

WALL OF SOUND

There's been much debate in the national press about Mosquito alarms fastened to buildings and generating high-pitched, unpleasant noise to warn off unsavoury types in the neighbourhood.
Well, Brigg has something of a rival at the moment. It's annoying rather than deafening, but this particular burglar alarm has been sounding for at least four days non-stop.
We've thought long and hardly about revealing the building's identity to shame the owners into doing something about it. But as it's been up for sale for a long time, and a sign outside suggests a deal is being struck, maybe that's the root of the problem. Someone, however, needs to get it switched off.
The other issue is the security of the building while the alarm is going off. This will lull folk into a false sense of security, and if intruders were to pay it a visit, maybe no-one would bat an eyelid.
The building may still be in public ownership, which makes the situation all the more surprising.

CHANCE TO OWN YOUR OWN PUB

If you've got some spare cash and fancy running your own hostelry, the Brocklesby Ox, in Bridge Street, Brigg, might well appeal.
The historic pub - currently boarded up - is available for sale freehold, with land, the guide price being £275,000.
For further details contact Sam Frankland on 0113 200 1800.

SUNDAY NO DAY OF REST

Work going ahead today on Grammar School Road to lay power cables.
A temporary road closure is in place, together with diversion signs.
The yellow 'Diverted Traffic' sign on Barnard Avenue, as drivers approach the traffic lights from the Scunthorpe direction, might confuse a few, though.

POP IN FOR SOME FUN

Brigg teenagers get another chance to chill out with their mates at the Angel Suite tomorrow Monday (Feb 18), from 7pm-9pm.
Those who are bored, fed-up, cold or just interested in having a good time, 'can drop in for a natter,' says the town council, which is working hard to do something for the younger age group. Especially those who complain there's nothing for them to do at night.

HAVING A BALL

Back in its days as part of the old town centre Angel Hotel, what is now the Angel Suite function room would feature polite, even discreet middle-of-the-road music at dinner-dances held by various Brigg organisations and companies. Maybe a conductor-fronted band, or a string quartet.
Today the music theme continues at the Angel, but it's very different in nature.
Youngsters from Brigg Music Club have a great time there, playing current top tunes...and a few from the past.
It's loud and raw, but great fun for those involved.
Rather than being out On Brigg Streets, they are inside - doing something constructive.
It's also a welcome booking for Brigg Town Council, which runs the function room at a loss, due to very high overheads, and could do with more regular sources of income.
Those of us who attended this week's back-to-back town council committee meetings in the 'downstairs' room at the Angel - underneath the Suite - were left in no doubt the boys and girls upstairs were having a whale of a time. For we heard every note and felt every beat.
Many of the modern tunes being blasted out were unfamiliar to our generation at the council meeting, but one or two were 'golden oldies' we knew.
And when the music club got round to The Undertones' Teenage Kicks it seemed a very apt choice. "Get teenage kicks right through the night," is the chorus.
But we have no idea who in Brigg Music Club got the honour of chanting Feargal Sharkey's most famous line.

ROAD CLOSURES

A chunk of one of Brigg’s busiest roads is to be closed over the weekend. You have been warned!
All the proper legal channels have been gone through to close a section of Grammar School Road tomorrow and Sunday (Feb 16/17).
The Temporary Prohibition of Traffic Order allows for the road to be closed from 6am to 6pm, both days, between its junctions with Glebe Road and Redcombe Lane.
The closure is to allow high voltage cables to be installed.
The alternative route is via Redcombe Lane (watch the speed humps!), Ash Grove and Barnard Avenue.
Following on from that, Redcombe Lane will be closed between 7am and 6pm for one week from February 18 and for two weeks from March 22 - for the same reason.
Obviously it’s essential work which has to be done, but traffic congestion along this stretch of Grammar School Road can be severe at times, as we all know.
It pays to read the small print in North Lincolnshire Council's public notices in the Scunthorpe Telegraph to spot things like this, or keep your eye on page two of our paper (below the weather panel) where a list of road closures for the area appears daily. Yellow signs have also been put up on Grammar School Road, warning of the impending closure.

