CRUMBS! BRIGG MEMORIES OF LINCOLN BISCUITS

We have hazy memories that you could buy biscuits to have with your morning milk at Glebe Road School, Brigg, in the 1960s. And weren't they Lincoln biscuits?
We hadn't heard of this brand for many  years until Ken Harrison, Chairman of Brigg Matters community magazine, gave us a packet at the weekend.
They don't bake them in England any longer. So how did Ken get his hands on a whole box of Lincoln biscuits?
He reveals how and traces the history of the "Yellowbelly" biscuits with their Lincoln green packaging in the Spring 2017 issue of Brigg Matters, now being distributed to local households.

BRIGG TOWN COUNCIL TO SAY IT WITH FLOWERS

Brigg Town Council will be launching its Brigg in Bloom community flower planting scheme during the Annual Town Public Meeting, to be held on Monday, March 27, in the Angel Suite, starting at 7.30pm.
This was revealed by Deputy Town Mayor Coun Sharon Riggall during the council's February meeting, held last night.
Coun Riggall will explain full details during the Annual Town Meeting and there will be a representative present from Immingham Town Council, which has operated such a scheme very successfully.
There will also be a competition to design a logo for 'Brigg in Bloom' involving local schools.
The Annual Town Meeting is open to all interested residents.
Reports will be given on the past 12 months by Brigg Town Council and others.
But, most of all, this is an opportunity for the public to raise issues of interest or concern to them and to question their elected representatives.

BUNTING WILL AGAIN ADD COLOUR TO BRIGG TOWN CENTRE

Bunting will again be adding a touch of colour to Brigg town centre from late April.
Brigg Town Council has earmarked up to £1,000 for the installation within the town centre.
The matter was raised at last night's council meeting in the Angel Suite by Town Mayor Coun Ann Eardley "in response to a suggestion from Brigg Live Arts."
The aim is to have the bunting in place before the Live Arts event to be held in early May.
Councillor Rob Waltham said bunting did a lot for the appearance of the town.
"People like it," he said. "And this is something people expect us to do."
Our picture shows bunting in Wrawby Street on a sunny Sunday during July 2016.

SOUTH AMERICAN SCENE NOT FAR FROM BRIGG

This interesting picture was not taken at some remote spot in South America as the presence of alpacas might suggest.
The location was not far from Brigg and the photographer a former Brigg Town cricketer.
Dennis Allison recorded the tranquil scene on Grasby Lane, near Caistor.
He was a notable left-arm fast bowler who had a season with Brigg in the 1970s but is better known for his many years with the Caistor club.
Dennis is known to one and all in local sport as Wes - the Christian name being shared with West Indies pace ace Wes Hall.

One of his Brigg Town team-mates in the 1970s was Brian Parker (pictured above), a current member of Brigg Town Council. Brian was a batsman, though, and also went on to play for Caistor.
We came past the Britannia Inn, Brigg, last night (Monday) and through the window observed what looked like a meeting of Brigg Town Cricket Club taking place.
Not long now until the players begin a new season in the Lincolnshire County Cricket League.

CHARITY EVENT IN BRIGG TONIGHT

There's a charity fundraiser to enjoy on licensed premises in Brigg tonight (Tuesday, February 28).
It's a Viking FM Cash 4 Kids charity quiz.
The location is the Britannia Inn, on Wrawby Street, and the fun starts at 9pm.
"Bring a mobile or tablet," is the instruction to competitors.

GET THE 'X FACTOR' IN GREAT GIVE AWAY - TICKETS ON SALE IN BRIGG

 

FROM KIRSTY WESTFIELD, NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL

North Lincolnshire Children’s Literacy Trust has got four pairs of VIP experience tickets to the 2017 X Factor Live tour to giveaway in a raffle.
The star-studded X Factor roadshow rolls into Leeds First Direct Arena on Saturday 11 March and you could experience all of this from the front stalls!
See all of your favourite acts up close and personal, including winner Matt Terry, finalist Saara Aalto and Honey G, performing their hits from the show and classic covers.
This package is extra special, giving winners the VIP treatment and the chance to meet and greet the stars backstage.
To be in with a chance of winning this amazing prize, please enter the raffle. It costs just £1 for a ticket and they are available at the following locations from Thursday 23 February:

• The Pods, Scunthorpe
• Hewson House, Station Road, Brigg
• Civic Centre, Scunthorpe
• Church Square House, Scunthorpe
• North Lincolnshire Museum, Scunthorpe
• North Lincolnshire Central Library, Scunthorpe

