Wednesday, January 30, 2013

NO INCREASE IN BRIGG TOWN COUNCIL PART OF YOUR COUNCIL TAX BILL FROM APRIL

The heartening news for Brigg householders is that they will not be asked to pay any additional cash to fund the work of our Town Council during the 2013/2014 financial year that starts in early April.
Coun Mike Campion proposed "no increase"  at Monday night's Brigg Town Council meeting, suggesting the  precept should be retained as it is. He said the council was giving value for money and continued to be "active" in providing services to the public.
The portion of each Brigg household's council tax bill that goes to fund the Town Council is very small - the majority of what you pay is for the services provided by North Lincolnshire Council, the police and others.
The Town Council has an office and a small staff. It oversees the Angel Suite community venue, manages the allotments and co-ordinates events like Remembrance Day. It is also involved with projects to help young people in the town. It is consulted on all Brigg planning applications and other issues.
What Brigg households will pay in council tax - collected by the North Lincolnshire authority - will be made known AFTER the other bodies with powers to ask the public to pay have decided what they want.
North Lincolnshire Council is what they call a precepting authority - it has the task of billing, and collecting, what households are being asked to pay. This is much simpler and more efficient than all the bodies sending out demands.
A chart showing exactly how much Brigg households will be asked to pay for 2013/14 will be issued by North Lincolnshire Council, in due course. It will show a total for each property band, from A upwards.
Here endeth the lesson on local government finance!



RESIDENTS OF 30 NEW HOMES AT PINGLEY CAMP 'WOULD USE BRIGG FACILITIES'


The Pingley Camp site off Bigby High Road - on the outskirts of Brigg - is earmarked for a new lease of life, having been created on farmland to house German and Italian prisoners-of-war during the 1939-45 conflict.
The huts are long gone and the site cleared for housing. But only one was built - a long way back from the A1084 - before a company hit problems and things ground to a halt.
Now "Phase Two" plans have been put forward to get things going again. They were outlined to Brigg Town Council's Monday night meeting by John Derbyshire, of John Derbyshire Design Partnership Ltd.
Ten homes had already been approved by planners; now the idea is to add a further 20.
Asked about the timescale for things to move forward, Mr Derbyshire suggested it might be "promoted again around Easter."
The former Pingley Camp site is just over the local government border - in Bigby parish, of the West Lindsey District of (old?) Lincolnshire. Out there they do not have a unitary authority like ours; there is still a district council and a county authority with shared functions, as used to be the case when we still had Glanford (pre-1996).
Despite this over-the-border location, our Town Mayor, Coun Carl Sherwood, is suggesting a request could be made for a legal agreement over this project "to benefit the residents of Brigg." The local government legal eagles call it a Section 106, which basically means a company/developer agreeing to pay a sum of money to be used for a local community scheme. For the Mayor stressed that people living in new homes on the Pingley Camp site would be using Brigg's facilities.
Town Clerk Jeanette Woollard mentioned the possibility of improving the footpath alongside the A1084, Coun Jackie Brock having earlier pointed out that "footpath provision is not good."
Coun Mel Oades wondered whether the addition of new homes might, with access onto the A1084, suggested the need for a reduced speed limit. Mr Derbyshire said he could put that to Lincolnshire highways but said a reduction had not been specified.
Printed drawings  for Phase Two of the development were laid out for Brigg councillors to study during Monday's meeting in the Angel Suite. Various types of trees were shown (with Latin names on the drawings), plus shrubs and hedges, and reference was made to a pond - an interesting feature.
The Mayor thanked Mr Derbyshire, and a colleague, for attending the meeting, making the presentation and answering questions. 




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BRIGG COUNCILLORS CONSIDER CAR SALES APPLICATION FOR SITE NEAR A18


Brigg Town Councillors had a few questions about the planned scheme to return car sales to the former car showroom near The Monument, latterly in retail use by United Carpets.
Brigg Town Council's Planning and Environment Committee - the first stage in the planning process for fresh applications - was unclear about proposed use of parts of the site close to the A18.
The only information they had to work from was that posted on North Lincolnshire Council's planning website.
Town councillors seemed unclear whether it was proposed to sell cars inside the former showroom or whether others available for sale might be displayed on the forecourt in front of the building. Or would be forecourt be set aside for customer parking?
The application was considered at a meeting on Monday night in the Angel Suite.
Coun Ben Nobbs wondered whether the information to hand was sufficient for the committee to be able to reach a conclusion. He made reference to "a block plan with a red outline."
Coun Nobbs added: "We should ask them for more information."
Coun Chris Dyson was also of the opinion there was insufficient information.
Coun Jackie Brock recalled that when she was a young girl, this site had been occupied by Sass's Garage, including car sales.
As with all planning applications, North Lincolnshire Council, as the unitary authority for the district, will make a final decision.

Sunday, January 27, 2013

BRIGG DATE WITH DOUG - THE APTLY-NAMED GARDENING EXPERT


Brigg Horticultural Society will enjoy Flowers, Foliage and Fat Rascals -  an illustrated talk by Doug Stewart, of Radio Humberside.
He will be entertaining visitors at Brigg Methodist Church Hall, Barnard Avenue, on Thursday, February 7 (7.30pm).
Admission for non-members will be £2 and light refreshments will be served.

