POWERFUL ARGUMENT

The question of whether the power cables taking 'juice' from the proposed new straw-burning power station on the outskirts of Brigg would run underground, or be carried on pylons, has been raised by concerned Coun John Kitwood.
He raised the issue at the town council's monthly meeting, held on Monday in the Angel Suite, questioning why the eco-friendly power station proposal had not been discussed by the 'full council' before.
He was told it had been considered in general terms at committee level, but no planning application had yet been received.
The plant is being suggested for the old Brigg sugar factory site, and some Scawby Brook residents are concerned about the number of straw-carrying lorries which would pass their homes on the way to the plant.
The suggested route for them is the M180 to Forest Pines interchange, then Castlethorpe Corner and Scawby Brook, before taking the old sugar factory entrance road.
Quite how lorries would negotiate the mini-roundabout near Fountain House, Scawby Brook, has yet to be explained. But it might well need this junction to be re-designed.
The only traffic issue for Brigg would be if lorries coming from the Grimsby/Barton/Humber Bridge direction decided to leave the A180 at Barnetby Top, and head through Wrawby and Brigg to Scawby Brook, rather than use the M180 to Broughton.
However, the town council meeting heard it was possible for devices in lorries' cabs to tell the owners which route had been taken.
People have also expressed concerns about the possibility of straw blowing off lorries and littering the area.
However, Brigg residents who can remember when the sugar factory (pictured) was going full tilt might well think windblown straw somewhat less of a problem than the 'bouncing beet' which was often a hazard On Brigg Streets as tractors took their loads to be processed.
The firm behind the power plant held a two-day exhibition at the Angel Suite at the weekend, to gauge public opinion and inform Brigg area residents of their aims.
Watch the Scunthorpe Telegraph and this website for the very latest information on this burning topic - apologies for the pun! - as it becomes available. And why not email your views to viewpoint@scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk

CHANGES IN PLACE

The controversial plan to replace Brigg's ambulance, based at Health Place, with fast response vehicles has now been implemented.
Town Mayor Coun Michael Doherty told last night's Brigg Town Council meeting the changes had been made a couple of weeks ago.
He said, according to management, the ambulance was receiving an average of only one call for service every six hours. Management felt that resource could be better employed elsewhere.
The Mayor said he understood one fast response vehicle was based in Brigg all the time and another for a limited number of hours each day, with an ambulance available in Scunthorpe, to be called when necessary.
Deputy Town Mayor Coun Mike Campion gave a report of two 'scrutiny' meetings he attended, involving North Lincolnshire Council and the ambulance service.
He said, according to the ambulance service, replacing ambulances with fast response vehicles (like the one pictured here) was something being done all over the country.
And the service seemed surprised Brigg people were objecting.
The plan - unveiled exclusively by the Scunthorpe Telegraph - proved controversial, and a public meeting was held in Brigg, which the ambulance service declined the invitation to attend, saying insufficient notice had been received.
The town council is to monitor the situation over the coming months.

HAVE YOUR SAY TONIGHT

Pop along to the Angel Suite tonight if you feel strongly about the plans to build 44 new homes, with garages, and access road, landscaping and car parking space on the former Glebe Road school site.
For Brigg Town Council is making the plans available for the public to inspect and comment on.
Keigar Homes has acquired the site from North Lincolnshire Council and wants to develop the housing estate on what is now a piece of unattractive, unused land.
However, there are some concerns about the amount of extra traffic the housing estate could bring to an already congested part of the town.
Brigg Town Council's monthly meeting is in the Angel Suite, off Market Place, starting at 7.15pm.
Having met earlier, at 6.30pm, the planning committee will reconvene at 8pm for the public forum on the Glebe Road development.
See you there?

And finally...Apologies for the rare technical problems which meant Brigg Blog being unavailable for a time over the weekend.

PARK LIFE

Brigg does not get many accolades - certainly not as many as it should. So how about the town getting involved in the search to find Britain's best park?
What about the Donkey Field (sorry, showing my age - that should be the Almond Grove play area)? Or the Davy Memorial, between Bigby Road and King's Avenue?
To mark the sixth year of the Britain’s Best Park Competition, sponsor Briggs & Stratton is calling on Lincolnshire residents to put forward the name of their perfect local park.
Nine regional finalists will be selected and a panel of respected judges will decide the overall winner.
Prizes up for grabs include the coveted title of Best Park in Britain, and a certificate to mark the achievement. In addition, the winning park will receive a host of national and regional publicity (including a mentioned in Brigg Blog!)
Briggs & Stratton’s business development manager, Ian Small, said: "This competition aims to find the most attractive, well- maintained, accessible and community-friendly public spaces in the UK, and reward the hard work that goes into maintaining them."
The eventual winner will go on to compete for the title of Europe’s Best Park, also sponsored by Briggs & Stratton, where they will be up against parks located in Germany, France, Sweden, Poland and Italy.
Last Year saw Pollok Park (Scotland) crowned as Europe’s Best Park in a lavish ceremony celebrating the green open space and its facilities.
To nominate a park, and for further details, visit www.britainsbestparks.co.uk and fill in the entry form. Alternatively, call 01332 372196 and one will be sent to your address, or email britains_best_park@paskett.co.uk for an 'electronic' copy.
The closing date for entries is Thursday, August 29.
In case you were wondering, Briggs & Stratton is the world’s largest manufacturer of air-cooled, four-cycle petrol engines for outdoor power equipment, including lawnmowers, generators and pressure washers, as well as many industrial/commercial applications.