ALL IN A GOOD CAUSE

Coinciding with the monthly Farmers' Market on Saturday, February 24 the Brigg Town Mayor is holding a coffee morning in the Angel Suite(10am-1pm).
Included in the attractions will be home-made scones and cream teas, a home-made cake stall, live music, tombola, raffle and white elephant.
In the Angel Suite Courtyard there will be a selection of craft stalls.
Town Mayor Coun Mike Doherty has chosen local hospice care for his appeal.
Both Lindsey and St Andrews Hospices are charitably run and rely heavily on local support.
Coun Doherty said a successful hospice service was "a mark of a civilised society."
He felt it was important to recognise that whatever is contributed to this appeal "may not add days to lives, but will add life to days."
The farmers' market on February 23, from 9am to about 3pm, will give another opportunity to buy a wide range of products directly from the producers, including bread, cheese and jam. It will draw hundreds of shoppers in to the town centre.

TRIBUTE TO MERV

A long-standing allotment-holder in Brigg, Merv Green has died.
A funeral service will be held tomorrow (Friday) at 12.45pm at Brigg Methodist Church, in Barnard Avenue.
Merv's death was reported, with great regret, to town councillors attending last night's meeting of the planning and environment committee, in the Angel Suite.
Tony Morris, former town councilllor and now representative for the allotment-holders, described Merv, who worked Plot 12 on the Grammar School Road site, as 'an absolute gentleman'.
The town council is to be represented at the funeral.

ON THE ROAD TO NOWHERE

In many eyes - certainly at Brigg Town Council - it is a shame the temporary entrance road to the Foxton Way housing development has been removed and the land restored to agriculture, in keeping with the terms of the planning permission.
Some still strongly believe a permanent road, running from Horstead Avenue to Wrawby Road (near to where it meets Churchill Avenue) would reduce a great deal of congestion on the Springbank estate, where the only vehicular access currently comes via Grammar School Road.
North Lincolnshire Council, despite strong pressure from within Brigg, does not agree.
However, in that authority's new blueprint for future housing development (now progressing through various review stages) it is suggested the farmer's field next to the recreation ground (to the left of this picture) could be built on.
And that just might make the Springbank relief road option a more viable one, as it would no longer be jutting out into open countryside.

FLASH OF INSPIRATION

It's been, gone and now returned...this warning sign on the A18 (Wrawby Road), near Brigg cemetery.
Strangely, for some time, it was taken out of use and covered up with black plastic, only to be returned to service to warn approaching motorists of the 30mph limit.
A very welcome return, too, which helps road safety, as it flashes its message at motorists driving into the town.

SADDLE UP

This narrow public footpath which links East Parade with South View Avenue, running between Brigg Town's Hawthorns ground and our recreation ground, used to carry a No Cycling sign where it started.
The warning sign has long gone, although its post is still there.
As kids in the late 1960s/early 1970s we were led to believe there was a by-law enforcing this restriction on two-wheel transport - presumably introduced by Brigg Urban District Council.
North Lincolnshire Council has control of footpaths these days, so it would be interesting to know whether the by-law is still active. And if so, why no sign?
The North Lincolnshire authority is keen on cycleways (eg on Wrawby Road), but this route is not wide enough to have separate lanes for those on two wheels and those on foot.
And in today's compensation culture, the powers-that-be have to be very careful - unless there's an accident and some smart lawyer looks to mount a claim.
Surely, with a bit of commonsense applied, this track could be used by pedestrians and cyclists.

WILKO, CHAPS!