The draw will take place on Friday 3 March. Make sure you don’t miss out and get your raffle tickets before then.
All of proceeds from the raffle will directly support the North Lincolnshire Children’s Literacy Trust, a registered charity, and its vital mission to help children and young people discover the joys of reading.
Brian Laws at Elite FA Deals LTD and Mercedes Benz donated the prizes.
Cllr David Rose, a trustee of North Lincolnshire Children’s Literacy Trust, said: “Thank you to Brian Laws and Mercedes Benz for supporting North Lincolnshire Children’s Literacy Trust and kindly donating the VIP X Factor tickets.
“North Lincolnshire Children’s Literacy Trust aims to maximise the impact of investment in early childhood learning and development working with a range of partners. It will build upon all the fantastic achievements made so far with the Imagination Library and ensure the motivation and interest of children and families in literacy is maintained.
“If you are an X Factor fan, this raffle is certainly something you should not miss out on. To make sure you are in with a chance of winning a pair of tickets, make sure you get a raffle ticket. Your support for the Children’s Literacy Trust will be greatly appreciated.”
North Lincolnshire Children’s Literacy Trust is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) with a board of trustees. It was established in October 2016.
The main aims of the Children’s Literacy Trust are:

• To raise awareness and address North Lincolnshire’s literacy challenge to equip children with literacy skills fit for employment and life.
• Establish literacy programmes, campaigns and partnerships to support and empower North Lincolnshire communities to improve the skills and confidence of those in need of literacy support.
• Work in partnership with schools, the education sector and business and community partners to identify literacy priorities for children, young people and their families and develop a range of approaches meet local need.

PICTURED ABOVE: Brian Laws, right, attending an event at North Lincolnshire Museum, Scunthorpe.

HOW MANY VEHICLES SHOULD BE ENTERING BRIGG'S PEDESTRIAN ZONE?

The instructions included on this Brigg road sign could hardly be clearer, in our view.

Yet many drivers choose to ignore the restrictions and continue along Cary Lane  beyond the turning circle and into the town centre's Pedestrian Zone, which is meant for shoppers on foot.

The sign says no vehicles except permit holders and for loading. (Note the word: loading)

The blue circle with the red diagonal line means no waiting at any time.

We were pleased to see a North Lincolnshire Council community warden on duty in Brigg town centre the other day.

However, the council has been unable to tell us how many motorists were hit with cash penalties during 2016 for contravening the regulations.

The wardens can't deal with moving vehicles - that's a job for the police. But you don't see many of them on foot patrol in the pedestrian area.

So the years come and go and no-one gets to grips with the issue of drivers flouting the regulations.

We've heard that one pedestrian who complained to a driver in the pedestrian area was told to mind his own business, in no uncertain terms.

We wouldn't suggest anyone tries to take the law into their own hands. But that course of action is hardly surprising. It gets annoying for pedestrians when they are expected to step aside to let vehicles go past.

North Lincolnshire Council's recent statement to Brigg Blog on this issue concluded by saying: "Fortunately, we believe there to be a few isolated incidents of people flouting the rules" and described it as "not a large scale problem."

Make your own mind up on this one, Brigg Blog followers. 

BRIGG FOLK CAN ENJOY FREE CONCERT

Enjoy a FREE afternoon concert in the Brigg area next month.
It will be given by musicials from the Royal Air Force on Saturday, March 25.
The afternoon of spectacular music will be at St Mary's Church, Wrawby, from 2.30pm to 4.30pm.
Refreshments will be served during the interval.
Just go along and enjoy...

BRIGG COUNCILLOR SAYS HATE CRIMES ARE UNACCEPTABLE

FROM KIRSTY WESTFIELD, NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL

The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) adopted an updated definition of Anti-Semitism in May 2016. North Lincolnshire Council has now adopted this definition to support other public bodies, including Humberside Police, in challenging hate crime and hate incidents.
The adopted definition is: “Anti-Semitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred towards Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of Anti-Semitism are directed towards Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, towards Jewish community institutions and religious facilities”.
The Government adopted this definition in December 2016. North Lincolnshire Council has also now adopted it. Having one definition of Anti-Semitism ensures that people who perpetrate hate crime do not escape justice because different public bodies have different interpretations. 
Coun Rob Waltham, from Brigg, Leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: “Jewish people are very welcome in North Lincolnshire. We work closely with Humberside Police and other public bodies to make sure our Jewish communities feel safe and secure. 
“Hate crime against Jewish individuals or communities is unacceptable. Adopting the new, single definition of Anti-Semitism allows incidents to be reported, investigated and resolved as quickly as possible. 
“Jewish people can be assured that we will work tirelessly to bring to justice anyone who carries out a crime against them.”
If you witness, or if you are a victim of a hate crime or hate incident, you can report it to Humberside Police. Call 999 in an emergency or 101 if it is not an emergency.

NF ADDS: Brigg holds an annual Holocaust Memorial Service and has a Holocaust Memorial within the Angel building, provided by Brigg Town Council.