COUNTRY NIGHT

Another Brigg '50s rock and roll night is staged tonight (Friday) at the Ancholme Inn, Grammar School Road, with entertainment from the Bar Room Stompers.
Further details are available from organiser Pete Boston on (01652) 651685.

WILKO, CHAPS!

Take a look through the windows of the new Wilkinson's store, on Cary Lane, and you will see work on transforming the former Kwik Save premises is coming along well.
The entrance lobby is in place and the tills are there, although's there still lots to do before the opening in June.

SPOKE IN WHEEL?

Some of us are mystified about what's going on with the new, wider cycle lanes along the A18 in Bridge Street and Scawby Road, Scawby Brook.
North Lincolnshire Council announced it was putting them in and adjusting roadside gulleys. Workmen were then seen, a few weeks ago, carrying out what seemed to be preliminary work.
Indeed, the markings for the old cycle lanes were rubbed off the road surface.
However, no new lines have been painted on.
It's all a bit baffling but Brigg Blog will be making inquiries and reporting back as soon as we can.

NARROW DEFEAT

Brigg Town Cricket Club's debut in the West Wold Evening League last night ended in a narrow defeat at the hands of Brocklesby Park, who triumphed with a six off the penultimate ball in an enjoyable encounter at Brigg Recreation Ground.
Afterwards the teams enjoyed a drink or three at the Nelthorpe Arms.

ON AT THE WOOLIE

Next month's 'turns' at the Woolpack Inn, in Brigg Market Place, are: May 3, Trudi; May 10, The Underdogs; May 17, Wild Messiah; May 24, Grace and Baby Fly.

SIGNS ARE GOOD

Wilkinson's store, in Cary Lane, has moved a significant step nearer with the erection of the two main signs on the front of the former Kwik Save premises. The hardware giant is expected to open its doors in Brigg in June.

BOWLING ALONG

In reply to correspondent Bill, who wonders whether we would be willing to include bowls news on Brigg Blog, the answer is a resounding Yes.
And the same goes for all other sports played in the town.
Please email your news and JPEG pictures to nigel.fisher@gsmg.co.uk and scoopfisher@aol.com

ON BOARD WITH CAMPAIGN

As public meetings in Brigg go, Saturday’s – held in the Angel Suite to call for the reintroduction of a ‘meaningful’ passenger train service – attracted what was a record attendance, certainly for such get-togethers in recent years.
About 50 people – members of the public, railway enthusiasts and councillors – came from as far afield as Gainsborough, Retford and Dronfield to discuss the topic in detail.
Chairman of the meeting, Edward Richardson, from Upton, near Gainsborough, described the turnout as very good and said he felt those who attended were a ‘representative sample’ of the public.
Everyone was keen to see the current service – just three trains each way on a Saturday – improved.
And now the comments made, points raised and feeling of the meeting will be passed on to firms running passenger trains, and to the Department of Transport, which subsidises rural trains, very few of which anywhere near break even.
People from Brigg who got to their feet to express opinions included Town Mayor Coun Michael Doherty, Phil Hewson, David Davies, Jim Allcroft and Coun Jackie Brock.
Coun Tom Glossop, of Brigg, was vice-chairman of the meeting and opened proceedings by explaining how the Brigg line had suffered cuts down the years, reducing it to its current level.
However, he explained major improvements to the track meant the Brigg line was going to be reopened for freight traffic throughout the week, and that created an ideal opportunity to press for more passenger trains.
"I do think this is the ideal time to try to get a meaningful service back on the line," he stressed.
Phil Hewson, a keen supporter and user of trains through Brigg, warned against calling for too much, too soon – and pointed out it would be difficult to fit passenger trains round freight traffic, as some sections of the route are single track.
"Please be realistic about what you are asking for," he urged.
Stephen Gay, from Sheffield, renowned railway author and historian, wondered whether it might be possible to gradually switch some of the Transpennine expresses which go from Cleethorpes, though Scunthorpe and Doncaster to Manchester, and send them through Brigg and Gainsborough instead.
Coun Neil Poole, from Messingham, a member of North Lincolnshire Council, suggested the massive income from freight traffic could be used to help support the ‘less viable’ passenger service on the Brigg line.
After the meeting closed, many people stayed on to talk about railway matters in the Angel Suite, while others visited Brigg shops, the Saturday market and local pubs.
So holding the public meeting in Brigg helped put trade the way of a number of local businesses.
If you missed the public meeting you can still make your views known.
Post a comment on this Blog and we will pass it on to the right people for you, telephone Coun Tom Glossop on (01652) 656744, write to Brigg Town Council, the Angel Suite, Exchange Place, Brigg, or email Brigg Town Council - enquiries@briggmarkettown.co.uk