This notice - pinned to the side of the former Kwik Save store in Cary Lane, Brigg - is the first firm indication the Wilkinson Group is re-vamping the premises for a new retail outlet, to open in early summer, bringing about 70 much-needed new jobs to our town.
Keep watching this Blog on www.thisisscunthorpe.co.uk and the pages of the Scunthorpe Telegraph for further details about the scheme as it progresses.

CUTTING EDGE

A Brigg councillor is keen to ensure Humberside Police make a good job of trimming a well-known tree in the town.
The force is seeking the go-ahead from North Lincolnshire Council to crown lift an ash tree covered by a tree preservation order at the junction of Barnard Avenue and Cary Lane, to the side of the newly refurbished police station.
But when the town council was consulted on the planning application, Coun Ann Eardley said: "This tree is a very nice shape. It wants to look nice when it’s finished."
Town clerk Jeanette Woollard could see the wood for the trees and suggested experts would be carrying out the work on behalf of the police.

NEEDING ATTENTION

This East Parade street sign needs sorting out; it's been resting on the ground for some time.
Back in the days when the council rent collector walked the streets, collecting cash from people's homes every week, he'd have spotted it and reported back to the powers-that-be, who would have sent someone out to fix it within a few days.
Now it seems to rely on members of the public ringing in...or better still emailing or visiting North Lincolnshire Council's website.
This Blog has had a few successes in recent months in drawing the council's attention to minor jobs like this. So hopefully someone will pass the message on to the officer who assigns repairs.
The layout of East Parade, Central Square, West Square and Woodbine Avenue creates confusion for delivery people trying to work out which is which.
So this sign does serve a useful purpose, even in the era of 'sat nav'.

JOKERS WILD

You get a few jokers in Brigg, and someone has seen fit to 'modify' this 10mph sign on the entrance to the recreation ground and Brigg Town Football Club.
We don't think it can be classed as a public road, although the high quality of the road surface might suggest it is.
Is it worth the council's time and effort to put it right?

RARE SIGHTING

At 1.40pm today (Saturday) a hawk landed on our back garden fence in Springfield Road but flew off over O'Hanlon Avenue before I could get outside with the digital camera.
I only glimpsed it for a few seconds but it seemed larger than a kestrel and had some red colouring on its chest.
My knowledge of ornithology is very limited but I'm wondering whether anyone else in town might have seen the same bird.
It's probably wild but could be someone's treasured pet which has escaped, although I didn't see anything attached to its legs.
If you've any information please post a comment on this story, or ring me on 07780 953573.

SOUND OF BAT ON WILLOW

Today's spring-like weather brings to mind the return of the cricket season.
Brigg Town Cricket Club has withdrawn its top two teams from the Lincoln League and the Grimsby Saturday League and joined the East Yorkshire Alliance.
History will be made on Saturday May 4 when Town play their first fixtures in the North Bank-based competition.
The first team will be at home to Marist at Brigg Recreation Ground, while the second team trek over the Humber Bridge to visit Humbleton Ramblers.
Brigg's top side will be playing in division three, with the second team in division four.
Saturday, May 17 will see a very interesting fixture when Brigg entertain East Halton - the only other North Lincolnshire team in the competition.
So a new era for the cricket club dawns, and we will keep you posted on Brigg Blog and in my In A Spin and Brigg Extra pages in the Scunthorpe Telegraph.
Prospective new players - junior and senior - who want to get in touch with the club should contact new secretary Lee Fielden (pictured) on 07787715825.

WATCHING BRIEF

Shortly before leaving work at the Scunthorpe Telegraph at tea-time yesterday I read a Viewpoint letter from a member of the public who suggested you never see police out on the streets of Brigg anymore. And made the point in very strong term.
On arriving back in town along the A18 I turned into Cary Lane and headed for Lidl's store. On the corner, near Spring's Parade, was a group of youngsters; parked, only a few yards away, was a marked police car from which two officers were observing what the teenagers were doing.
That's not meant as a criticism of the reader's views or intended to be overly supportive of the police.
Just stating the facts. Now it's up to you, the jury, to decide!