WORLD CUP EVENT COMING TO BRIGG

A World Cup event is coming to Brigg.
The British Quadrathlon Association and the Lincsquad Lincsquad group says entries are now open for the Keyo Brigg Bomber Quad National Championships/World Cup event on Sunday, May 28.
Linsquad says: "For solo entries, the event will be the British Championships, part of the British Quadrathlon National Trophy series and a World Quadrathlon Federation World Cup race."
It will consist of a 1.5k swim in the River Ancholme, 7k in a kayak, a 36k bike ride in the Brigg area and a 10k run.
North Lincolnshire Council's Ancholme Leisure Centre in Scawby Brook will be at the centre of this event.
Follow this link for full details...

Pictured: Competitors in the 10k section of a previous Keyo Brigg Bomber - on Bridge Street, Brigg, and across in Scawby Brook, close to the New River Ancholme (top picture).

BRIGGENSIANS LOOKING TO STEP UP PROMOTION BID

There will be some local football to watch at Sir John Nelthorpe School in Brigg on Saturday (March 4).
Briggensians FC, pictured,  will be at home to A.F.C. Blades (3pm KO).
This game is in division three of the T.S.W. Printers Scunthorpe & District Football League.
Briggensians are second in the table and chasing promotion, but have had an enforced gap in their programme recently.
Barnetby United Reserves, who are fourth, will host bottom side Santon at Silver Street.
At the weekend, Barnetby Reserves beat Epworth Town Colts Blues 2-1 with goals from Will Dawson and Adam McGuire.

WHY NOT RE-ROUTE BRIGG BUS SERVICE?

Further to our recent post about plans to install a Go Ape adventure play facility at Normanby Park, Brigg Blog wonders whether there might be a case for extending an existing bus service so folk from our area without access to a car could get there.
We are talking about the Hornsby No 4 bus service from Brigg, Broughton, Ashby and Scunthorpe, which currently terminates at Lysaght's Enterprise Park, on the edge of the steel town.
It wouldn't add much distance if certain No 4 buses were routed via Normanby Park at times of peak demand for Go Ape - notably the warmer months of the year.
We should stress that Go Ape is only a plan at the moment. Details have yet to be finalised and planning permission will need to be sorted.

PUBLIC QUESTION TIME IN BRIGG TONIGHT

Just a reminder that Brigg Town Council will be holding its monthly meeting tonight (Monday, February 27) in the Angel Suite, starting at 7.15pm.
Public Question Time is included within the agenda for people who have issues they wish to raise.
The meeting is open to the public, entry to the Suite at night being through the Rotunda building off the rear car park.

FREE BOOKS FOR BRIGG CHILDREN TO ENJOY

FROM KIRSTY WESTFIELD, NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL

The latest Save the Children report has identified North Lincolnshire as one of the best places for children’s early development and learning. It shows 74 per cent of children are reaching a good level of development.   
​North Lincolnshire is listed in top 20 of local authorities across the country due to its continued investment in Early Years education.
This commitment to Early Years education helps ensure children in North Lincolnshire are given the best start in life and prepares them for their school years.
The launch of the Imagination Library in North Lincolnshire in 2013 has had a huge impact on the development and learning of children aged five and under.
The Imagination Library was created by Dolly Parton to guarantee access to books and to encourage parents and carers to read to their children as much as possible. Any child registered receives a free book each month in the post until their fifth birthday.
Over 13,000 children in North Lincolnshire have registered to the Imagination Library and over 280,000 books have been sent out.  
Around 88 per cent of children from birth to age five have registered to receive books.
There are over 160 Imagination Library Lead Champions in North Lincolnshire who are based in schools, Early Years providers and children’s centres. They run sessions with families to give them practical ideas and encouragement to get the most from sharing the books with their children.
A range of events and activities in addition to Imagination Library help with further development, such as Book Chatter, Booknics and stories in the park. All of these engage with parents and carers to help them recognise the role they play in supporting their child’s learning from birth and build confidence in learning at home.
Register your child (aged under five) for the Imagination Library at www.northlincs.gov.uk/imagination-library
They will receive a free book each month in the post.
Following the success of the Imagination Library, the council launched its own scheme called Words Count in 2015. This scheme aims to encourage people of all ages to read more and reap the many benefits. Words Count is now being shared by the Dollywood Foundation in USA.
Early Years providers and settings in North Lincolnshire support the development and learning of children. Currently 100 per cent of the settings are good or better and 98 per cent (better than national average of 84 per cent) of registered childminders are good or better in North Lincolnshire.
The Words Count More than Words literacy conference is coming to North Lincolnshire on 27 April at The Baths Hall, Scunthorpe, to raise awareness of the importance of reading.
It aims to highlight the benefits of reading and how a whole community approach can help transform lives. More than Words will offer teachers, Early Years professionals, community leaders and anyone involved in literacy development an inspiring day with high profile speakers, insightful workshops and lots of ideas on how you might influence and promote reading.
For more details and to secure your place at the event, visit www.servicesforeducation.org.uk/Event/43769

NF ADDS: Brigg Library is situated with the Angel building in the Market Place, while Broughton's is within the Village Hall.
Our picture shows Couns Rob Waltham and Carl Sherwood - members of North Lincolnshire Council and Brigg Town Council - with Caroline Sanderson at Brigg Library. 