LET THERE BE LIGHT IN BRIGG AND BEHOLD THERE WAS LIGHT UPON LIGHT




Brigg Blog recently made reference to the tall lights on towers above the newly-refurbished zebra crossing on Bigby Street. The lights appear to be directed to illuminate the orange Belisha beacons beneath and their surrounds.
As we think these after-dark images demonstrate, these tall towers are certainly effective in that regard; drivers approaching from The Monument  roundabout, or from the Cadney direction, are left in no doubt that they are coming up to a Zebra.
What we would like to know, for the sake of curiosity, is whether these lights are a requirement of some higher order than North Lincolnshire Council, the local highway authority? Is there some government, or even European Union, directive controlling such installations?
Illuminating a zebra crossing like we see here in Bigby Street must involve a good deal of upfront investment.
But we assume the lights are of the LED variety, so less "juice" will be required, which is welcome.
You may well know this: Belisha Beacons are named after Leslie Hore-Belisha, Minister of Transport when they were introduced as part of UK road safety measures in the 1930s. He was later made Baron Hore-Belisha - a wonderfully sounding title, if ever there was one.



BRIGG SNOW DRIFT NOT WHAT IT SEEMS



We spotted what appeared to be a big snow drift in Brigg yesterday morning. Actually, was a pile of the white stuff resulting from snow-clearing activities. Its location was close to the temporary car parking area behind Riverside Surgery.

Saturday, January 26, 2013

BRIGG BLOG WELCOMES ITS READERS IN GERMANY WHO ARE INTERESTED IN PINGLEY CAMP

Brigg Blog has enjoyed an influx of readers from Germany this week, which we put down to the piece we ran about Pingley Camp - where Axis prisoners-of-war were housed during the 1939-45 conflict. We expected some additional traffic for this reason, but not the 75 "extras" so far recorded. Wunderbar!

PICTURES: MYSTERY BIRD VISITS BRIGG GARDEN


Having made reference to the robin that pays our Brigg back garden some visits, we later spotted a bird never previously seen in our small patch of little Britain. It was helping itself to some red berries that remain on a bush out back. It returned again for a second helping and we attempted photos through the window.
We will have to download the images and let our man Ken - Brigg Blog's ornithological expert - take a look to see whether he can identify the species. It looked like a thrush but was bigger and had some light blue in its plumage. I'm wondering if it might be a fieldfare, but seem to think they are birds that frequent farmland rather than suburban gardens. It was a shade too heavy for its perch on the bush but did manage to pick off some berries near to larger branches. Most of those berries that remain would seem to be on twigs it will be unable to access. So another return visit seems unlikely.



SNOW APPEAL TO BRIGG KIDS - OR SO IT SEEMS

We've just passed the Davy Memorial Playing Field in Brigg - between King's Avenue and Bigby Road - expecting to see the slope buzzing with children on sledges, or having snowball fights. But the entire field was deserted. This was Saturday - no school to get in the way - 11am, sun out, gentle breeze. Decades ago the place would have been packed with kids having a good time.
Did we just happen to call at the wrong moment? Or is it a reflection that the youth of today have so much more available to them? We now live in a computer age, with games available to play, and digital TV offering hundreds of channels.
In our day we'd have been ushered out into the snow and would have welcomed the chance to let of steam with a few hours' healthy exercise before returning to thaw out before the coal fires in our Brigg council houses. Indeed, we might well have been detailed to saw up a few old railway sleepers, chop some sticks for   fire-lighting or been sent out to collect a few bags of logs. And those pastimes would have eaten up more calories.
Further to our previous post this morning, all is well in the town centre. There's plenty of slush but the monthly farmers's market, and adjoining Saturday general market, have both gone ahead - despite the overnight snow.
If you hadn't heard, Brigg Town FC's home game this afternoon has been cancelled, which will come as no surprise at all.




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A FINE ROMANCE IN BRIGG


Richard Smith - mine host at the Black Bull in Wrawby Street, Brigg - advises us that the Valentine's Night menu is now available. He's offering a four-course meal for two, and a bottle of wine, for only £50 per couple. Rich says: "Limited space so book now to avoid disappointment."

50th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS COMING UP IN BRIGG


The Brigg Methodist 50th Anniversary Celebrations will be held on Wednesday, February 6 at 7.30pm at Brigg Methodist Church - on the corner of Wesley Road and Barnard Avenue, just off the A18.




DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN NOW READ MORE INTERESTING NEWS  ABOUT BRIGG AND DISTRICT BY VISITING THE BRIGG PEOPLE WEBSITE?

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BRIGG HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL CEREMONY


Tomorrow is the international day for remembering the millions of victims of genocide and the Brigg Holocaust Memorial Ceremony will be held tomorrow (Sunday) in the Cafe Courtyard, in the Angel Building, off the Market Place. Those planning to attend should meet up from 4pm  and the ceremony is planned to begin at at 4.15pm. Brigg has a permanent Holocaust Memorial sited in the Courtyard.
North Lincolnshire Council held a similar ceremony for the entire district yesterday at Scunthorpe Civic Centre, attended by the Mayor, Coun Ivan Glover (Broughton).




DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN NOW READ MORE INTERESTING NEWS  ABOUT BRIGG AND DISTRICT BY VISITING THE BRIGG PEOPLE WEBSITE?

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SNOWY SATURDAY IN BRIGG

We estimate that up to 2 inches of snow fell overnight in Brigg and the A18 through town is covered with a good deal of the white stuff - but it's soft and slushy. Cary Lane and Bigby Street require a bit of care if you are venturing out in the car. Sadly, the cold weather and snow coincides with the monthly Brigg Farmers' Market and is bound to affect the attendance figure, which is a shame. We intend to pop up and have a look later to see if our forecast proves correct. Last night we observed council workmen busying spreading sand/grit/salt in Wrawby Street, which was good to see if you are planning a spot of shopping "in town" today.
During a recent reflection on bad weather in Brigg we made reference to the unusual sighting of a robin in our part of town. That prompted a comment from Brigg Blog follower Ken Harrison, who pointed out that these birds are territorial so the robin we saw was not going to be an occasional visitor. Quite right, Ken, we've had many further visits of what we presume is the same one, in recent days.