GOING UNDERGROUND

Archaeologists may be called in to study the site of Tesco’s proposed wind turbine at its Barnard Avenue store in Brigg – because of prehistoric remains in the area.
The retail giant is seeking planning permission from North Lincolnshire Council to install the turbine to provide ‘green’ power.
However, as part of the planning process, staff at North Lincolnshire Museum have been consulted, and safeguards are being suggested, with a condition attached to the granting of planning permission.
Alison Williams, of the sites and monument records office, says the proposed development will affect an area of known archaeological significance.
She explained: "In 1998, an archaeological excavation preceded the installation of the underground petrol tank situated close to the proposed location of this wind turbine.
"These excavations revealed evidence of Bronze Age activity, including large-scale woodworking debris that may have been associated with boat-building, and is very close to the find spot of the Brigg logboat of the same date.
"This material was found well-preserved in the waterlogged alluvial soils at a depth of less than two metres below the ground surface.
"The concrete foundations for the proposed wind turbine are stated to have a notional depth of two metres and will thus impact on the known archaeological horizon."
She suggests Tesco should take appropriate measures to ensure any archaeological deposits are identified, assessed and safeguarded in advance of the determination of the planning application.
Given the relatively small scale of the proposal, she says there are no reasons for objecting to the application on archaeological grounds.
"However, it is important that an appropriate archaeological mitigation strategy is implemented to ensure the preservation of any important archaeological remains that might be disturbed," she stresses.
"The strategy should allow for the systematic archaeological excavation of the foundations, followed by post-excavation analysis and publication of results.
"A suitably qualified archaeological contractor should undertake this work, in accordance with an agreed scheme of work."
We'll let you know when the planning application has been decided...and whether the condition suggested on archaeological grounds is imposed.

QUALITY STREET

Our illustrated story earlier this week about the Country Lines premises being put up for sale may have rekindled memories of Bridge Street for older Brigg residents.
Some 30-40 years ago, Bridge Street was quite different to what we now see.
Family firms like Barnard's, Sherwood's and Dunham's were there back then, but this street has seen more changes than most in our town.
First and foremost, of course, the A18 used to take thousands of heavy lorries over the County Bridge and right down the full length of Bridge Street, shaking the buildings, prior to the inner-relief road being built.
What's now the Country Lines shop, on the corner of Kiln Lane, was home to Peter East's motorcycle shop, where so many of us took our Triumph, Norton and BSA machines for their annual MoTs.
Ike Tutty's hairdressers (pictured top left) was next to Sherwood's cycle/toy shop and offered competition to Harry Wescott's, in Wrawby Street. Ike always finished a boy's hair by offering to apply scented spray or a dab of Brylcreem. It was not the done thing to refuse!
Men would often pop their heads round the door to request 'Something for the weekend', as barber's like Ike did their bit to keep the Brigg population in check - a little after the post-war Baby Boom - by supplying packs of Durex condoms.
You could pop in to see Topliss, the jeweller, who had a clock hanging outside his premises.
There was Miss White's tiny sweet shop and Harold Green's model shop, whose owners were both quite elderly during the Swinging Sixties; plus the unusual Gwen's Bargain Shop.
Further down the road - opposite the Brocklesby Ox - was Button's general store, which got a lot of trade from the caravan site behind the pub (frequented by gypies/travellers), and also handled parcels for Lincolnshire Road Car, whose green buses stopped right outside the front door.
Syd Whelpton then had a car showroom (pictured top right) on the corner of Forester Street and Bridge Street, while those in need of a quick snack, or a cuppa, could pop in to the street's own cafe, which we mentioned recently while talking about town character Tansy.
A prominent Brigg councillor does not like to hear him described as a tramp, by the way, so we'll stick with Tansy. If you are over 50, and a long-serving Brigg resident, you will know who we mean, just from the name!
The White Hart pub was rescued from a derelict state by Ray Neall - still living in Brigg today - who transformed it in the late 1970s/early 1980s into a popular hostelry.
Similarly, a few years ago, Bridge's Street's quaint Yarborough Hunt ale house, which closed in 1967, was put back pretty much as it was, and now has the Tom Wood sign handing outside.
There was a brewery in this area of Brigg until the late '60s, brewing Sargents locally famous ale, so Bridge Street and refreshment go hand in hand.
At the far end of the street, adjoining the County Bridge, was the Nelthorpe Arms, run by the legendary Myles Scanlon, who never sought to change its charming interior, or imposing Georgian exterior, very much after he took charge in the '60s.
Manley Gardens, leading off Bridge Street, housed Stennett's Thursday produce market for many years, after which it was moved on to the old stockmarket (Cary Lane/Barnard Avenue) and then Station Road.
One of our jobs for editorial staff on the old Lincolnshire Times weekly newspaper, about 2pm each Thursday, was to leave our Wrawby Street base, walk through the Market Place and down Bridge Street and Manley Gardens to visit a rather smelly and poorly-lit wooden shed at Stennett's.
People would be visiting the windows to settle up for what they'd bought, but eventually the head clerk would reach for a stencilled sheet, lick his stub of a pencil, and write in that day's prices paid for things like boiling fowls, pigeons, dressed roasters and eggs.
This news was then telephoned over to a copy-taker at the Hull Daily Mail, where the Times was printed on Thursday afternoon, and usually became the very last story to go into the paper before the presses rolled.
There was much interest one particular Thursday when a trainee came back to the office with the price paid for a single ferret which had been added to the usual list of staple foodstuffs and livestock.
From then on, the Stennett's copy run became known, within the Lincs Times, as collecting The Ferret Prices!

