LONG-ESTABLISHED BRIGG FAMILY BUSINESS IS BACK

A Brigg family business which has been a feature of the town since Victorian times has reopened from Coronavirus emergency lockdown.
Wallhead's - the quality outfitters on the corner of Wrawby Street and Cross Street - returned yesterday (Monday, June 29).
Our late morning picture shows proprietor Richard Wallhead outside his premises.
His great-grandfather founded the business in 1897 - the year in which Queen Victoria celebrated her diamond jubilee as monarch.
The recent closure represented the longest period Wallhead's shutters had remained down in 123 years.
The current proprietor says: "It's good to be back." Other Brigg shop owners have been saying the same of late as our businesses look to get back to normal.

LOCKDOWN REOPENING UPDATE: BRIGG CHARITY SHOPS

A second charity shop in Brigg town centre has now reopened, but six others have still to return from Coronavirus emergency lockdown.
The main Oxfam charity shop, on Wrawby Street, welcomed back customers at the weekend, joining Jerry Green Dog Rescue's outlet on Springs Parade which had done so the previous week.
Still to return are those raising funds for Sue Ryder and the RSPCA (on/near Springs Parade) and the Lindsey Lodge Hospice, Red Cross, Lincolnshire Age Concern and Oxfam Book shops on Wrawby Street.
Volunteers play an important part in the success of Brigg's charity shops.

BRIGG PUB HOPING FOR 'BARBIE' WEATHER

Brigg forces' veterans are planning a barbecue at the Woolpack on Sunday (July 5) from 10.30am - North Lincolnshire's variable summer weather permitting!
The vets tell us that Sarah Hardy, the landlady, has spent a good deal of time and put in much hard work in getting the interior of the pub and its beer garden "in good order, along with getting the new regulations in place for Covid-19."
This picture shows Sarah within the refurbished covered seating area of the beer garden which will be available to pub customers when the Market Place venue reopens after lockdown on Saturday (July 4) from 11am.
Sarah chairs Brigg Pubwatch, representing our local licensees.

COUNTING DOWN TO SUPER SATURDAY IN BRIGG BARS

Two more Brigg pubs have now indicated that they will be reopening on Saturday (July 4) - a date that is being described in the national press as Super Saturday.
The Black Bull, on Wrawby Street,  and the Lord Nelson, in the Market Place, will be serving drinks from then - the first day permitted under the government's latest, less stringent, Coronavirus emergency measures.
The Nelson will will be offering  roasts to diners on Sunday (July 5), from noon to 4pm.
On the other side of the Market Place, landlady Sarah Hardy (pictured above yesterday) will be reopening her Woolpack to drinkers on Saturday.
Interior refurbishment has been undertaken at the Woolie during lockdown, and the rear beer garden also has a new look.
Sarah, who chairs Brigg Pubwatch representing local licensees, has re-positioned tables inside the historic hostelry in line with the new requirements, and hand sanitiser will be available.
She says that although card payments by customers are preferred, cash will be accepted.
Brigg Blog understands that should also be the case at a number of other bars in the area.
Not all the licensed premises in Brigg and district will be reopening on day one. Further updates to come on our blog later in the week.

 

Saying it with flowers: Hanging baskets adding colour to the Lord Nelson in Brigg town centre which will be reopening on Saturday, July 4.

SPECIAL TRAIN TOURS CAN BE ENJOYED BY PEOPLE FROM THE BRIGG AREA

Brigg Tourist Information Centre has handled bookings for nostalgic train rides around the extensive Scunthorpe steelworks complex for many years.
Although the TIC, in the Buttercross (pictured) has been closed for some time due to  Coronavirus lockdown, the Appleby-Frodingham Railway Preservation Society has now resumed some of its works tours and is handling its own inquiries - for the time being - from those wishing to book.
Special social distancing measures are in place to protect passengers.
You can now book for brake van tours on Saturday, July 11 at 10am and 2pm.
A brake van verandah is to be allocated to each 'family group' and all passengers must agree to wear a face mask.
To book places, call 0788 9297271 or email booking@afrps.co.uk
Loco-hauled trains operated by the AFRPS leave from a small station adjoining Brigg Road, Scunthorpe, with plenty of car parking available nearby.
Alternatively, take Hornsbys No 4 bus service to the Scunthorpe town centre bus station and make the short walk up Brigg Road to the platform.
Brigg Blog has sampled these brake vans tours (pre-lockdown) and they are highly recommended, following tracks right across the works, passing iron and steelmaking plants and rolling mills.
There is no charge for the trips but a donation of £50 per family group is being suggested for the tours on July 11. This is to help meet the cost of providing these special tours.