Friday, January 25, 2013

THREE Bs OFFERING BRIGG KIDS FUN THINGS TO DO DURING HALF-TERM



The Brigg Town Council ThreeBs team have a week of activities planned during the February Half Term, for young people who live in Brigg. For more information - take a look through this link
There's much to admire about this project that has been receiving Town Council support now for some time. Youngsters were complaining about having nothing to do, while some adults were moaning about spotting groups of teenagers here and there round the town.
Through the Three Bs, young people can go along to sessions of indoor and outdoor activities - under the watchful eye of the street leader team who help and advise them.
If you are a parent, or grandparent, of a youngster who might enjoy going along, please alert them to the above link, contact Brigg Town Council at the Angel, or speak to any town councillor.
We took the pictures seen here during an indoor session in the Angel Lounge some months ago.





Thursday, January 24, 2013

CARPETS TO CARS IS THE PLAN FOR BRIGG BUILDING

Brigg Town Councillors will be the first to consider plans to return the former United Carpets showroom to its original use - selling cars. The full story is running on thisiscunthorpe.co.uk and you can view it through this link...
It's to be hoped that this very prominent building at the junction off Bigby Road (adjoining the A18) does not stand empty for long.
As a "change of use" planning application has been lodged, Brigg Town Council gets the first chance to have its say. This will be on Monday night (Jan 28) in the Angel Suite at a meeting of the Planning and Environment Committee, starting at 6.45pm. Any comments made will be passed on to North Lincolnshire planners who decide whether schemes within our district get the go-ahead.
Also listed for consideration at Monday's meeting is a planning application to demolish a conservatory and erect a sun lounge and porch extension at Riverside Mews Residential Home, 34 Market Place (near the County Bridge). There's an accompanying application for Listed Building Consent, in view of the town centre location.
The third application at the meeting relates to the installation of a new first floor bedroom window at 1 Ridge View. This meeting is open to interested members of the public, if you want to pop along.

ANGEL SUITE HOSTS BRIGG CIVIC DINNER

Two worthy causes serving Brigg and district will benefit from the Civic Charity Dinner and Auction in March - and from other fundraising initiatives undertaken since last spring.
That was when the Town Mayor and Mayoress, Coun Carl Sherwood and Louise Mikkonen, began their year of office.
The appeal fund proceeds will be divided between Brigg and District Breast Cancer Support and Brigg LIVES First Responders.
Further details of the Civic Dinner have now been announced through Brigg Town Council.
It will be held on Saturday, March 23 in the Angel Suite (7.30pm for 8pm).

PINGLEY CAMP DEVELOPMENT TO BE OUTLINED AT BRIGG MEETING



Pingley Camp prior to demolition when the huts were still there.

Whenever Pingley Camp - just outside Brigg - is mentioned on the internet, or by a newspaper, it creates interest. Sometimes - through the wonders of the web - some, or much, of this comes from Germany and Italy. For Pingley Camp housed prisoners-of-war from the 1939-45 conflict.
The site, off Bigby High Road - near Brigg Garden Centre - will be back in the public eye on Monday (January 28).
The monthly meeting of Brigg Town Council is to receive a presentation from John Derbyshire Design Partnership Ltd about the development of Pingley Camp. Mr Derbyshire is to attend in person.
The old, dilapidated war-time huts were removed some years ago and the site cleared for redevelopment.
House-building commenced some distance from Bigby High Road but then came to a halt.
So many people will be keen to know what's being proposed for the future. If you are among them, the Town Council meeting is open to the public and will be in the Angel Suite, off Exchange Place, from 7.30pm. However, Mr Derbyshire's presentation is the 19th, and final, item on the agenda.

The landmark water tower at Pingley Camp near Brigg

The view from Bigby High Road once the site had been cleared and work began on housing.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

BRIGG ANNOUNCEMENT: COMMUNITY PASTOR - A NEW SOCIAL INITIATIVE

Coun The Rev Alec Depledge 

On October 10th 2012 around 3am an idea propelled itself into my sleep-addled brain, which has occupied many of my waking thoughts since: ‘You could become a community pastor‘. 
Thoughts began flashing across the screen of my mind in HD resolution … befriending people, offering crisis care, providing spiritual support, supporting businesses through a chaplaincy arrangement, conducting ceremonies (e.g. marriage blessings and funerals). I cherished many vivid scenarios unfolding before me.
In following months I began a process of discussing this concept with strategic people, eager to gauge their reactions. Church leaders, businessmen, councillors, council employees, and friends were drawn into my deliberations. I was grateful to hear from them, allowing their perspectives to shape and refine my thinking – and no red light came, only green.
Consequently, I’m excited to introduce this venture publicly: endeavouring to raise awareness, attract a response, and enable me to start providing a quality service, which I hope will enhance our community’s well-being …
I’ve also launched a ‘blog’ – Community Pastor – describing the initiative, and to which I’d recommend a visit, at http://alecdep.wordpress.com
There you will find my contact details. If you wish to benefit from such a service don’t hesitate to get in touch – Community Pastor exists to serve.
Rev Alec Depledge,
January 2013


DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN NOW READ MORE INTERESTING NEWS  ABOUT BRIGG AND DISTRICT BY VISITING THE BRIGG PEOPLE WEBSITE?


Monday, January 21, 2013

HIGH TIME BRIGG TOOK SOME ACTION ON SCHOOL PARKING

Brigg Blog has raised the issue of parking on Wrawby Road before. This afternoon was a fine example - several cars parked right outside, but this time in bad weather. How it it that legal parking is permitted on the A18, blocking one lane? If ever there was a place for double yellow lines in Brigg, it is outside the old High School entrance.

BRIGG BUSINESS MEETING SNOWED OFF


Due to the wintry weather it has been decided to cancel the meeting of the Brigg Town Business Partnership scheduled for tomorrow night (Tuesday 22nd January) at the Loft, on Wrawby Street.