PRETTY KWIK SALE

You have probably already read with great interest in today's Scunthorpe Telegraph, or on the news section of this website, about leading retailer Wilkinson coming to Brigg, having bought the former Kwik Save store, fronting onto Cary Lane and adjoining the main town centre car park.
The firm's press office suggests 70 new jobs will be created, and the re-opening of the revamped building will obviously help to keep the vandals with their spray cans at bay.
Keep watching the Scunthorpe Telegraph for further details about this exciting development, particularly if you, or family members, are interested in working there. We will 'press' - forgive the pun - Wilkinson for regular updates in the months ahead.
Well before Christmas it was hot gossip in the town, from various sources, that the Wilkinson Group was interested in acquiring the site. People were spotted inspecting the premises, and two and two, for once, added up to four, which is not always the case with rumours like this.
But it was not until some details were put on the North Lincolnshire Council website last Friday that the sale came into the public domain, and a Monday morning call to the Wilkinson HQ press office resulted in a detailed statement, much of which is reported today - in print and on the website.
Interestingly, the space for the applicant's name was left blank on the details sent to council planners and posted on the website. However, if you took the trouble to open up supporting graphics on the application for advertisement consent, reference was made to signs carrying the letters
W I L K I N S O N
So perhaps a bit of a giveaway there. Very well spotted, Coun Nigel Sherwood, and thanks for the tip-off over the weekend!
Of course the coming of the Wilkinson store is not good news for Brian's DIY, although the specialist service offered there, and the ability to buy very small items you need singly, or in twos or threes, will obviously continue to prove a major attraction.
Regular readers of this Blog will gather I'm a great fan of Brian's shop, even if DIY and gardening are about as far down my list of interests as you can get. Before Christmas we went in looking for a cocktail shaker - of all things - and the staff went to a great deal of trouble to order one specially!
That being said, I've shopped in quite a few Wilkinson stores, including the ones in Ashby and Cleethorpes, and found them very well laid out, offering a wide range of goods at competitive prices...and with speedy service.
Major retailers in Brigg, such as Tesco, Lidl and Wilkinson (in a few months), help draw people from surrounding villages into Brigg, together with our markets, particularly the farmers' variety.
Once people have visited one of the Big Three stores, many shoppers, we hope, will offer custom to smaller business in the town centre, before returning home by bus or car.
So the arrival of Wilkinson is bound to be good for the Brigg economy. The jobs are much-needed, and it's to be hoped many of them will be snapped up by Brigg residents.

