THE Brigg Market Town Initiative (MTI), aimed at providing funding and facilities, is still regarded as a missed opportunity by a number of town councillors.
Sponsored by the Countryside Agency and Yorkshire Forward, its aim was to regenerate, revitalise and safeguard the future of Brigg and its hinterland.
But although its end-of-project report was issued almost four years ago, reference to the MTI continues to be made at meetings of Brigg Town Council, including the latest of the policy committee.
Projects included by the MTI in future developments, when it closed, included:
* Outdoor sports facilities at Brigg Recreation Ground. A feasibility study and business plan was undertaken ‘to provide the background details for future funding for the project’.
* An arts and community conference centre – originally including a 1,200-seat theatre, four-screen cinema and recording studio, but later reduced to a ‘multi-functional area which could accommodate 400 people in a variety of ways’.
Neither of these has got off the drawing board since the winding up of the MTI, prompting Coun Jenny Bell to suggest the initiative had proved a total waste of money.
“They made the project too big for the town,” she suggested. “They went over the top. It was pie in the sky.”
Town Mayor Coun Mike Campion said the end result had been disappointing, although the MTI had resulted in ‘a few nice shop signs around town’.
Coun Ben Nobbs pointed out help had been given to provide many Brigg firms with computers.
But town clerk Jeanette Woollard pointed out although £19,000 had been invested in a web portal, some of the information was now out of date, with no provision made for updating things.
The MTI’S end-of-project report lists funding provided for a range of projects and groups, including Brigg Bandstand, Ancholme Rowing Club, the Adventure Challenge, Brigg Farmers’ Market, various signs, Brigg Town Cricket Club, Brigg Men’s Hockey Club, fencing on the riverbank, Brigg Artists, Brigg Amateur Operatic Society, Brigg Lions’ bonfire and Brigg Bowls Club.
The report says: “Brigg was held up as a flagship town within the programme. It achieved more than some of the other towns.”
I was involved with MTI before going AWOL to live in London and South Yorks in 2004.
ReplyDeleteThe Theatre complex was central to the project - I think we go to the architect's drawing and looking for a suitable site stage before I departed.
But much of the work was left to MTI members - we could have done with more official help.
The greatest difficulty was finding a site - they were either too small, on a flood plain, allocated for housing, couldn't be built on. Someone said that the car-park was ideal - but it was the car park. One possible site was beind P&B's..but that was on a flood plain and had no car access.
Someone from NLC was suggesting a footbridge from the existing car-park and putting the theatre on stilts, but MTI would have to find the money!
There was strong support that North Lincs needed a cultural centre and that Brigg was an obvious site for one.
However, what filtered down to me was that NLC had got a similar plan for Scunthorpe and wanted to see how far our project would go, which may explain some reluctance.
My personal thoughts were that folks would perceive Scunny as an industrial town and were more likely to come to Brigg with its association with musical festivals, Fair and etc.
It's a pity that whoever had the plan for Scunny, didn't transfer their backing to us. However, I do recall the owner of the cinema in Scunthorpe was showing a strong interest in the project (his cinema was, or had just closed)and there was some suggestion that he would invest - hence the multi-screens - which was a later addition to arts theatre plan and which made the project somewhat more complicated.
When I returned to the area, the Baths Hall was in full controversy...and consequently the earlier 'secret' project.
Pity it's in the wrong place. If NLC had money to splash about why didn't they slosh a few notes MTI way?
...additional thought...
ReplyDeleteone prefered site was Lidl's ..I think in 2004 the building was empty.
Ideal site - near centre, riverside location, acres of room.
I think one of the drawings was complete with the site in mind...but this was the time I went AWOL.