Pictured above are top table speakers at the public meeting, held in Brigg’s Angel Suite, to discuss rail services. Left to right: Edward Richardson, from Upton, near Gainsborough; renowed railway author and historian, Stephen Gay, from Sheffield; Coun Tom Glossop, of Brigg Town Council; and David Walford, sub-regional rail development officer, Community Rail Humber.

THE PLAICE TO GO!

New sign, new ownership...well-known Brigg business of many years' standing.
This is the chippie, with 'eat-in' facility, in Coney Court, just off Market Place - a favourite with Brigg folk, and visitors, for decades.
However, it has never advertised itself as prominently as this before, now bearing the name The Hungry Fisherman.
I recall interviewing a former German prisoner of war, from Pingley Camp, who came back to Brigg about 1980, to see a family in Westrum Lane he'd known back in the 1940s.
He said he was looking forward to Brigg fish and chips again, and I seem to remember the 'chippie' in Coney Court was where they planned to take him.

EVENING STARS?

Tuesday sees Brigg Town Cricket Club kick off a new season in a new league.
Brigg has put a team into the West Wold Evening League for the very first time and (weather permitting) will be hosting Brocklesby Park at the Recreation Ground, off Wrawby Road, from 6pm.
Back in the mid-1970s, Brigg joined the Broughton and District Evening League and enjoyed many happy years in that competition.
Sadly it folded a few years ago due to a declining number of teams, with changing, and longer, working hours being blamed by many players at the time.
It was just no longer possible to get away from work for an early evening match, especially away from home.

FANCY A GO?

Monday (April 21) sees a meeting of Brigg New Age Kurling Club at St John’s Church Hall, Bigby Street, from 1pm-3pm.
Yearly membership is £2.50, and it’s £1.50p per session.
There’s a craft session at Brigg Resource Centre, Horstead Avenue, on Tuesday at 10am. The cost is £2.
Contact Marilyn Demott at the Fresh Start office for further details of either event. Tel (01652) 653384.
Tuesday also sees Brigg and District Flower Club meet in the Angel Suite at 7.15pm, to hear Pat Musgrove’s presentation called Tickets Please.

TRIBUTE TO OUR MICK

There's a tribute to former professional footballer from Brigg, Mick Atkin, in a recently-launched national football magazine.
The April issue of Backpass includes an obituary on the former Scunthorpe United player, whose death, aged 59, we reported, with great regret, in Brigg Blog in January.
Mick taught at what is now Vale of Ancholme Technology College and played for the Iron between 1968 and 1974.
A glossy publication, Backpass, costing £2.50p, is a great read, concentrating on football nostalgia from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. If you've not seen a copy, we recommend you take a look.
It's edited by Mike Berry, a friend of mine from days spent covering Minor Counties cricket. He's a very experienced sports journalist, and that shines through in the content, lavishly illustrated with photographs.
For further details write to Backpass Ltd, Greystones, Beechgrove, Kington, Herefordshire, HR5 3RH, tel 07976 248 102, or email backpassmail@aol.com

TOM'S FUNERAL

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday (April 22) for Tom Kennedy, who died tragically in Brigg on April 6.
It will be at Woodlands Crematorium, Scunthorpe, starting at 11.30am.
The funeral arrangements, and floral tributes, are being handled by Kettle of Brigg, 10 Elwes Street.

SMILE TODAY

Get yourself down to the Market Place today and wear your broadest grin...for a good cause.
The Scunthorpe Telegraph is supporting the Lindsey Lodge Hospice's smile campaign, through which members of the public donate £2 to the charity and, in return, get their pictures taken.
Get down to the bandstand between 11am and 1pm to play your part in this worthy initiative.

