BRIGG HAS BEEN KEPT WAITING FAR TOO LONG FOR FLOODLIT SPORTS PITCH

Hockey being played on one of the grass pitches at Brigg Recreation Ground circa 1986/7.  Recognise the one hiding behind the beard?  

A scheme to build an all-weather floodlit sports pitch as part of the ambitious Brigg Recreation Ground re-development is still going through the North Lincolnshire planning process.

However, did you realise that it is 27 YEARS since hockey players in our town first began campaigning in earnest for such a facility?
It was back in 1988 that Brigg Colts' Hockey Club drew up the project, in the days of Glanford Borough Council and Humberside County Council, which were replaced in 1996 by the present North Lincolnshire unitary authority.
Well-known Brigg GP Dr Peter Norris, as Colts' secretary, submitted the project. A brochure called Astro '89 was produced to gain support for the scheme.
The good doctor said at the time: "We want to hear now from companies, organisations and institutions who want to be part of this exciting development."
The project all those years ago suggested a sand-based synthetic pitch for multi-sport use (not just hockey) would cost £200,000, with a further £30,000 needed for floodlighting, £30,000 for fencing and £80,000 for a clubhouse with changing rooms.
Humberside and Glanford councils were asked to consider grants of £100,000 apiece, with a low-interest loan from a brewery bringing in £50,000 and donations, sponsorship and "further borrowing" contributing the remaining £75,000.
Income would be generated from lettings, the bar, catering, room hire and advertising boards.
Costings suggested a yearly surplus of £26,000 to be used to service loans, improve facilities and replace the playing surface, in due course, when it wore out.
We were playing for Brigg Men's Hockey Club back then and remember being asked to pledge £100, which we did. Members and friends of Brigg Colts' Hockey Club and Brigg Ladies' Hockey Club did the same.
Sadly, nothing came of this well-thought-out scheme. We never played a game of hockey on an artificial pitch in Brigg. And today's men, women and children who play the sport must do so out of town, on hired facilities.
Back in 1988 there was even talk of extending Brigg Recreation Ground because the existing grass football and hockey pitches were getting so much use that they needed "resting." Again, this came to nothing.
A floodlit facility was installed at Quibell Park, Scunthorpe, and another followed many years later near The Pods leisure centre at the Tata Steel Brumby Hall sportsground. 
A further "astro" was created in Winterton, near the comprehensive school, at a time when Brigg had five men's teams, a couple of ladies' teams and many junior sides. Winterton had never been a hot-bed for hockey!
When we suggest Brigg has waited far too long to get a floodlit synthetic pitch that's surely fair comment. Back in the late 1980s we thought it might take a few years, but 27  (and still counting) is surely unacceptable.