TIME TO HAVE YOUR SAY ON BRIDGE

You may well have seen in Brigg Matters magazine and in the Scunthorpe Telegraph that Brigg Town Council is currently sounding out residents' views over the renovation of the County Bridge (including the removal of those ugly metal railings and a return to stone balustrades and parapets).
Now a grant application for Heritage Lottery Funding has been turned down, the only way forward seems to be for the Town Council to try and start the ball rolling.
So Brigg people are being asked to answer the simple question: Would you support a levy on your parish precept to undertake the restoration works?
How much this would cost Brigg households is unknown at present; the first step is to discover whether sufficient people support the idea.
Whether or not you are in favour, please make your views known through the special form within the current issue of Brigg Matters.
Completed forms must be in the Town Council's possession by Monday, March 22, as it is hoped to have costings for the scheme available for discussion at that night's Annual Town Meeting, when it is expected the County Bridge will form an agenda item for interested members of the public who go along to the Angel Suite at 7.30pm.
Once public responses are received, town councillors will have to decide what message they have been given, and whether they feel they have a mandate to proceed further.
At the latest Town Council meeting, Coun Penny Smith asked: "What percentage will we need to go ahead?"
Coun Tom Glossop suggested: "You can only go on the replies you have got in your hand."
As the County Bridge is now within the pedestrianised town centre and no longer carries the A18 traffic it once did, Coun Sue Nicholson wondered whether it might be possible to get the landmark structure's status changed from a highway.
Coun Ann Eardley said the County Bridge's historic importance meant it ought to be worth applying for European Community funding.
Following a question about more than one person in a household wishing to express an opinion, Town Mayor Coun James Truepenny said it would be quite acceptable for people to photocopy the form in Brigg Matters.
The County Bridge still forms part of the road network, and North Lincolnshire Council is the highway authority. Assigned to represent the Town Council at any talks necessary with that unitary body will be Coun Glossop and Deputy Town Mayor Coun Ben Nobbs.
Just in case you haven't had a copy of Brigg Matters delivered to your household, or you've thrown it away by mistake, here's a Brigg Blog hyperlink which should take you straight to the online version of the magazine. You can then print off the form, fill it in and return/post it to Brigg Town Council, the Angel Suite, Exchange Place, Brigg, DN20 8LD (the letterbox is on the east side of the circular Rotunda at the far end) or mark your envelope 'Brigg Town Council' and put it in the letterbox at Hewson House, on Station Road.
BRIGG MATTERS
Apathy is often said to reign supreme in Brigg, together with people's claims that they have never been consulted or didn't know a particular issue was being discussed. Much effort is being taken over what is being called The County Bridge Referendum.
Surely those who don't express an opinion (either way) will have only themselves to blame.