NEWTON'S LAW AS ISAAC SEALS VICTORY

REPORT AND PICTURES FROM LEE FIELDEN

Josh Isaac's ninth goal of the season saw Barnetby United pick up their second win in as many weeks on the Isle of Axholme and lift the team up to third spot in the TSW Printers Scunthorpe & District Football League division one.
On a blustery afternoon at Godnow Road,  Barnetby gave a full debut to 16-year-old Ryan Lidgett and he was involved in the majority of moves in the first half as the wind dictated play was mainly down the right-hand side.
After chances spurned by Cottam and Hill, it was Josh Isaac who was sent through by Hill following slack play by Crowle to find the bottom corner and put United 1-0 up on the stroke of half-time.
Playing up hill, against the wind, in the second half, Barnetby always looked sharp on the break but couldn't add the second goal that would ease nerves.
At the back, Sam Thirkill put in a man of the match performance in goal as United kept a clean sheet for the second week running behind a magnificent back line that soaked up all that Crowle threw at them.
Hill, Gunn and Isaac had chances to put the result beyond doubt but brilliant goalkeeping from Crowle's young keeper kept his side in the game.
The result keeps up Barnetby's unbeaten run away from home this season and sees them rise to third behind Brumby and Crowle.

DIVISION ONE 

BRUMBY Played 8  Points 22 

CROWLE TOWN COLTS  10  22 

BARNETBY UNITED 9  17 

EPWORTH TOWN 10  16 

LIMESTONE RANGERS 8 10 

COLLEGE WANDERERS 9  8 

SCUNTHONIANS 9  8 

BOTTESFORD TOWN RESERVES 9  0

BRIGG HERITAGE CENTRE SEEKING GRANT TO HELP WITH EXHIBITIONS

Brigg Heritage Centre is seeking a grant from the Town Council to help with staging future exhibitions.
The application for assistance will be considered at the authority's February meeting  tomorrow  (Monday, February 27) in the Angel Suite (main room) starting at 7.15pm.
The session is open to interested members of the public, who may ask questions (see agenda item 8 below).
The Heritage Centre, housed in the Angel complex, is seeking the grant to enable it to continue staging "pop-up" exhibitions during the coming year "by the purchase of exhibition equipment, stationery items, an A3 laminator, etc."
Pictured above is an exhibition staged some time ago at the Heritage Centre.
On Monday the Town Council will also consider a verbal proposal from  Town Mayor Coun Ann Eardley "that bunting be put up in the town, in response to a suggestion from Brigg Live Arts."
Should this be approved, the council will then "set a financial limit on the installation."
Deputy Town Mayor Coun Sharon Riggall will update fellow councillors about the Enhanced Planting Scheme 2017.
Brigg planning applications to be considered will be:

• Erect a general purpose builders' merchants' warehouse, Turnbull Timber, Island Carr, off Bridge Street.
• Erect a single-storey extension, 7 Sunningdale Avenue

(Final decisons on these will be made later by North Lincolnshire Council planners).

MONDAY NIGHT'S AGENDA
1. Notice convening the meeting
2. Apologies
3. Prayers 
4. Any declarations of Interest by councillors
5. Police matters
6. Correspondence received by the council
7. Updates on issues from the Town Clerk
8. Public Question Time
9. Questions from council members
10. Report from North Lincolnshire Council ward members (Couns Nigel Sherwood, Carl Sherwood, Rob Waltham).
11. Approve minutes of meetings held in January
12. Reports from councillors on "outside bodies"
13. Accounts
14. Enhanced Planting Scheme 2017
15. Review Standing Orders Policy Document
16. Grants & Donations
17. Bunting in the town
18. Allotments - Redcombe Lane & Grammar School Road
19. Angel Suite
20. SLAs from North Lincolnshire Council
21. Consider planning applications

SCHOOL CROSSING PATROL NEEDED IN BRIGG

A school crossing patrol person is needed in Brigg.
This is an important role, helping to keep pupils and their parents safe.
The patrol is needed on Wrawby Road to help people across the A18 near Sir John Nelthorpe Lower School.
To obtain further details and apply, contact North Lincolnshire Council's Road Safety Team.
Call 01724 297463 or email roadsafety@northlincs.gov.uk