TASTY TREATS

Just a few hours to go but you could still make it to two Brigg events today, both being overseen by Fresh Start, which looks after the interests of those of us who have now clocked up a half-century in years.
At 10am there are craft taster sessions at Brigg Resource Centre, Horstead Avenue, costing £2.
And from 11am there's a coffee morning at the Tennyson Close development, off Albert Street, followed by a fish and chip lunch and bingo. The total cost of this three-in-one session is £2.20.
"All welcome - you don't have to live at Tennyson," say the organisers.
For further details ring Marilyn Demott on (01652) 653384.

DELAYED START

Brigg Town Cricket Club makes a second attempt to stage its important winter meeting tomorrow (Wednesday) at the Nelthorpe Arms (Scanlon's), in Bridge Street (7.30pm).
Club officials had to call off the previous attempt two Sundays ago, although a handful of us didn't get the message and still turned up. A good excuse for a pint, anyway!
This is being billed as a very important meeting for the club, with new challenges ahead in the East Yorkshire Alliance (Saturdays) and the West Wold League (midweek).
Current players should make every effort to attend...together with some of us who have retired but still have an interest in how our old club is getting on.

ANGLING AFTER A SALE

One of Brigg's best-known speciality businesses is up for sale (freehold).
Fishing and angling supplies shop Country Lines - at the corner of Bridge Street and Kiln Lane - is on the market for £155,000.
It is described as fully stocked, racked and equipped with display cabinets and fridges.
The business is said to be well established, with a one-bedroomed flat above 'needing final finishing'.
Adams and Co is handling the sale. Tel 01302 849101.
Many pleasure and match anglers visit Brigg to fish our Old and New rivers, and older Brigg residents will remember when scores of fishing fanatics from Yorkshire's industrial towns and cities used to come to town to spend their week's holiday on the banks of the Ancholme, taking in the fresh air.
A popular place for 'The Yorkies' to stay was the hotel near to where Paris Watson's eatery now stands in Wrawby Street.

DON'T BE CAUGHT OUT

Tesco's Brigg store has a sign outside warning customers that cheques will not be accepted from February 25. The idea is to speed things up at the checkouts.

FITTING TRIBUTE

A minute's silence was observed for one of Brigg's best-known footballers before the start of yesterday's match between Scunthorpe United and Charlton Athletic at Glanford Park, which drew a 6,000 crowd.
It was in memory of Mick Atkin, who managed to combine life in the Football League with teaching. He was on the PE staff of what's now the Vale of Ancholme College.
Mick made his Scunthorpe United debut against Lincoln in 1969, going on to play 140 games for The Iron.

CIVIC PRIDE

Glimpsing a member of the public reading one of the town information boards (pictured) the other day set me thinking of the debt the community owes to the volunteers of Brigg Civic Society.
They put up the boards which tell town centre visitors about distinctive buildings and famous people, such as musician Percy Grainger, who have connections with Brigg.
They also replaced old name signs on town centre streets with the current, attractive black and gold ones, and were behind the attractive 'Welcome to Brigg' signs which greet motorists as they drive into town.
Unfortunately, with its ageing membership, the civic society is now defunct, having been unable to get sufficient new blood involved to keep things running.
It did a lot of good work for Brigg and it's sad the organisation has now passed into history.