TRAIN OF THOUGHT

Brigg folk are being urged to attend a public meeting in the Angel Suite on Saturday (10.15am) to press for the return of a meaningful passenger service, so we can get to places like Grimsby, Cleethorpes, Gainsborough and Sheffield during the week...not just for a few hours on a Saturday, as is currently the case.
The more people who turn up and pledge support for better passenger services calling at our station in Brigg (pictured), the greater the chance of train operators being persuaded to come onboard.
Edward Richardson, from Upton, is to chair the meeting - 'supported' by Brigg's own Coun Tom Glossop.
A meaningful passenger service would also benefit people in Gainsborough, Kirton in Lindsey and surrounding villages in West Lindsey. So those communities are expected to be represented in Brigg at Saturday's forum.
The enthusiastic Edward says: "Gainsborough (Central) Station will be a new Clapham Junction, if a public meeting at Brigg has it's way.
"Improved train services from Gainsborough (Central) to Kirton Lindsey and Brigg will be discussed at a meeting in Brigg on Saturday morning. This line runs from Sheffield to Grimsby and Cleethorpes via Worksop and Retford.
"Access to Robin Hood Airport, with a new station at Finningley, are amongst suggestions to vastly improve access to the airport from Nottingham, Sheffield, Gainsborough, Lincoln and Grimsby.
"All trains will run into Central station in the middle of Gainsborough, giving convenient 'interchange' facilities for travellers. Main line rail interchange is already available at Doncaster, Retford, Sheffield and Nottingham, and a direct service from Lincoln to London has already been approved.
"There will be calls to extend Robin Hood Line trains from Nottingham via Mansfield to Worksop, and for them to continue into Gainsborough (Central), then on to Doncaster by way of Robin Hood Airport - a case of Robin Hood to Robin Hood.
"Recent improvements on the Robin Hood Line will see Sunday services starting in December, and these Sunday trains would be ideal for taking travellers to and from Robin Hood Airport. Younger people and those with families see a Sunday service from Sheffield via Gainsborough (Central) to Cleethorpes as being ideal for a day out by the seaside.
"Connections via the Barton Line and Humber Bridge give access to Hull from a wide area of Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire not served at present.
"There will also be suggestions to reopen stations in North Nottinghamshire at Beckingham, Walkeringham and Misterton; and in Lincolnshire at Cherry Willingham, Reepham, Caistor and Knaith Park."
Edward describes Saturday's forum as a joint venture between Brigg Town Council and Gainsborough Constituency Liberal Democrats.
Further details from Edward Richardson. Tel 01427 838450, or 0770 8466485. E-mail: richardson4u@waitrose.com

BREAKING NEWS

Lidl trolley spied close to the railway crossing on Bigby Road/Bigby High Rd this morning, repots Coun Alec Depledge.
It's clearly a reference to our earlier Brigg Blog postings about the surpising distances shopping trolleys manage to get from town stores.
Please keep your sightings coming in.
Email nigel.fisher@gsmg.co.uk

ALL THE FUN OF...

Sheldon Dowse's funfair is now setting up on the old Atherton Way lorry wash site, near Tesco roundabout, for its usual spring stay in Brigg.
Doubtless many youngsters will go along to enjoy the amusements.
This is a much better site for the fair than taking up much-needed spaces in the Old Courts Road car park.
Older Brigg folk will remember when the fair was sited next to the old Grand Cinema, where the Horse Fair Paddock sheltered accommodation now stands.
Our picture from the not-too-distant past shows youngsters enjoyed the Dowse's funfair waltzers in Brigg.

OPEN TO ABUSE

Even before 5am today a car driver was inside the Market Place, in what's supposed to be a pedestrian area. I watched him arrive from Cary Lane and do a U-turn to drop someone off.
You could literally say ignorning the law goes on all day and all night in Brigg town centre. Or very nearly so.

DOWN AT THE WOOLIE

Live musical entertainment continues at Brigg's Woolpack Inn, in the Market Place, on Saturday (April 19), with Whicker on the bill.
The following Saturday (26th) it's the turn of Zero Damage.
More 'turns' are lined up for May.

GIVE IT A GO

Tomorrow (Tuesday) Fresh Start - serving the over-50s of Lincolnshire - has a craft session at Brigg Resource Centre (10am). The cost is £2.
On Wednesday there is a meeting of the grandparent and grandchild group, with various activities, from 10am-noon at the same venue. The cost is £1 per child, including refreshments.
Telephone (01652) 653384 for details of both events.

ON CALL

It's amazing this public telephone at Brigg railway station is in full working order - considering the vandalism and graffiti to be seen in this part of town and the fact it is housed in an open shelter on the nearside platform.
Lights have been smashed on, and near, the station and what remains of the Victorian brick walls virtually demolished. Yet, through it all, the phone survives intact.
Edward Richardson, who is organising this coming Saturday's public meeting on Brigg's rail service (see tomorrow's Scunthorpe Telegraph Brigg Extra page for details) alerted me to the fact the telephone's still working.
And, on Saturday, when I popped down for a look, it most certainly was offering a clear dialling tone.
Currently, no trains are running on the Brigg line, due to major engineering work.
But once they resume the phone will offer passengers the chance to check on train times and also summon taxis.

DON'T BE CAUGHT OUT

The A1084, Bigby Road, will be closed to traffic at Brigg level crossing, while further work is carried out, from 10pm on Tuesday until 6am on Wednesday.
The alternate route will be via Wrawby and Kettleby crossing.