TROPHY TIME FOR BRIGG TOWN CRICKETERS


Brigg Town Cricket Club is looking to hold its presentation night on February 16 at the White Hart in Bridge Street. The club had a great season, winning the league by a clear margin and gaining promotion.
Further details on the "pressie night" will appear on Brigg Blog as they become available.

Saturday, January 19, 2013

FORMER BRIGG TOWN SPORTSMAN JOINS "MP" ON THE BBC

It was interesting to watch, and listen to, former Brigg Town Cricket Club team-mate John Fitzgerald on a BBC programme last night.  John is in charge of the port of Immingham which was visited by Michael Portillo as part of his charming railway journeys series based on the famous Bradshaw's Guide.
John told the former government minister about the importance of the port and of its great dependence on rail for import and export of materials.
In cricketing terms, John played a straight bat during his TV appearance - just as he did for Brigg Town in matches at The Rec and Sir John Nelthorpe School. He then appeared again as the programme presenter presided at the naming ceremony of a big new diesel - Immingham 100 - to mark the port's century in business.
These railway travel programmes go out Monday to Friday at 6.30pm on BBC2 and are very entertaining. You don't have to be a member of the "anorak brigade" to enjoy them, though it does help a bit.
Last night's programme took MP - the former MP - from Spalding to Lincoln, Market Rasen and then on to Grimsby and Immingham. It surprised me that he didn't get off at Barnetby - North Lincolnshire's largest railway junction, to have a look at the semaphore signals that continue to draw train enthusiasts to the village from all points.
If he had walked back towards Brigg from Barnetby station he could have visited Wrawby Junction signalbox - one of the largest survivors from the age of steam. It was built with a frame that contained 137 levers. From memory, that made Wrawby Jct the third largest manually-operated "box" in Britain.





BRIGG HOCKEY RACING AHEAD

Brigg Hockey Club will be holding a Colts Fundraiser Race Night on Saturday, February 2 at 7pm at Broughton Village Hall.

NEW BRIGG BUSINESS OPENED TODAY

Shortage of time this morning meant we failed to take up the kind offer to attend the launch of The Brigg Travel Company at 56 Wrawby Street. We had a look through the window and saw manager Liz Rick and advisor Gemma Tierling chatting to customers during their open day.
The travel group that used to operate from these premises went into administration last October, with all branches, including Brigg, closing immediately.
However, Liz has now established her own independent travel agency, working alongside Gemma - also a member of the team at No 56 until the shock closure last autumn.
We always enjoyed very good, courteous service when visiting the previous business to book on various coach tours and a holiday or two, and we are sure many townsfolk, like us, will be using the new Brigg Travel Company.
Contact details: Call 01652 659767, email enquiries@briggtravelcompany.co.uk or visit the website www.BriggTravelCompany.co.uk

BRIGG COPING WELL WITH THE SNOW

The relatively small amount of snow that fell on Brigg late yesterday and again this morning hasn't presented any real difficulties. North Lincolnshire Council had workers out spreading grit/salt in the Market Place and along Wrawby Street, to make things easier for shoppers. It was pretty busy in the town centre about 11am - considering the cold weather.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

UPDATED: BRIGG RECREATION GROUND CONSULTATION


We've heard it suggested that North Lincolnshire Council has extended the public consultation period on its £3 million scheme to revamp Brigg Recreation Ground. So if you have yet to let the authority know what you think, there's still time to do so. We've just pinged off an email to Coun Carl Sherwood (Cabinet Member) to try to get this extension confirmed.
If you are interested, follow this link to read more. 

Friday 18th Jan: Coun Carl Sherwood confirms the consultation has been extended to the end of this month.

SECOND THOUGHTS ON NEW BRIGG LIGHTS

Brigg Blog was intending to run a story questioning the need to install two high-standing lights on poles above the Belisha beacons, as part of the recent refurbishment of the zebra crossing in Bigby Street.
We took some pictures at the weekend with the intention of publishing them to show the public the lights we then felt to be well over the top...literally.
But earlier this week we drove down Bigby Street when it was foggy and as we were approaching from the Monument were immediately struck how these down-facing lights either side of the crossing made the orange Belisha beacons stand out in the gloom. So now we are not so sure.
Our former Town Clerk, Joseph J Magrath, was a national figure in the campaign to prevent accidents in communities. So perhaps Brigg is a town where we should err on the side of caution.
These lights look expensive, and are very likely to be some nationally laid down requirement that applies to new crossings. Maybe Coun Nigel Sherwood (Brigg and Wolds), the Cabinet Member for Highways and Neighbourhoods at North Lincolnshire Council, which installed them, will read this and be able to confirm that's the case, as the crossing improvements took place on his watch, so to speak. If/when Nigel responds, we will run another post on Brigg Blog, with the pictures.



BRIGG JOBS FAIR UPDATE

A Brigg Jobs Fair will be staged on Friday, March 15 at the Ancholme Leisure Centre and arrangements are already being made. Employers and schools are to be contacted. Further details to be announced later.
This update was delivered last night to a meeting of the Brigg Town Council Policy Committee by Coun The Rev Alec Depledge, who was reviewing the work of the Brigg 2020 Vision Group.
A "street audit" it to be undertaken of Brigg town centre on Friday, January 25 to see whether any areas "could be improved upon."
Coun Alec also updated town councillors on the work of the Brigg 2020 Vision Monitoring Group.
He said it was intended to report 2020 progress through Brigg Blog and the Brigg Matters newsletter.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

BUTTERCROSS IMPROVEMENTS STARTING IN BRIGG


Brigg Tourist Information Centre staff will be operating from the nearby Heritage Centre, in the Angel building, from tomorrow. They will be across the road in the Market Place for about a month. The reason, we presume, is improvement work to be undertaken to the Buttercross. Some months ago, owners North Lincolnshire Council announced plans to improve the access to the first floor to make the upstairs room  in an effort to up the usage of this fine facility with its rather swanky chandeliers, installed in the days when Glanford Borough Council oversaw the flagship facility.