COUNCIL TAX RISE ON THE WAY

A good number of Brigg Blog followers living just a few miles to the south or east of the town are going to have to pay more in council tax.
Lincolnshire County Council, which provides "top tier" services, including education, to people living in villages like North and South Kelsey, Grasby, Kettleby, Bigby, Owmby and Somerby, has agreed its budget for 2017/18
The budget includes an increase in the county council element of council tax of 1.95% with an additional 2% adult care precept.
This increase will generate additional income of around £9.8m which will contribute to the funding shortfall the council is facing from decreasing government grants and additional costs, particularly from adult care.
As well as the increase in council tax, the council will also be using almost £18m of reserves, as well as £39m of savings the council has agreed.
Leader of Lincolnshire County Council, Coun Martin Hill, said: "For this next financial year, our general government grant has reduced to £48m from £70m this year. We are also facing around £26m of increased costs, including nearly £7m from the care needs of an ageing population, around £5m from the national living wage increase.
"To meet this budget shortfall, we have used some of our reserves, and balanced this with finding further savings. We have had to cut services and these are difficult decisions, but we know that we will be facing further challenges balancing our budgets in future years, and we must do the responsible thing today.
"By 2020, our government grant will have reduced by more than 90% in less than a decade, and our main source of income will be council tax. However, we will continue to lobby the government for fairer funding – especially to meet more of the costs of adult care- rather than expecting local people to foot the bill.
"Despite this harsh financial backdrop, I am proud of what we have achieved as a council recently in finding new and innovative ways to deliver and improve our services. 93% of primary school age children now attend a school judged good or outstanding; we have had national recognition for our re-commissioning of home care services; to support economic development, we’ve completed Teal Park, the Holbeach Technology Park and Sutton Bridge Marina; and we’ve also been recognised as one of the top two highways authorities in the country, attracting significant extra funding to fill potholes."
The county council's element of the council tax increase equates to £44.59 per year for a Band D property (approximately 86p per week).
NF ADDS: Head along Bigby High Road, Brigg, and you are in Lincolnshire County Council's area before you get to Brigg Garden Centre! And the same goes for the far end of Westrum Lane, which is crossed by the Lincolnshire/North Lincolnshire border.
"Old Lincolnshire" - if we can call it that - still has a three-tier system of local government, meaning there's a parish (eg Bigby), a district (West Lindsey - based in Gainsborough) and then Lincolnshire County Council.
Brigg has only two tiers - North Lincolnshire Council (formed in 1996) and Brigg Town Council (established in 1974).
PICTURED: The local government border between North Lincolnshire Council and Lincolnshire County Council on Bigby High Road, Brigg.

ARE MOBILITY SCOOTERS IN BRIGG ON THE RIGHT TRACK?

Brigg Blog wonders whether someone in authority might clarify this...

Are mobility scooters classed as cycles or vehicles when it comes to using the town's longest footpath?

Wrawby Road contains a well-used cycle and pedestrian route linking Brigg and our neigbouring village.

But should the drivers/riders of mobility vehicles be sticking to the pedestrian lane? Or do they use the adjoining zone?

Clearly, these are not cycles. But the cycle lane is wider, in places, than the pedestrian section. So the cycle lane seems more suited to mobility scooters.

When the Wrawby Road cycle/pedestrian lanes were added a good few years ago by North Lincolnshire Council, there were far fewer mobility scooters in use than there are today.

We were recently making our way along Wrawby Road, near the entrance to the Recreation Ground, sticking to the pedestrian part of the path, when we were passed by someone in a mobility scooter. 

We didn't hear his approach, which also makes us wonder whether there's a legal requirement to have an audible warning fitted to such vehicles, in the same way that cycles are supposed to have a bell in working order.

FOOTBALL FANS TAKE A LIKING TO THE BRIGG RAILWAY LINE

The Saturdays-only passenger train service through Brigg received a welcome boost last weekend when about 40 football fans from Mansfield used it to travel via Worksop to watch their team in action at Grimsby Town.
Paul Johnson reports on his informative Brigg Line Blog that Saturday, February 18 proved "an excellent day passenger-wise on the Brigg line."
Paul also makes reference to new LED lights having been installed at Barnetby station, using much less power than the conventional type.
We had cause to visit this village station on Wednesday and observed these lights.
Good to see the investment. However, the lights were still fully illuminated mid-morning on a sunny day with blue sky overhead!
Here's a picture to prove our point. Knowing that Paul has all the relevent railway company contacts, we are sure he'll point this out to the management.
Follow this link to read Paul's latest Blog report about our line...
Brigg Blog hopes the passenger service today (Saturday, February 25) is well patronised.
Paul tells us that a number of shoppers living outside the Brigg area like to use it to visit the monthly farmers' market in Brigg town centre.
February's, of course, is taking place today, from 9am.
On Saturday, Brigg station offers three trains to Sheffield via Gainsborough and Retford, and three to Cleethorpes and Grimsby via Barnetby.
At the latter you can change trains for Scunthorpe and Lincoln.