FAREWELL, TOM

How sad it was to hear of the death of Tom Kennedy.
The Brigg 'grapevine' identified Tom as being the person found in the Ancholme some time before the authorities were able to give official confirmation. Not that that's meant as a criticism of their work.
I first knew Tom even before we were school age, as his family and mine lived only a few doors from each other in the Woodbine Grove 'prefabs' - now long demolished.
These temporary homes (built after the Second World War to try to solve the UK housing crisis) stood on what is now the children's play area between Hawthorn Avenue/Brigg Town FC's ground and South View Avenue.
I seem to remember Tom popping round to watch our black and white telly with us. That must have been 1960/1961.
He also played a bit of a trick on me, in our garden, involving a very angry bee in a matchbox, which ended with gullible me being stung on the finger.
We attended Glebe Road school together and although, educationally, we went our separate ways some years later, we kept on speaking terms and, as adults, would sometimes have a chat in one of Brigg's pubs.
And so it was, quite recently, we spoke for what the final time - in the Yarborough Hunt - when we both confirmed we would be attending May's Brigg Beer Festival, and reflected on how much we had enjoyed last year's.
What turned out to be the day before he died I was driving from Cary Lane to Spring's Parade, late in the afternoon, and saw Tom walking past Tesco, in his work clothes.
So, in the past few months, our town has lost some well-known, middle-aged characters - Paddy Quirke, Vic Berko, 'Chuck' Marshall...and now Tom Kennedy.
RIP!

CALLING ALL GRAPPLE FANS

Brigg fans who used to enjoy attending wrestling events at the Corn Exchange in days gone by can rekindle their interest when the sport makes a welcome return to the area tomorrow (Saturday).
Ancholme Leisure Centre is the venue for the family-orientated event featuring wrestlers from Lincolnshire, Nottingham and Manchester.
Doors open at 7pm, with action under way at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £8 for adults, £5 concessions or £20 for a family ticket.
Fans are urged to book early on 01472 505663, 07771 618288, or online at www.realdealpromotions.co.uk
The event was switched to the leisure centre at short notice, due to licensing problems at the original venue in Scunthorpe.
Pictured (by Mark Wright) are tag team champions Chaos and Sykes.
Wrestling was a feature at the Corn Exchange until shortly before its closure.
And among those to appear were Pat Roach (who acted in Auf Wiedersehen Pet and one or two of the James Bond movies) and Giant Haystacks.
A few wrestling nights were later held at Ancholme Leisure Centre.

BUILDING FOR FUTURE

Planning permission to erect a replacement detached house at 5 St Helen's Road, Brigg, is being sought from North Lincolnshire Council by Linden King.
Brigg Town Council has no objections to Peter Shew’s plans to replace windows and doors at The Merchant’s House, 3 Bridge Street – a listed building, with North Lincolshire planners having the final say.
And finally...Humberside Police have been given the go-ahead to trim an ash tree – protected by a tree preservation order – next to their station at the corner of Barnard Avenue and Cary Lane.
We mentioned this application in an earlier Brigg Blog after it was discussed at a town council meeting.

DISASTER STRIKES

What should have been a day to remember for a group of Brigg area football fans turned to deep disappointment, and anger, as they were left stranded in North Lincolnshire, rather than being ferried down to Wembley to watch Grimsby Town play in the Johnstone' Paint Trophy final against MK Dons.
Martin North, who played amateur football for many teams in the Brigg area including Brigg Amateurs and Black Bull, told Brigg Blog: "I just thought you might be interested to know about the utter disappointment myself, my son and six more people encountered on what should have been a super day out at the New Wembley on March 30.
"We were supposed to have been picked up at Briggate Lodge at about 6.20am. The coach never arrived.
"This was a trip organised by GTFC Supporters' Club and we can't seem to get any answers as to why, and who is responsible. And are we to get a refund?"
Former Brigg landlord Martin describes himself as '£117 out of pocket'.
We are forwarding Martin's story to our colleagues at the Grimsby Telegraph, in the hope they can find out what went wrong.

CRIME ON DECLINE

Head of rural policing, Insp Brett Rutty (pictured), delivered the following report to the Brigg Annual Town Public Meeting, held in the Angel Suite.