TODAY'S BEST SELLER IN BRIGG

We came past the Thomas Bell premises on Bigby Road in Brigg earlier today - beside the level crossing  - and saw for salt on sale. Given the weather forecast, we expect plenty to be snapped up by householders.
The Tesco store in Brigg has a canny policy of piling up cans of de-icing spray in the covered area near the entrance. A handy reminder for all motorists.
It always amuses us to see bread flying off the shelves in local shops whenever the weather men forecast snow. Not exactly panic buying, but why do it? If bread goes stale in your home, just toast it!




Saturday, January 12, 2013

JOHN OSBOURNE FROM BRIGG TO EDINBURGH FESTIVAL AND BACK TO CAISTOR




A Brigg man who made audiences laugh up and down the country in 2012 is to bring his highly acclaimed show to the area for the first time, writes Peter Thompson.
John Osborne's story of how he won a box of records in a competition on John Peel's Radio One show back in 2002 earned him Radio Times' Pick-of-the-Day billing in Xmas week 2011.
Since then he has toured the country with the show and it will be back to his North Lincolnshire roots when he brings it to the Caistor Town Hall stage on Sunday  January 20th. 
The former Sir John Nelthorpe, Brigg, student,who went to university in Norwich and is now based there, made his name initially with two books, one about radio stations and the other about his experiences with adverts placed in newsagents windows. His first book, 'Radio Head- Up and down the dial of British Radio' was selected as Book of the Week on BBC Radio 4. It also was serialised in the Daily Mail .
'The Newsagent's Window- adventures in a world of second hand cars and lost cats'  won the East Anglia 2010 Book of the Year award in the best memoir category. The book was serialised in a double page spread in the Daily Mail, and was much publicised on British radio, including interviews with Fred McAuley on BBC Scotland and with Jeremy Vine on Radio Two. Then came success at the 2011 Edinburgh Festival fringe with his show 'John Peel's Shed.'
His impact there to sell out audiences saw him start a tour last autumn playing in theatres all over the country and since then he has ventured to Scotland and Ireland.
Dee de Wit who runs iartsco-caistor has launched his 2012-13 season and the long awaited debut of Osborne is a highlight. Dee said: "We are delighted John could find time in his schedule to come back to his roots in Caistor to entertain us."
John's mother Pat is a long serving teacher at Caistor Grammar School and she and husband Keith, who acted as John's driver during part of his UK tour, are sure to be in the audience in the town hall for their son's show.
Tickets are now available on a first come, first served basis at Caistor Post Office or from the box office at arts@iartsco-caistor.co.uk


BRIGG FOLK BEING URGED: NEW YEAR, NEW START, NEW YOU


The New Year is the perfect opportunity for Brigg folk to learn how to eat more healthily, says North Lincolnshire Council.
Get involved in the Mind, Exercise, Nutrition…Do It! (MEND) programme to discover the difference a healthy lifestyle can make to your family.
MEND has already helped many families in North Lincolnshire with children above a healthy weight to move towards a healthier lifestyle.
The programme is not a diet and does not just focus on weight loss. Parents and children aged between five and 13 years can learn how to eat more healthily and get more active. It is a real opportunity for families to change their lives for the better.
The fun, free programmes are aimed at different age groups; these include five to seven year olds and seven to 13-year-olds along with their parents/carers.
Each week families will attend classes and explore different topics including:

*    balancing eating, portion sizes, fats, sugars and label reading
*    combating fussy eating
*    reducing screen time and removing inactive habits
*    increasing active play and family activity
*    positive parenting including role modelling
*    creating a MEND-friendly home environment
They can also take part in team games showing how much fun physical activity can be.
Come along to the next MEND programme that is starting in January at The Pods, Scunthorpe.
For more information about MEND or to register to attend, contact 01724 297612.
The previous programmes have been very successful.
Brigg and Wolds' Coun Nigel Sherwood, Cabinet Member for Highways and Neighbourhoods at North Lincolnshire Council, said: “The MEND programme is a great way for all the family to work together to become healthy and active while having fun at the same time. There are many benefits to the programme; it helps improve attitudes to PE and physical activity, increases self-esteem as well as reducing conflict around food.”

COUNCILLORS CONSIDER BRIGG FLUE

When Brigg Town Council's Planning and Environment Committee meets on Wednesday (Jan 16), the most interesting item will be a proposed extraction flue at the Golden City take-away, 76 Wrawby Street (adjoining the Little Butchery).
Planning permission and listed building consent are being sought to install a flue on the side of the building within Brigg Conservation Area.
Town councillors will not decide whether to grant permission - that is a matter for North Lincolnshire planners - but they may choose to comment or make observations to the unitary authority.
Other applications listed for Wednesday's meeting in the Angel Suite Lounge at 8pm are:

  • Erect two-storey extension and domestic garage at The Gables, 21 Manley Gardens.
  • Display signage at Llloys TSB Bank, 69 Wrawby Street.
  • Amendment to increase width of double garage from 5400mm to 5840mm and increase length from 6200mm to 6290mm - 16 Wrawby Road.
Wednesday also sees a meeting of the Brigg Town Council Policy Committee in the Angel Suite Lounge, starting at 7pm.
Councillors will be considering a request for financial assistance from the Lincoln and Lindsey Blind Society.
Reports on the new Brigg 2020 Vision group are expected from Coun Ben Nobbs and Coun the Rev Alec Depledge.
Interested members of the public are welcome to go along and listen to the discussions at both Wednesday night's meetings. But please note that entry to the building will be through the rear entrance of the Rotunda - the conservatory-like building adjoining the car park.
Apologies to more senior Brigg Blog followers for the use of millimetres in the garage dimensions given here. This unit of measurement comes from North Lincolnshire Council. We must admit to still thinking in feet and yards, miles rather than km, and stones and pounds rather than kgs.


