STRAW POLL

Objections were raised to the proposed biomass straw-burning power plant at last night's meeting of Brigg Town Council's planning and environment committee in the Angel Suite.
No surprise there - and no surprise either that the objections remain road safety and traffic congestion, relating to lorries visiting and leaving the former sugar factory site; flood risk to homes in Scawby Brook; and straw coming off bales on their way to the site and littering the streets.
Eco2, the firm behind the proposed plant, withdrew its original planning application last summer, to do more work on addressing issues raised by the Environment Agency.
This has now been done, mainly by creating lagoons to hold surface water from the site during times of heavy rainfall.
Having heard last night's presentation, my personal view is the company will get permission for the amended application when it goes before North Lincolnshire planners.
Now to answer the question of why Brigg Town Council has become involved in a scheme which is not even within its parish boundaries, but in neighbouring Scawby.
It's certainly not a case of Brigg trying to muscle in on someone else's patch.
Eco2's directors deserve praise for putting their plans into the public domain last night - even before the actual application has been lodged with North Lincolnshire Council.
It was Eco2 which offered to come to last night's meeting, and Eco2 directors who were happy to field questions from concerned Scawby Brook residents, living near to the site. They are planning to make similar presentations in Scawby, Hibaldstow and Redbourne.
Brigg Town Council, as a neighbouring authority, is a "consultee" on the power plant but made no decision last night, due to the fact the application has yet to be lodged.
The town council last night "suspended standing orders" at the suggestion of planning chairwoman Coun Maureen Glossop (pictured), to give Scawby Brook residents the chance to express their concerns and ask questions. For, under council rules, only elected members and staff get the chance to take part in debates.
In case you are wondering, the Brigg Renewable Energy Plant will create 30 new jobs on-site, plus providing income for farmers growing the straw and for haulage firms involved in transporting the bales to the Brigg plant.