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.