Friday, January 11, 2013

BRIGG DAY TRIPS WORTH CONSIDERING


We've just received a copy of the 2013 brochure from Brigg firm TJ's Coaches - based at the junction of Island Carr and Bridge Street. It includes details of coach holidays and day trips.
Destinations in the latter category include Bury Market, the Black Country Living Museum, Whitby, Skipton,  Holmfirth (& Last of the Summer Wine Tour) and Scarborough. There are lots more, including a host of shopping excursions, and you can find out about them by dropping into the booking office at their base in Brigg or by visiting www.tjscoaches.com

RAISING A GLASS TO RHYTHM N BOOZE IN BRIGG - WE 'LIKE' HOW THEY'VE MOVED WITH THE TIMES



You can now go to Facebook to find out about offers, promotions and bargains at a popular Brigg off-licence.
Rhythm N Booze Brigg has now been established on the famous social network.
Many businesses now make use of social media to promote products and services.
As faithful followers of Brigg Blog will know, Rhythm N Booze is a regular port of call for us. We like the service, the range and the prices. But clearly a quick look on Facebook from now on will save people popping up to the shop to find out what's new.
The "offie" in Spring's Parade (near Lidl) only went online on Facebook this week, but has already gained a number of "likes" from people.
Look for Rhythm N Booze Brigg on Facebook, or, if you are registered with this network, find out more now through this


Tuesday, January 08, 2013

BRIGG FISHERMEN'S FRIEND THE RIVER ANCHOLME PRODUCES MEGA ROACH WEIGHTS - ANGLING TIMES

Great news for those Brigg and district anglers lining the banks of the River Ancholme at this time of year.
Our river proved it is among the best waterways during cold conditions, the Angling Times reports.
Read the full story through this link...

Monday, January 07, 2013

BRIGG GRAMMAR SCHOOL OPENED THE DOOR OF OPPORTUNITY


This fine study of the historic door at what was once Brigg Grammar School was taken at the weekend by Ken Harrison.
A school was established in Brigg through the will of Sir John Nelthorpe in 1669 -though further years passed before it was built and opened.
In 1969 - to mark the tercentenary - the original doorway, which had been boarded up - was given new wooden doors and reopened.
It originally offered access to the schoolroom, much later being used for teaching and assemblies (called Rooms 1 and 2). Later, following the replacement of BGS with the comprehensive Sir John Nelthorpe School, it was transformed into a library.
There's a verse in the Brigg Grammar School song that mentions the founder, Sir John Nelthorpe, giving broad acres (in his will) "to open wide the door of learning's mystic temple."
This was the very door the songwriter had in mind.
This part of SJN School is grade one listed - the only building in Brigg to enjoy such exalted status.


Sunday, January 06, 2013

C-ARD WORK, BUT SOMEONE IN BRIGG HAS GOT TO DO IT!



Brigg Blog was extremely flattered to be asked by Brigg Town Council whether a picture we took in 2010 could be used as the image on the front of the official civic Christmas card 2012, signed by the Town Mayor and sent to various people on the official list.
We were delighted to grant permission in return for a photographer's credit on the back.
We've undertaken many varied journalistic tasks over the past 39 years, but Christmas card picture provider was something new.
The view was taken around 6pm on November 30, 2010. We'd just parked up in the snow near Spring's Parade and were heading for Bridge Street to get a takeaway from Simon Ho's China Royal.
As we entered the Market Place, this was the scene we encountered. The picture has a rather Victorian, even Dickensian,feel to it. Or at least what's been suggested to us. Make your own mind up. 
The motorway had been closed as a result of the wintry weather, causing a huge snarl-up of traffic on the A18 through Brigg. As a result of the queues it took us an hour to cross Brigg, buy the food and return home.




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LET LIGHT SHINE OUT OF DARKNESS IN BRIGG



Here's St John's Church in Brigg - a picture taken yesterday for which an apt caption might be: "Let There there be light, and there was light (Genesis 1:3).
A wintry January sun is reflecting off the tower of what's not among the most beautiful churches in Lincolnshire, in terms of architecture.
It's not particularly old either, being early Victorian. But St John's is very much part and parcel of the Brigg Conservation Area - and the tallest building in the town centre. It's also a central part of community life - whether or not you are a C of E worshipper.

St John's with the Church Hall on the right.

The nameboard outside the Bigby Street entrance to St John's Church in Brigg which contains useful information about services and contact information. The Vicar is Father Owain Mitchell.




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Saturday, January 05, 2013

TIME TO CATCH CUSTOMERS FROM BRIGG ANGLING MATCHES

Angling on the Old River Ancholme - December 2012.
It's always good to see angling matches being held on stretches of the River Ancholme in Brigg - but does our town make the most of such a regular influx of visitors?
The angling issue came to mind after reading Ken Harrison's recent comment tagged onto a Brigg Blog posting. Ken's views are well known on the need for Brigg events listings to be even more extensive and to be acted upon by traders. We are with him all the way on this.
You'd think that when anglers come to Brigg they might welcome the chance of a bite to eat or a drink. But we don't see the angling matches appearing as events in the listings. So there's little chance of tapping into this potentially lucrative trade.
We know the angling clubs are represented on the Ancholme Users' Group that holds regular meetings in Brigg. We also know that our own Coun Rob Waltham, Brigg and Goole MP Andrew Percy and former Town Mayor Coun Ben Nobbs are involved with this group. So would it be possible to get the angling clubs to send details of Brigg fishing matches to the Brigg Tourist Information Centre (for inclusion in the listings) and the Brigg Town Business Partnership (for circulation to traders ahead of matches)?
Previously we, and Ken, have flagged up examples where events that draw many people to Brigg, including rowing, classic car rallies and athletics meetings, appear to have taken place without traders knowing they were on.