Criminal damage and anti-social behaviour in the community are the two main issues our Neighbourhood Police Officers and Police Community Support Officer (PCSOs) focus on.
Each Neighbourhood Officer was set a target to reduce criminal damage by 15 per cent during the year ending March 2008. Here in the Brigg and Wolds, so far this year to date we have seen a reduction of 22%.
Similar reduction targets have been set for calls for service for anti-social Behaviour. Although it is unlikely were will meet that target this year we have seen a slight reduction in calls for service to Brigg and Wolds so far this year of 1.5%
Staff from the Neighbourhood Team and the Friday and Saturday evening Respect Patrols continue to address this issue but we do need support from the community and parents have a big part to play.
Although we accept that teenagers want to meet up with their friends, they need to think about where they meet and recognise that their behaviour, particularly when congregating in numbers or when behaviour becomes rowdy, can be frightening and intimidating to other people in the community. Parents can help get this message across to their sons and daughters.
The Brigg area team is lead by Sgt Liz Staff, with PC Rob Armstrong being the Neighbourhood Officer for Brigg and Wolds. Rob is assisted by PCSO Lisa Bogg. We also have a new PCSO, Rob Straker who has just completed the class room side of his training and joins the team today! Lynsey Stamp has come to Brigg too as a result of a change is staffing brought about by the transfer of an experienced PCSO to the team from Scunthorpe.
Rob Armstrong and Sgt Staff are currently working with Sir John Nelthorpe School and our partner agencies to tackle damage to the school and anti¬social behaviour in the vicinity of the school.
Rob and Lisa are also focusing attention at the Springs Parade area of the town where again we are receiving complaints about youths congregating there in significant numbers. Alcohol is being seized where teenagers are found in possession of it and parents will be contacted where teenagers are behaving inappropriately.
There have been report of teenagers climbing on buildings in the town and this is perhaps the early signs that Free Running, the latest urban sport involving the running and climbing on buildings has come to Brigg. Although this may appear harmless, it can result in injury to the 'free runner' and cause damage to buildings. Rob and Lisa are keeping an eye out for this type of behaviour and will give strong words of advice should they encounter it.
Parking problems have been brought to Rob and Lisa's attention at various locations around the town and include parking in disabled parking bays and on the pedestrian area. Advice has been given to motorists and warning notices distributed. A period of enforcement will now follow
Neighbourhood Policing is about providing communities with:
Access to policing services through a named point of contact
Influence over policing priorities in their neighbourhood
Interventions: Joint action with partners and communities
Answers: Sustainable solutions and feedback
This involves dealing with the issues that matter most to people in the community. The Police alone cannot deal with these issues. Experience shows that long term solutions can be found when the police, partner agencies and the community work together.
One way of achieving these aims is through Neighbourhood Action Teams (NATs) which have been established in each of the 17 Neighbourhoods using Council Ward boundaries in North Lincolnshire.
Invited to the Brigg NAT are representatives of the Town and Parish Councils, Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinators, Residents' Associations and North Lincolnshire Homes. The Police and staff from the Safer Neighbourhoods CDRP always attend.
Issues impacting on the community are discussed and prioritised and actions carried out by the most appropriate agency, singularly or jointly with others.
An update on progress is required at the next meeting.
The next Neighbourhood Action Team meeting will be on Wednesday, April 16 at Worlaby Village Hall, commencing at 7pm.
By working together we can make the area a safer place in which to live, work and visit.

TIME FOR A FRESH START?

Fresh Start, serving the over-50s, has a new age kurling session today (Monday) at St John's Church Hall, Bigby Street, 1pm-3pm. No experience necessary.
Yearly membership is £2.50p, and it's £1.50p per session.
Contact Marilyn Demott at the Fresh Start office, Brigg Resource Centre, Horstead Avenue, for further details. Tel (01652) 653384.

JOKERS WILD

Some prankster decided to take full advantage of plastic panels left by contractors at the side of Woodbine Avenue over the weekend by spreading several across the road and closing it off to traffic for a time last night.
And as Brigg Blog suggested, digging up Glebe Road to lay new power cables has resulted in several of North Lincolnshire Council's large Tarmac traffic humps being considerably reduced in size, which is good news for cars passing over them.

FAREWELL

Many Brigg folk will mourn the passing of Barry Boston, of Central Square.
A family man, he had lived in the town for many years, and was very proud of his garden.
A funeral service was held in Scunthorpe last week.

