WOULD ORGANISED COACH TRIPS TO BRIGG PAY DIVIDENDS?

Recent walks Brigg Blog has undertaken, speciality shops and farmers' market stalls we've browsed and pubs we've frequented lead us to conclude that our town deserves to be visited by many more people from other areas - day trippers or tourists, if you prefer that term.
Many folk who drive past on the M180, or use the A18 inner relief road along Barnard Avenue, never realise what Brigg has to offer.
Yes, there are A-road signs telling drivers they are approaching an historic market town.
But it's rare to see coaches stopping in Brigg so people can take a leisurely look.
Football fans sometimes call in for an hour or two to visit pubs and get fast food on their way to away games at Hull City or Grimsby Town. And there are organised bus outings to Brigg Garden Centre, on the outskirts (see below **).
But could coach companies in adjoining counties be approached to include Brigg as a destination or stopping off point?
Folk are always looking for somewhere interesting to visit.  So why not Brigg?
We have an award-winning Tourist Information Centre, in the Buttercross, but we need to attract more visitors who can then drop in for advice and to pick up leaflets setting out what's on offer locally.

SO HOW ABOUT...?

• Coach trips bringing ale lovers to spend an evening visiting our varied pubs for a few pints and a snack?
• Staging shopping Saturdays once a month - aimed at coach parties - while the farmers' market is being held.
• Guided tours of the town centre, pointing out buildings of interest. These include the uniquely-named Dying Gladiator pub, and its statue;  the Exchange Coach House Inn, visited by Sir Winston Churchill before D-Day; The Convent and its historic links with composers Frederic Delius and Percy Grainger, the Brigg Fair rhapsody and the Elwes family.
• Organised walks and/or cycle rides from the County Bridge along the Ancholme Valley Way.
• Circular boat rides along the old and new rivers - perhaps involving a stop off at Glanford Boat Club, if it is interesting in coming onboard.
• A couple of hours' angling on the River Ancholme, with lunch arranged. What's now the Deli & Diner used to be a  hotel catering for visiting fishermen from Yorkshire who came in large numbers.

Maybe these ideas could be considered by Brigg Town Business Partnership and/or North Lincolnshire Council, which has tourism within its remit.

** Brigg Blog recently received a brochure from a well-known coach company giving details of forthcoming day trips, including one from Lincoln to Brigg Garden Centre, costing £28 (with lunch).