PLANS TO PROVIDE GO APE ADVENTURE COURSE BACKED BY BRIGG COUNCILLOR

Many people in the Brigg area will be very interested to learn about plans to provide will be the first Go Ape play facility for children and adults in North Lincolnshire to enjoy.
A Brigg councillor has welcomed the proposal, saying it would be "a major coup" to get one up and running.
It would provide dozens of new jobs.

FROM KIRSTY WESTFIELD, NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL

North Lincolnshire Council has been in talks with top visitor attraction Go Ape about bringing the first Go Ape to the region at Normanby Hall Country Park  – that could be in place by April 2018. 
The move would create around 30 jobs and a top tourist destination for visitors.
Go Ape is a Tree Top Adventure course – a high ropes obstacle course with zip wires and rope swings with different levels of challenge. 
The nearest Go Ape is near Nottingham.
Normanby Hall Country Park is an award-winning venue that is popular among visitors. It received Royal approval when the Queen visited in 2002.
Go Ape is a multi-award winning provider of high rope adventures in the UK. They have established 30 sites in the UK and 17 in the USA, and celebrated their sixth millionth visitor in the UK in 2016.
Go Ape would be solely responsible for installing and operating the course and for all associated costs with the project – including installation, management and maintenance of the facilities.
Prior to submitting their planning application, Go Ape will undertake various ecological surveys and if any important habitats are found, they will amend their routes to avoid them.
Normanby Estate Company (landlord) supports sub-letting the land to Go Ape. 
The plans are subject to further discussion and planning approval.
Coun Carl Sherwood, from Brigg, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing at North Lincolnshire Council (pictured), said:
“Having a Go Ape would be a major coup and would massively complement Normanby Hall country Park and put North Lincolnshire on the map.
“As part of the plans, there would be an improved café, toilets and visitor centre. Visitors would still have access to the grounds as they do now but having a Go Ape would be a major draw for visitors as the nearest one is near Nottingham.
“The move would bring jobs to the area, encourage more people to see how great North Lincolnshire is, and generate an annual income for the council to go towards delivering better services for our residents.
“Go Ape is very interested in coming to North Lincolnshire and I’m very excited at the prospect of having an internationally renowned visitor attraction on our doorstep here in North Lincolnshire. It will be fantastic.”
Ben Davies, Head of Business Development at Go Ape, said: “Go Ape is about encouraging people to live life adventurously and we are looking at bringing our Tree Top Adventure experience to North Lincolnshire, a unique experience of zip wires, swings and rope crossings.
“We’re really excited about the opportunity at Normanby Hall Country Park and hope we can bring a challenging, adventurous and fun activity to the heart of North Lincolnshire.”

NF ADDS...

Use this link to see what the existing Go Ape in Nottinghamshire offers...

The Tree Top Junior section has a 1m (3ft 3in) minimum junior height restriction (suggested ages 6-15).

Coun Carl Sherwood, whose remit includes sports and leisure, lives in Brigg and is a member of North Lincolnshire Council and Brigg Town Council, being a former Town Mayor.
It's a happy co-incidence that the Go Ape facility in Nottinghamshire is called Sherwood Pines!

NON-MEMBERS WELCOME AT BRIGG CLUB EVENT

Brigg & District Gardening Club's next meeting will be held on Thursday 2nd March starting at 7.30pm in the Methodist Church Hall, Wesley Road (near the A18 - Barnard Avenue). 
The topic for speaker Michelle Bolton will be Garden Plants and Bees.  
Admission is free to club members and £2 for guests.  
New members are welcome, annual membership costing just £5, secretary Jill Dawson tells us.
To find out more about joining, attend Thursday's meeting or, if you can't make it on the night, email jilldawson226@btinternet.com

EXHIBITION OPENING IN BRIGG TODAY

A Fine Art Exhibition opens in Brigg today (Saturday, February 25).
It is housed in the top floor gallery at the Steel Rooms - on the corner of Spring's Parade and the Maket Place.
You can meet the artists between noon and 3pm - free entry.
The exhibition - running until March 16 - is called Diversity By Lincolnshire 6.

BRIGG TEAM IN NATIONAL QUARTER-FINAL TOMORROW

The Brigg Hockey Club men's first team will be playing in the England Vase quarter-finals tomorrow.
This prestigious fixture on Sunday, February 26 will be at Brigg Recreation Ground, off Wrawby Road (1pm start).
It will be played on the super new "Blue Astro" floodlit pitch recently opened by North Lincolnshire Council.
Prior to the Vase tie, starting at 11am, the Under-18 tour team has arrranged a friendly mixed  game involving club members.
During the quarter-final, the U18s will be selling refreshments, including cakes, to raise funds for their tour.
Brigg will be playing Liverpool Sefton tomorrow. And if the local lads get through, the semi-final stage of this national competition will follow on March 19, with the final on April 29.