Here's a brief potted history of some of its achievements and successes down the years, contributed by one of their former officials:
1) In the Summer of 1988, Diana, Princess of Wales launched the Brigg Regeneration Programme.
2) Subsequently, a partnership for its management was formed by the Civic Trust, Humberside County Council, Glanford Borough Council, English Heritage and the Rural Development Commission.
3) The Civic Trust said the Programme would not succeed unless the people of the Town became involved and the best way to do this would be to form a Civic Society. Under the professional guidance of the Trust's Officer, Mrs Daphne Kelly, a Steering Committee was formed.
4) Ninety nine people attended the Society's Inaugural Meeting which was held at St. Mary's Church Hall on the 20th September 1990 and it was chaired by the Chairman of Hull Civic Society. The more recently formed City of Bradford Civic Society attracted - only fifty-nine people to its inaugural meeting.
5) The membership reached a peak of 159 which was quite remarkable for a town with a population of 5300.
6) By the year 2007 we had become an ageing society with only 49 ine members including the committee of seven, two below the minimum required by the constitution.
7) Only one member of the committee was below the age of 70 and as were unable to attract any younger members, who were prepared to manage the society, its winding up became inevitable.
8) Sadly, the society was wound up at a Special General Meeting held on Thursday, 25 October 25, 2007.

PROJECTS COMPLETED BY BRIGG AND DISTRICT CIVIC SOCIETY EITHER SOLELY, OR JOINTLY WITH OTHER ORGANISATIONS
1) At a meeting of the Civic Society, Glanford Borough Council and Peacock and Binnington resolved their differences regarding the inner relief road, thus avoiding delays to the Regeneration Programme.
2) Paved Morley's Yard with York stone.
3) Created the gardens, railings and pavement at the Wrawby Street entrance to St. John's Church.
4) Built the Bandstand. At the eleventh hour, this had to be reduced in size and sited in a position that differed from the plans and at that point we should have re-named it The Pavilion!
5) Produced black and gold street signs in and around the Conservation Area.
6) Erected the new Town Entry signs and associated stone planters.
7) With the permission of the Magrath family, moved the memorial seats to Old Courts Road because the algae from the overhanging trees, made them unusable in East Park.
8) Compiled and erected History Boards in three locations in the Town centre.
9) Painted copies of the Toll Boards and erected them in the original positions in Wrawby Street and Bridge Street.
10) Old Courts Road:-
i) Persuaded Boots to clear up the rear of their premises and paint the rusty
prefabricated building in their corporate colours.
ii) Persuaded Ewart Gillard to remove the rusty, decrepit bollards from his
property.
iii) Helped Paul Hutchinson to remove undergrowth and litter from his car park.
iv) Persuaded Poundstretcher to have less obtrusive skips at the rear of their
property.
11) Worked with Highways Department to stop utilities replacing York stone pavers and tegular with tarmac and concrete in the pedestrianised area. Also worked with them for repairs and maintenance of the infrastructure in the Town centre.
12) Frequently made minor repairs to, and painted graffiti out of, the Tin Tab.
13) Brigg Town Trail - Council Tax payers receive 50p for each one sold in the Tourist Information Centre.
14) Held educational meetings and educational tours hosted by other civic societies.
15) Hosted many educational tours for organisations from other towns, taking the opportunity to market the attractions of Brigg.
That's quite a list of achievements.

HELPING HANDS

The Sue Ryder charity shop, in Spring's Parade, off Market Place, is looking for volunteers. Apply to the shop if you are interested in helping out.

TIDY LITTLE SCHEME

A proposal to build six self-contained apartments, with associated parking, bin store and amenity areas on land off South View Avenue, Brigg, has sailed through the first stage of the planning process.
Brigg Town Council, which must be consulted on such matters, has raised no objections.
Coun Tom Glossop said: "There is no doubt at all it will tidy that area up."
The site, backing into the children’s playground, used to house council-owned lock-up garages.
North Lincolnshire Council planners now have the final say on whether to grant permission to Tracey Pearson, of Longhurst Group Ltd, who has made the application.