BRIGG 'TRUNK ROADS' VISIBLE TO ALL DRIVERS

Often it's the little things in Brigg that matter to the public.
The authorities can sometimes deliver major projects without these generating much discussion among residents. But then something that might be seen as minor proves to be a talking point.
In the latter category at this time of the year is the trimming back of sprouting foliage at the base of trees near well-used road junctions.
If left alone, the greenery makes it difficult for drivers emerging from nearby side roads to see approaching vehicles.
So it's good to see that, despite the Coronavirus emergency, time has been allocated to cut back foliage near the Queen Street/Garden Street and Bigby Road/St Helens Road junctions - to list a couple of examples (both seen here).
While taking the pictures yesterday afternoon we were reminded of the old phrase trunk road - usually indicated on maps and road signs as (T).

 

BRIGG FARMERS' MARKET WELCOMED BACK BUT WET WEATHER AFFECTS ATTENDANCE

Brigg Farmers' Market was welcomed back by the town from Coronavirus emergency lockdown yesterday (Saturday, June 27) but indifferent weather affected the attendance.
Several sharp morning showers, and fears that more would follow, meant some potential shoppers stayed at home.
However, the sun came out in the afternoon, rewarding those who decided to venture into the Market Place and Wrawby Street to attend the first event since March when the suspension was put in place.
The Old Courts and Angel car parks always give a good indication about the attendance at Brigg Farmers' Market but a number of spaces remained empty yesterday, even late in the morning when turn-out is usually at its peak.
Producers sold a variety of produce, including bread, cakes and cheese. But there were some empty stalls. Visitors could also tuck into a hog roast or a tasty crepe.
Other Brigg businesses received custom as a result of the monthly farmers' event, but less than some of them might have wished.
In the end, the town centre's public conveniences failed to reopen, which added to the number of people who visited shops which did have toilets available, such as Tesco.
North Lincolnshire Council will be staging another farmers' market on Saturday, July 25.
By then the public WCs will be open again, as will the town centre's licensed premises which all have toilets. So there will be no concerns when it comes to taking 'comfort breaks.'
PICTURED: An early afternoon view of Brigg Farmers' Market yesterday, with a bit of blue sky visible above the Buttercross following sharp showers in the morning. A stiff breeze in the afternoon was welcome after several hot and humid days.

THE CHANGING FACE OF BRIGG - GLEBE ROAD

Continuing our new series outlining how Brigg streets have changed down the years, today we take a look at Glebe Road.
Glebe is an old English word for field or land - sometimes with ecclesiastical connections, relating to funding local clergy.
Glebe Road occupied former farmland, being developed on the edge of the town, with only Brigg Grammar School and some properties on Grammar School Road for company.
A contemporary report in 1884 noted that cottages were being built near the school - thought to be a reference to Glebe Road.
More residential properties were to be added in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
However, the most significant building work culminated, in 1929, with the opening of Glebe Road School, provided by Lindsey County Council and overseen by its Education Committee. This was explained by an inscription embedded in the brickwork on the side of one of the classrooms.
The 1920s and 1930s saw Brigg Urban District Council embark on a scheme to provide an estate of properties for families to rent - bordered by Wrawby Road, Grammar School Road and Glebe Road. These homes provided many pupils for the new school.
Glebe Road has seen a number of shops in its time, although today just one convenience store remains; Mrs Gray ran it in the 1960s when it served as the  school tuck shop as well as meeting the needs of local families for bread, milk and other provisions.
Brigg Blog is sure some long-standing town residents must be the same as me when they drive down Grammar School Road and get to Glebe Road corner; we still expect to see the gold-painted lion (ceramic or metal?) which used to be perched on the brick wall above the postbox.
It was very much a feature of Brigg when the Proctor family had the nearby house, and the shop just round the corner in Glebe Road. This stocked items for cycles into the 1960s; long before that, we think that batteries had been charged for household radios.
For many decades, Glebe Road residents only needed to undertake a short walk to visit a butcher (on their doorstep) and a baker (Bowen's being just around the corner on Grammar School Road). There was no candlestick maker but light fittings could be installed by Bowness & Gray, midway down Glebe Road.
This street had a hairdresser's and even a Co-op outlet for some time.
Evy's chippie became popular in the 1960s and 1970s. And these fast food premises are currently being refurbished.
Glebe Road School closed in 2007, being replaced by a new build on Atherton Way.
This removed considerable early morning and late afternoon congestion along Glebe Road but 'traffic calming measures' were retained, perhaps to deter its use as a cross-town shortcut by those motorists with local knowledge.
A new housing development was created off Glebe Road on part of the former school site.
As many residential properties, including some of the terraced variety, were built in an era before car ownership became common, parking provision eventually became an issue with lock-up garages being provided by a private venture on nearby land and also by the council at the West Square end.Long-serving Glebe Road School teacher, John Holland, wrote a fine book about the original seat of learning, featuring a range of nostalgic pictures from the mid-1960s onwards.
PICTURED: A striking air view of Glebe Road, Brigg, taken by Neil Stapleton. The former Grammar School boarding house is a well-known landmark.
View part one in this series - Queen Street, Brigg, though this link...