BRIGG TOWN COUNCIL VACANCY

 

Following the resignation of Paul Keane (pictured), a casual vacancy has arisen on Brigg Town Council.
The Deputy Returning Officer for North Lincolnshire says that unless by Tuesday, February 28 there is a request for an an election to fill the vacancy, it will be filled by co-option.
Any request for an election to be held must be made in writing to the Returning Officer, North Lincolnshire Council, Civic Centre, Ashby Road, Scunthorpe, DN16 1AB.
It must be signed by 10 Brigg electors.
Should there need to be an election, it will take place "note later than Monday, 8th May, 2017."

STORM DORIS & BRIGG

 

Storm Doris resulted in considerable damage in other parts of the UK, and is being blamed for at least one death in the Midlands, but Brigg escaped the worst of the bad weather.
We were wondering whether the Thursday market yesterday might have been cancelled, due to the wind, as was the case on several occasions in past years. 
Thankfully, however, it went ahead as planned, using the stalls erected by North Lincolnshire Council.
A spokesman for the local authority told Brigg Blog this morning (Friday, February 24): "We assessed it to make sure it was safe for traders and shoppers and, as the winds didn't seem as bad as forecast, we found it safe to go ahead."
Many twigs were blown off the trees in East Park, adjoining the Tintab shelter, near the Monument. And that means free fuel can be collected today by those with coal fires or wood-burning stoves, if they wish.
We can recall learning about the 19th century Beaufort Scale, almost half-a-century ago.
It is still used today to gauge wind strength.
Geoff "Shoddy" Jarvis, long-serving geography master at Brigg Grammar School, taught us well.
Beaufort Scale 8: "Fresh gale" - results in some twigs being broken from trees, which was clearly the case yesterday.
Beaufort Scale 9: "Strong/severe gale" - results in temporary signs and barricades being blown over.

This happened to an A-board outside the Britannia Inn, while part of a notice from Wetherspoon's White Horse pub/restaurant (pictured) was blown away and finished up more than 100 yards away on the footpath near the Monument Garage.
Beaufort Scale 10: "Storm/whole gale" sees trees broken off or uprooted. A walk through parts of the town this morning didn't furnish any examples of such damage. Nor did Humberside Fire & Rescue Service report any incidents in Brigg yesterday resulting from Storm Doris.

BRIGG PUBS OFFERING DIVERSE ENTERTAINMENT THIS WEEKEND

There's much to enjoy at Brigg pubs from today (Friday, February 24) through the weekend and beyond in addition to a pint or two...
The Dying Gladiator, on Bigby Street, says: "This weekend we've got lots of rugby to show and karaoke/disco with Dave on Friday and Saturday. "Come down early to take advantage of the drink deals."
Fans of TV sport can watch Six Nations Rugby - Scotland v Wales on Saturday at 2.25pm, and Ireland v France from 4.50pm, while on Sunday England take on Italy at 3pm.
At the Woolpack, in the Market Place, there will be live music on Sunday (February 26) from 3pm, featuring Koostix - an accoustic duo. Pop down to the Wooly and take a look.
The Britannia, on Wrawby Street, will be installing a pool table next week.

BRIGG FARMERS' MARKET: PLEASE CONTRIBUTE TO CHARITABLE CAUSE

Andrew Markham tells Brigg Blog that he and colleagues Zoe Hall and Lesley Whitehand will be in the town centre at February's Brigg Farmers' Market tomorrow (Saturday).
They will be holding another Awareness Day for Pancreatic Cancer Action and making a collection for this worthy cause.
"Please support if you can," is his request to the general public of Brigg and district. 
So please stop for a word with the campaigning trio in the Market Place tomorrow. And made a donation, if you have some spare change.
Andrew (pictured), Zoe and Lesley are among a group of community-minded winners of the coveted Joseph J Magrath Award for 2016 and will be presented with it next month by Brigg Town Council.
The farmers' market will operate from 9am, alongside the Saturday general market.
Tomorrow will see more shoppers in Brigg town centre than any other day during February - boosting takings for many local businesses and not just market stall-holders.
Traders will have fingers firmly crossed for some decent weather!

VISITOR TO BRIGG 'STRIKES GOLD'