CORNERING THE MARKET

It was heartening to read in the Scunthorpe Telegraph's business section of significant refurbishment and investment in the shop on Atkinson Avenue, Brigg - at a time when many small retail outlets are really feeling the pinch from large supermarket competition, and even closing altogether.
With Glebe Road an obstacle course, due to the cable-laying reported earlier in Brigg Blog, I was unable to get to the shop I'd normally visit the other night, and so rode the Grammar School Road speed humps and negotiated the many parked cars to make the short detour to Atkinson Avenue, to make my small purchase there instead.
And I bet I'm not the only customer Glebe Road shop lost as a result of the roadworks! Will any compensation be paid?
Older Brigg residents will remember, in the 1960s and 1970s, when the shop serving the Springbank estate was run by Mr and Mrs Lilley.
The premises have been extended down the years, and it's good to see the place still going strong.
If, or when, the huge Brigg North housing development gets underway - scores of new homes on land stretching from Western Avenue to Atherton Way - it will create additional trade for this retail outlet.
Similarly, in Glebe Road, when Keigar Homes put up new properties on the former school site it will mean extra customers using the small shop opposite, if only to pick up a copy of their favourite local newspaper.
Glebe Road shop used to benefit from the passing trade created by the school - before the new one opened in Atherton Way - with parents arriving to pick up their youngsters maybe getting a few items, and children popping in for crisps and sweets.
Turning the clock back to the late 1960s, we would make regular visits to Mrs Gray's shop, as it then was, for our sweets, chewing gum, or a bottle of pop, as a treat.
Famously, on one occasion, when senior pupils were given the summer task of repainting the outside of the Glebe Road school swimming pool, our teacher (Brian Neale?) said we would need to apply plenty of elbow-grease, as well as paint. This led to Mrs Gray's staff being asked for some tins of the stuff. I kid you not - but stress I was not one of those who fell into the trap!
While dwelling on the subject of small shops, we should not forget Dave Dent's Spar, in Queen Street. On Brigg Amateur Social Historians' excellent calendar there's a picture of these premises three or four decades ago. Still instantly recognisable.
Long may small general stores like these continue in Brigg. But, like many things in life these days, it's a case of 'use it or lose it'.
Let's all think about that next time we are planning to make a small purchase. It's great to have Tesco and Lidl for the 'big family shop' but, for many of us, particularly men who don't do much shopping, convenience counts for a lot.
We've lost a few small shops down the years, of course. There used to be Button's, on Bridge Street, opposite the Brocklesby Ox, later taken on by a Mr Rae, if memory serves me correctly. Button's also used to handle parcels on Lincolnshire Road Car buses which stopped outside.
And Bowen's, of course, had a shop attached to their bakery, near the junction of Grammar School Road and Glebe Road, where you could buy groceries as well as freshly-baked bread and delicious cakes.
Further down Grammar School Road - next to the Ancholme Inn - was Ernie Robinson's shop. It later belonged to Ian Reid, a member of the well-known Brigg family from Springbank, but was eventually demolished and is now the site of a couple of new houses.
Way back in the '60s, there was Cordock's little shop alongside The Monument, next to Sass's garage showroom. How many remember that one?
Last, but by no means least, was George Hewson's in Colton Street, selling a wide range of items to people on the Newlands estate. George was a very well-known and long-serving councillor, and Mayor, serving local government at town, borough and county level. The main council offices in Brigg, Hewson House, were named in his honour.
If you can recall any further convenience shops which were serving Brigg folk in the 1960s and 1970s please email nigel.fisher@gsmg.co.uk or scoopfisher@aol.com

EXTENSION ON WAY

Planning permission to erect a two-storey rear extension at 74 Grammar School Road, Brigg, has been granted to Mr R Andrew by North Lincolnshire Council.
Meanwhile, permission to erect a conservatory to rear of 12 Westrum Lane,is being sought by Mr Welburn.

GARDEN TOWN

Brigg will be among a host of small towns and villages chasing honours in this year's Calor Village of the Year competition for East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire.
Entry forms were distributed in February, and now the organisers have issued a reminder to communities that they only have until April 18 to send them in.
This could include some villages in the Brigg area.
Humber and Wolds Rural Community Council’s competition organiser, Peter Hirschfeld, is urging those which have not yet entered to do so soon.
"When villagers work together to complete an entry to the competition it brings alive a community spirit in them that just can’t be replicated in any other activity," he said.
"We want as many villages as possible to benefit from this. The closing date is approaching but there is still time for villages to enter if they act now."
The competition is sponsored by Calor – the UK’s leading supplier of LPG (liquefied petroleum gas).
Later this year, one of the winning villages from East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire will have the added honour of being nominated to go forward and represent the area in the prestigious Calor Village of the Year for England competition.
This will give that village the opportunity of gaining recognition at national level as well as a share of a prize fund totalling more than £40,000.
The county’s nominee to the 2007/8 national competition, Wrawby, is now preparing for a visit from competition judges, coming up on April 22.
Entry forms for can be requested from Humber & Wolds Rural Community Council by telephoning 01377 232134 or downloaded from www.hwrcc.org.uk
Brigg has done well in the small town section in the past, and a good number of framed certificates can be seen in the meeting room of the Angel Suite, where the town council is based.
Additional planting of flowers is being funded this spring, which should improve the town's chances of gaining further success.
Judges pay visits and award marks to decide the top places.
Pictured above is the versatile Peter Hirschfield, community development officer, Humber and Wolds Rural Community Council, addressing a recent public meeting in the Angel Suite about parish plans.