ABOVE AND BELOW: Glebe Road near its junction with Grammar School Road - pictured yesterday (Saturday, June 27, 2020).

 

A Glebe Road School infants' class circa 1960. Did you spend your early educational years in one of these temporary classrooms?

Traffic calming measures evident in the road.

Flying the flag for a new housing development built off Glebe Road on the former school site, with West Square beyond.

There's now a pre-school on Glebe Road, just visible on the left.

A mid-1960s view of the Glebe Road School swimming pool soon after it opened.

 

John's book is well worth a read if you are an 'old boy' or 'old girl' of the school from this period.

BRIGG & DISTRICT BUILDING PLANS APPROVED

A variety of building schemes in Brigg and district have been approved by North Lincolnshire Council and the neighbouring West Lindsey authority.
North Lincs planners have granted planning permission to erect a single-storey rear extension at 5 Maple Close, Brigg. Consulted about the proposed development, Brigg Town Council raised no objections. Maple Close is within a housing estate off Bigby High Road.
North Lincolnshire planners have also granted permission to erect a single-storey rear annexe, with ground floor and first floor extensions to the front of the existing garage, at Holmedale, 44 St Barnabas Road, Barnetby.
West Lindsey District Council has granted permission for a side extension, loft lift and conversion to create first floor, front extension, single storey rear extension and form balcony, two storey double garage, triple bay timber carport, and other alterations at Beckside Lodge, Caistor Road, South Kelsey.
The same council has also approved a dropped kerb at Farm View, Grange Lane, North Kelsey, and sanctioned an extension to annexe accommodation at The Old Rectory, Main Street, Bigby.
West Lindsey planners have granted permission for the locating of a lodge for ancillary use to the host dwelling at Braemar, 20 Station Road, Grasby.

SIGNS ARE GOOD FOR NEW BRIGG & WOLDS STARBUCKS OUTLET

Signage for a proposed new Starbucks outlet in the Brigg area has been given the go ahead by North Lincolnshire Council planners.
The local authority, which had earlier approved the 'drive thru' development at Barnetby Top, has now given advertisement consent for a range of Starbucks-related fascia and totem signs.
The location is described as Motorway Services, C121, between Barnetby Top and Elsham. This is within the local authority's Brigg & Wolds Ward.
Elsham Parish Council did not object to the advertisement application, but asked that the signage 'thank you' included something to remind customers to dispose of their litter responsibly by using bins provided.
"This request is due to the amount of litter currently in this area, which will increase due to the nature of the new business," the parish authority told planners.
"If this is not possible on the existing signage, could separate signage be created with regard to litter?  Could the owner also provide sufficient bins to dispose of the litter?"

CALL FOR ANOTHER BRIGG CCTV CAMERA TO BE INSTALLED

Following Brigg Blog's recent report about the Town Council agreeing to fund an additional CCTV camera to keep an eye on the riverside beyond the County Bridge, the Brigg Line Rail Group is calling for another to be put in place elsewhere to reduce crime and deter wrong-doers.
The group says it would like to put the case forward for a CCTV camera to be fixed back on to the side of Hewson House to point down Station Road towards the railway station.
"Sadly, we are still getting reports on anti-social behaviour underneath the market building, litter and fly-tipping," the group has informed the council.
Pictured:  There was once a CCTV camera on the side of the Hewson House offices at the top of Station Road, close to where it meets Bigby Road, but it was redeployed elsewhere.

PLEASE SUPPORT BRIGG FARMERS' MARKET TODAY

Brigg Blog and many other local people have fingers crossed that decent weather greets the return of the town centre's monthly Farmers' Market today (Saturday, June 27).
North Lincolnshire Council, which runs the market, says: "Visitors will be able to buy local food, flowers, crafts and more direct from the people who produce it. The market has over 30 stalls selling everything from ostrich to smoked salmon to home-made cakes to sauces."
Not held recently because of Coronavirus emergency suspension, it will run from 9am today through to mid-afternoon.
People visiting the market are urged to stay alert and follow the instructions  displayed regarding social distancing.
Brigg Blog says please attend and support the market if you can today and also consider visiting shops and businesses nearby after touring the stalls.
Our picture shows a previous Brigg Farmers' Market in June when there were no distancing restrictions.