FROM CHRIS O'ROURKE, NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL

Treasured City, the latest exhibition from artist Luke Jerram, opened at Scunthorpe’s 20-21 Visual Arts Centre on Saturday 18 February to a bumper crowd of over 2,000.
The exhibition invites the public to go on the hunt for five solid gold artefacts hidden in Scunthorpe and North Lincolnshire. Within an hour of the exhibition opening, over 350 people had come through the doors wanting to be among the first to see the clues to the whereabouts of the gold, concealed within five unique paintings.
The five artefacts are solid 18 carat gold replicas of items Luke has chosen from the collection at North Lincolnshire Museum.
Three of the Treasured City artefacts have already been found.
The first artefact found – a Viking trefoil brooch – was discovered almost by accident. A woman from Grimsby had seen the paintings in the gallery and decided that the paintings were too difficult to solve and instead went searching in the town without the clues.
She saw the Green Flag Award flying at Kingsway Gardens and took the word ‘winner’ printed on the flag as a sign. She found the brooch in a gap the dry stone wall nearby.
The painting – featuring golden arrows on a green background – guided treasure hunters to the location by spelling ‘in-the-gardens-seven-meters-from-the-flag-is-the-kingsway’ using semaphore flag symbols.
The second item to be found was the Roman ram. A teacher from Beverley had come across to Scunthorpe for the exhibition and then spent the day fruitlessly searching the town after deciphering one of the clues.
Later that night, having looked online for other places in North Lincolnshire that fit her clue, she realised the gold must be in Brigg. She hot-footed it back across the bridge and found the artefact in a gap between the bricks at the base of Brigg’s Bandstand.
Described in the exhibition as the easiest clue to crack, the words in this painting spell out the phrase ‘Octagonal-Place-To-Listen-To-A-Golden-Sink-Plunger’ and refer to the bandstand and The Angel statue’s golden horn.
The third object was then found on Sunday evening (19 February). A group of four adults and two children from Burton-upon-Stather and Normanby village (near Scunthorpe) were searching Normanby Hall Country Park looking for the Roman ram. They had found the word ‘octagonal’ in the wordsearch and thought this might refer to the hall’s sundial.
Searching around the sundial and in the nearby sunken park, the group instead found the Tudor fisherwoman.
Despite the gold having been found, eager code breakers are still competing to be the first to crack the code that leads to the fisherwoman.
The three lucky gold hunters now get to decide on a local organisation to keep the painting that provided clues to the treasure. This could be a library, school, hospital or even a local pub.
Luke said, “I’m delighted by the public response. It’s like the whole town has ignited with people searching for the golden artefacts, whether they’ve cracked the codes or not! We’ve had people drive from all sides of the country to visit the exhibition and explore the town.”
There are still two more gold artefacts waiting to be found in North Lincolnshire; a Janus train and an ammonite. The clues can be seen at 20-21 Visual Arts Centre, Church Square, Scunthorpe, until 29 April 2017.
You can find out more about the Treasured City story so far at www.2021visualartscentre.co.uk/treasuredcity

BRIGG NEEDS INTEGRATED TRANSPORT

The current situation facing Brigg travellers makes us ask: Whatever happened to the concept of an intergrated transport system?
You'd think that getting from an important market town like ours to spend a meaningful amount of time in Lincoln, our county's capital city, would be straightforward.
But it isn't, Monday to Friday. And it's just got more difficult.
The previous 9am bus departure from Brigg to Barnetby Top has been put back to 9.35am.
Having been dropped off by the Service 450 Stagecoach you have to walk down the hill to the railway station to catch a train to Lincoln which leaves at 9.39am.
Those of us of more senior years cannot 'do a Roger Bannister' and achieve the four-minute dash now required.
There's a type of train running on the national network known as a Sprinter, which seems appropriate in this context!
The new CallConnect bus service has heavy demand for its services around 9am  and so cannot provide a regular solution to our Wednesday woes.
You could once get the Service 68 Wolds Villager to Barnetby early in the morning to connect with trains to Lincoln, Scunthorpe and Grimsby. But that was in the past. The first Villager departure of the day from Brigg is currently 9.55am.
Travellers can get a direct bus from Brigg to Lincoln but it only runs on Fridays, leaving Cary Lane at 9.20am and getting to the centre of the city at 10.50am, having visited many villages inbetween. It begins the  return trip less than two hours later - at 1.45pm.

Here's what you need to do to spend more than a couple of hours in Lincoln:

• Taxi from Brigg to Barnetby
• Train to Lincoln
• Do what you have  to do in the city
• Train back to Barnetby
• CallConnect bus to Brigg (if available).

Using public transport is said to be good for the so-called carbon footprint, helping the environment. 
But surely someone needs to ensure a decent service is available so this can happen.

You can get to Lincoln from Brigg by using the Saturday-only service from our station, but the train from Sheffield better not be running late if travellers are to make their connection at the next stop along the line...

Our thanks to Paul Johnson, of the Friends of the Line, for the following times:

0926 Brigg
0934 Barnetby
0939 Barnetby 
1014 Lincoln Central

1452 Lincoln Central
1527 Barnetby
1548 Barnetby
1553 Brigg

"Incredibly the 1832 Cleethorpes to Sheffield via Brigg leaves Barnetby at 1902 with an East Midlands Trains service from Lincoln waiting at Wrawby Junction for it to pass," Paul comments.

Getting from Brigg to Lincoln by public transport is not as easy as many might think.

Barnetby railway station has trains to Lincoln

Paul Johnson beside a Barnetby-bound train on Brigg railway station.