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BRIGG HERITAGE CENTRE NOW CLOSED ON SUNDAYS

Brigg Heritage Centre is changing the days it opens during the winter months and will be closed on Sundays starting from Sunday 6 January 2013.
The centre based in The Angel, Brigg Market Place, will be now be open Wednesday to Saturday instead from 10am to 2pm.
Discover the early history of Brigg and the Ancholme Valley as well as a unique collection of local artefacts.
Brigg Heritage Centre is run by volunteers and has welcomed a number of visitors from across the area, and it will soon become home to the Brigg Raft.
The raft is due to arrive in February 2013 and it will be the first time the raft has been on display since it was excavated in the 1970s.
If you would like more information on the Heritage Centre or are interested in becoming a volunteer please call Brigg Tourist Information Centre on 01652 657053.




DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN NOW READ MORE INTERESTING NEWS  ABOUT BRIGG AND DISTRICT BY VISITING THE BRIGG PEOPLE WEBSITE?

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FESTIVE SEASON FUNDRAISER BY DRISCOLL FAMILY AT BRIGG TOWN FC MAKES £70 FOR GATEWAY CLUB

Last June you may recall Brigg Blog reporting on a charity fishing match that Rob Driscoll was involved in running. It was in memory of his late father - £10 to fish, all proceeds to Brigg LIVES. Use of Smithy's Pond, on Island Carr, was kindly donated by owner Mick Smith
Now further fundraising has taken place at The Hawthorns - home of Brigg Town FC. On December 27 the clubhouse was the venue for a charity darts and dominoes match against the Gateway Club.
Rob tells Brigg Blog: "A great night was had by all. The Brigg and District Gateway darts and doms team -  with the aid of some dubious marking involving me, of course - won the match. We ran a raffle for which people had donated a host of prizes and raised £70 for the Gateway Club. All winning players received a nice trophy but special mention must go to man of the match Stuart Bratton for finishing on 80 - 20, 20 double top. We're hoping for revenge in a return match to be played around Easter time at the club."
Brigg Blog was kindly invited to dust off the old 'arrers and take part, but other commitments meant we failed to make it. Not wishing to be guilty of name-dropping, but we will remind followers of this site that the last time we took to the oche at the Hawthorns was to take on former world champion Dennis "The Menace" Priestley. We then hung up our flights. As clearly it's hard to beat that! 
Darting skills were honed during two years in the sixth form at Brigg Grammar School in the early 1970s when we had many "free periods" - perhaps, on reflection, far too many. Later, there were many enjoyable darts matches in the Brigg and District Games League for the Queen's Arms team.
Happy memories!




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ONE WAY BRIGG MIGHT REDUCE CONGESTION ON GRAMMAR SCHOOL ROAD


Much has been said, and written, about congestion on Grammar School Road in Brigg - much of it resulting from on-street parking by people whose homes to do not have drives or garages. The householders park perfectly legally on Grammar School Road, but it's narrow and very heavily used. So through traffic heading in both directions often suffers hold-ups.
Has anyone thought to investigate whether the car park at the nearby Vale Academy sports hall might be used for evening parking by residents living nearby? 
At a council meeting a few months ago, one representative suggested the Ancholme Inn site should be used for the same purpose. Clearly that's a non-starter in 2013, as we expect to see an application for housing to go up there now the pub has been demolished.
But the Vale sports hall - on the other side of Grammar School Road - just might hold the key to this thorny issue.




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Friday, January 04, 2013

FORTHCOMING BRIGG EVENTS INCLUDE MUSIC AND DRAMA FESTIVAL

Here's a helpful list of interesting Brigg events over the next three months - courtesy of staff at the Brigg Tourist Information Centre at The Buttercross. Note the Music and Drama Festival in March, the dates of the monthly farmers' markets and the free meetings being hosted by Brigg Amateur Social Historians (BASH).

Saturday 26 January 9am to 3pm - Brigg Farmers’ Market - Brigg Market Place. Visit this FARMA accredited award winning market and buy delicious local food from the people who produce it. Now with over 30 stalls selling everything from ostrich to smoked salmon and home-made cakes to sauces. 01652 657053.

Tuesday 5 February 8pm – Illustrated talk on the History of Hull by Bill Brocklesby for BASH (Brigg Amateur Social Historians), Brigg and District Servicemen’s Club, Coney Court. Free. 01652 657053.

Thursday 7 February 7.30pm - Brigg and District Horticultural Society – Methodist Church Hall, Barnard Ave, Brigg. Talk on Flowers, Foliage and Fat Rascals by Doug Stewart of Radio Humberside. Members free, non-members £2 including refreshments. 01652 653985.

Saturday 23 February 9am to 3pm - Brigg Farmers’ Market - Brigg Market Place. Visit this FARMA accredited award winning market and buy delicious local food from the people who produce it. Now with over 30 stalls selling everything from ostrich to smoked salmon and home-made cakes to sauces. 01652 657053.

Tuesday 26 February 7.15pm - Brigg and District Flower Club – Angel Suite, Brigg. All welcome. 01469 569607.

Monday 4 to Wednesday 13 March 93rd North Lincolnshire Music and Drama Festival (Brigg) – Music 4 to 7 March, Drama 11 to 13 March, Concert and awards 16 March. Closing date for entries 9 November. 01652 652084.

Tuesday 5 March 8pm – “Asleep in the Deep” Illustrated talk on the Bennett Family’s steam ship company by local author Diane Brian for BASH (Brigg Amateur Social Historians), Brigg and District Servicemen’s Club, Coney Court. Free. 01652 657053.

Thursday 7 March 7.30pm - Brigg and District Horticultural Society – Methodist Church Hall, Barnard Ave, Brigg. Illustrated talk on Clematis. Members free, non-members £2 including refreshments. 01652 653985.