CRYING SHAME

The announcement yesterday there is to be no Brigg summer fair in August is very depressing indeed, not only for the people of the area who enjoyed the street entertainment and fun events provided in the Market Place and Wrawby Street, but also for town traders, whose tills were kept busy by the visiting crowds.
With the fair stretching back in time more than 800 years, we now have to hope the travelling/gypsy community still turns up to stage the horse fair.
For that event - run separately to the summer fair these days - is purely unofficial.
The police keep a watching brief, some barriers are put along Station Road (near the Hewson House council offices) and everyone does their best to keep away the horses being paraded a safe distance from onlookers of all ages.
But in today's culture of risk assessments and extensive health and safety legislation, there's no way organisations like Brigg Town Council and North Lincolnshire Council want to get involved with the horse fair part of the event.
It passed off peacefully last year, with no reported mishaps. And many, many townsfolk, and visitors, enjoyed watching the horses being traded in the centuries-old manner.
But it's a great shame the continuity of one of our town's great traditions now rests on whether travellers from other parts of the UK decide it's still worth bringing their steeds to Brigg on 'oss fair day.
And there's another potential problem: Will the travellers stage the event on the traditional August 5 (a Tuesday), or go for the nearest Saturday (August 2)when bigger crowds will obviously turn out?
Maybe Coun Tom Glossop will be able to help clear that up, nearer the time. For, in the days when he chaired the community association which oversaw the event for a time, he used to have some useful contacts in the travelling community which came to trade horses in Brigg.
Pictured above is a typical scene from last year's Brigg horse fair, held on a Saturday.

FEEL LIKE DANCING?

Circle dancing is being held on Thursday at Brigg Resource Centre, Horstead Avenue, where Fresh Start - serving the over-50s of North Lincolnshire - now has a base.
The session - from 6.30pm to 8pm - offers the chance to have fun, learn new dances and make new friends. It's just £2 per person.
Thursday also sees a get-together of Brigg Older People's Club at St John's Church Hall, Bigby Street, from 1pm to 3pm.
This costs £1 and includes refreshments.
For further details about either of these sessions, contact Marilyn Demott, community development worker, on (01652) 653384.

WE CAN TURN BACK TIME

Small towns and villagers in England are sometimes accused of being in a timewarp.
In Brigg, at present, we might have to accept that description as being true - in part.
For no-one has yet got round to adjusting our most prominent timepiece - the two-faced clock on top of the North Lincolnshire Council-owned Buttercross, fronting onto the Market Place.
Despite millions of other UK timepieces, computers and machines having been updated at the weekend to keep British Summer Time, ours is still an hour 'out'.
Maybe someone will be able to get it sorted by market day, when the town enjoys its customary influx of folk from surrounding villages.

NIGHT OF NOSTALGIA

Former pupils of Brigg Grammar School, Brigg Girls’ High School and Sir John Nelthorpe School met at Elsham Golf Club for their annual dinner.
Eighty members, ranging in seniority from George Gurnell (87), who attended Brigg Grammar between 1932 and 1938, through to those currently at Brigg Sixth Form College, attended the event.
There was a very strong contingent from the 1960s and several members had made considerable efforts to return. Neville Miller flew in through blizzards and snowdrifts from the frozen wastes of the Arctic where he had been installing satellite equipment in temperatures of minus 40 degrees.
Others came from Spain, America and Croatia.
John Allcock (a pupil from 1958-1965), who now teaches at Sir John Nelthorpe School, spoke of his experiences as a grammar school pupil travelling into Brigg by bus six days a week, as that included Saturday morning school in the 1960s.
His speech was packed with of humour and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the occasion with a rare standing ovation when he sat down.
He reminded his contemporaries of the instruction by prefects as the bus crossed the bridge into Brigg – ‘caps on’ – and of the cottage industry which took full advantage of the various skills collected together on one bus, enabling homework to be completed during the journey.
He spoke warmly about the various characters among his contemporaries, many of them gathered at nearby tables to hear his recollections.
Football, cricket, swimming and athletics were high on the list of priorities and each held an amusing story or anecdote.
However, he reflected that through lack of local education authority investment the sports facilities have not been improved in 50 years and schools in Scunthorpe are demolishing facilities far better than those still in use at one of the leading schools in North Lincolnshire.
Sir John Nelthorpe School headteacher, Linda Hewlett-Parker, praised the performance of the present students and detailed their successes in the summer examinations 2007 where they were top of the North Lincolnshire league tables for subjects including maths and English.
Briggensians’ chairman, Jane Gibbons, thanked those who had worked so hard for the association during the past year and congratulated those who had gathered from many quarters of the globe to reunite with their old classmates and enjoy the opportunity to catch up on the life and achievements of their friends.
Secretary Barbara Kernon described it as a a very good evening..
"There was a table of 12 from John Allcock’s year and John was an excellent speaker – he kept everyone amused," she said.
The sixth formers did a super job running the raffle and photographs from the past were on display, giving guests plenty to talk about.
"People seemed reluctant to leave," she added.
Next year’s dinner date has been fixed as Saturday, March 21 at Elsham Golf Club.
For further information about the association, visit the website www.briggensians.net or email kernon@homecroft2002.freeserve.co.uk
Pictured here are (left to right): John Allcock (chief guest); Linda Hewlett-Parker (headteacher, Sir John Nelthorpe School); Jane Gibbons (chairman of the Briggensians); Roy O’Neill (chairman of governors), Barbara Kernon (Briggensians' secretary. A further picture from the annual dinner - also courtesy of Dave Brittain - appears on today's Brigg Extra page in the Scunthorpe Telegraph.