Saturday 23 March 9am to 3pm - Brigg Farmers’ Market - Brigg Market Place. Visit this FARMA accredited award winning market and buy delicious local food from the people who produce it. Now with over 30 stalls selling everything from ostrich to smoked salmon and home-made cakes to sauces. 01652 657053.

Tuesday 2 April 8pm – Illustrated talk on the Yorkshire Air Museum at Elvington for BASH (Brigg Amateur Social Historians), Brigg and District Servicemen’s Club, Coney Court. Free. 01652 657053.

Thursday 4 April 7.30pm - Brigg and District Horticultural Society – Methodist Church Hall, Barnard Ave, Brigg. Illustrated talk on Fuschias. Members free, non-members £2 including refreshments. 01652 653985.

Saturday 27 April 9am to 3pm - Brigg Farmers’ Market - Brigg Market Place. Visit this FARMA accredited award winning market and buy delicious local food from the people who produce it. Now with over 30 stalls selling everything from ostrich to smoked salmon and home-made cakes to sauces. 01652 657053.

PUBLISHED BY BRIGG TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE, THE BUTTERCROSS, MARKET PLACE, BRIGG DN20 8ER. TEL/FAX 01652 657053. www.visitnorthlincolnshire.com




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INFORMATIVE BRIGG VIDEO FOR KOKU-RYU MARTIAL ARTS

Here's a link to a video for which Brigg Blog was sent a Facebook link by Koku-Ryu Martial Arts. You can watch it here, now...

Wednesday, January 02, 2013

ALERT FOR PROSPECTIVE BRIGG INTERNET CHAMPIONS


Brigg folk are being asked to make a firm resolution to spread some New Year cheer by becoming Digital Champions and helping others to get online and discover the internet.
The Northern Lincolnshire Broadband project has teamed up with the national campaign ‘Go ON’ to encourage savvy internet users to become Digital Champions.
Digital Champions don’t have to be IT experts, they just need to be able to encourage people who have never used the internet before and help them learn the essential online skills.
More than 27,000 people in North Lincolnshire over the age of 15 still don’t have basic internet skills – yet 90 per cent of all jobs will require ICT skills by 2015.
The basic online skills include:
*    Filling out an application form
*    Sending and receiving emails
*    Browsing the internet and using a search engine
*    Making a booking or a purchase
*    Accessing government services
*    Registering on social websites
*    Keeping safe online – identifying and deleting spam mail, knowing which  websites to trust and setting privacy settings
You could make someone’s New Year by helping them discover new ways of keeping in touch with a loved one by email and Skype, save money through online shopping, find a job and improve skills online and explore their interests on numerous websites.
If you are interested in becoming a Digital Champion, information packs are available from www.northernlincsbroadband.info or you can contact Yvonne Thompson on 01724 296926 or email yvonne.thompson@northlincs.gov.uk 
Coun Neil Poole, cabinet member for Policy and Resources at North Lincolnshire Council, said: “Digital Champions will help any internet beginners discover all the internet has to offer and stamp out the impression that there’s nothing to benefit them. They could help their family, friends or neighbours, a local charity or community organisation."

Tuesday, January 01, 2013

PROMINENT BRIGG PREMISES TO SALE OR RENT




One of the most prominent retail buildings in Brigg is available for sale or rent.
Until three weeks ago the retail warehouse hosted United Carpets, but the Brigg store has closed with customers now being directed to the outlet in Grimsby.
The vacant premises are on the A18 - just a few yards from the Monument roundabout.
Older Brigg folk will remember when this building housed the showroom of W A Sass and was full of new cars.
W A Sass closed about 30 years ago, since when the Monument Works have seen many uses.
The part of the site that once housed the petrol pumps and kiosk is now occupied by the well-patronised hand car wash.
Hopefully someone will come forward pretty quickly to take on the former carpet store and put it to productive use.







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FREE FIREWORKS SEE IN NEW YEAR FOR BRIGG FOLK

Brigg residents received a free New Year's Eve firework display last night - either side of midnight.
Many people must have splashed the cash on all those colourful sky rockets in a show that lasted the best part of half-an-hour.
Brigg Blog appreciates that some folk who had retired to bed long before the arrival of 2013 may not have appreciated the fireworks. And, having once owned a rather timid pooch, we can appreciate that many pets are scared witless (we've typed that word carefully!) by the explosions.
Now we must say sorry to the publicans of Brigg that the Blog team failed to get out and about this New Year's Eve. It must be age. Or did last night see a carefully orchestrated campaign involving the BBC, ITV, health watchdogs and the Government? The aim being to keep us from trekking to the boozers.
For having endured the untold misery that passes for soap entertainment on Emmerdale, Coronation Street (two doses) and EastEnders, we were down in the dumps and couldn't be bothered to rise from the settee and trek into town. Instead, we continued in Jim Royle mode and settled down for the night with some very good value cider from Rhythm and Booze in Spring's Parade.
A tenner's worth still buys you a lot as things having gone very quiet on 'Killjoy' Cameron's much-publicised plans to hike the tax on this...for our own good, you understand.
So apologies to the landlords of Brigg who missed out on our valued custom, though we feel we have more than done our bit over many a previous New Year's Eve.
We would certainly have called at the Black Bull, where mine hosts Amber and Richard Smith suffered the deaths in 2012 of dear family members Tony and Carolyn Sykes who ran the Wrawby Street hostelry for many years before them.
Early today we received a message circulated by Richard, which reads: "Happy new year to all of our wonderful friends and customers. Thank you for all your support in 2012 through the difficult and emotional times we had and the fun times we had, too. "Let's make 2013 a good one for us and yourselves - HAPPY NEW YEAR xxxx."
Very well said, sir.