FOLLOW BRIGG CHURCH SERVICE ONLINE OR LISTEN IN BY PHONE

There will be another online Brigg church service tomorrow, Sunday, June 28 - led by Sue Brumpton. Everyone is invited to become involved.
It will start at 10.30am but with the option to join early, any time after 9.45am. Feel free to invite family, neighbours and friends.
For online Zoom users, the Meeting ID is 978 8891 8428, or click on the link https://zoom.us/j/97888918428
For Sunday worship by phone, dial any ONE of these four numbers: 0131 460 1196, 0203 051 2874, 0203 481 5237, 0203 481 5240. A message will say that you have connected with Zoom and ask you to put in the meeting code - also used by those taking part online.
Enter the Meeting ID for Sunday worship - 978 8891 8428 - by tapping it in on your telephone keypad, followed by the hash key.
It will then ask for your own ID. Simply press the hash key AGAIN. And then you’re in!
Others will see a picture of a phone when you join in to listen this way and your telephone number will be displayed in small print.

BRIGG PROPERTY NOW GONE

Pelham House - a detached Bridge Street property beside the A18 in Brigg - is no more.
It had been disused for some time and boarded off to the public for safety and security reasons.
There are plans to erect another dwelling, with an annexe, on the site.
Pelham House had a few guises and was once used by recruitment company Apollo 2000.
Here are are a couple of before and after pictures.

BRIGG ROAD CLOSURE OVER TWO WEEKENDS

A major road in Brigg it to be closed to traffic for lengthy periods over two weekends.

The location of the roadworks on the A1084 may come as a surprise to some – it’s the Bigby Road level crossing, only recently modernised with lifting barriers!

Among work being undertaken is gate stop removal, relating to its period with wooden gates.

The road will be closed at the crossing on Saturday, July 4/Sunday, July 5 , 8am to 8pm, and then again on July 11/12 for the same hours.

Car drivers can use a local diversion via Bigby High Road, Kettleby Lane in Wrawby and Wrawby Road, Brigg.

BRIGG STREET THAT HAS SEEN SOME CHANGES!

Today we bring you the first part of a series of articles about The Changing Face of Brigg down the decades.

Queen Street is a mix of business and residential properties, and a busy one-way street just outside the pedestrianised part of the town centre.

Named in honour of Queen Victoria, it formed part of the easterly extension of the town carried out in the 1850s and 1860s.

In the latter part of the 19^th century and through to the early 1920s, Queen Street ownership was dominated by the nearby Sutton, Bean Brewery, whose property portfolio included an off-licence which passed to the Hull Brewery and later became Larry Arnold’s.

What is now the Beauty Clinique, on the corner of Garden Street, formerly hosted Turner’s, the butchery business which sold its last pork pies in 2000 before closure.

The long-established convenience shop near Bigby Street was Dent’s for many years, then Spar and today operates as Nisa Local.

Midway along Queen Street on the eastern side, Jackson-Shipley’s ironmongers was a well-know feature. Coleman’s Restaurant then had a spell. Today there are business units.

On the other side of the street, among domestic properties, is the Women’s Institute Federation’s office and headquarters.

Although designated 42 Wrawby Street, the China Garden fast food takeaway adjoins Queen Street. For many years this building housed Ks Korner Cafe, with jukebox music of the day being served up with the cuppas and snacks.

BRIGG WETHERSPOON'S GETTING READY TO REOPEN

This Brigg town centre picture - taken outside Wetherspoon's White Horse pub and restaurant yesterday, Wednesday - demonstrates that local licensed premises will soon be reopening from lockdown.
A lorry - carrying a promotional advert for Wetherspoon's table ordering service app on its side panels  - was paying a late morning visit to the Wrawby Street hostelry's access yard.
Wetherspoon's national spokesman Eddie Gershon then kindly confirmed for us that there will be normal opening hours at the White Horse from Saturday, July 4.
That's the first day the government is permitting pubs and restaurants to start trading again.
Not all of them are going to be opening from day one - for various reasons.
However, among those that WILL be welcoming customers from 9am that Saturday are The Loft, on Wrawby Street, and the Market Place's Cafe Courtyard.
The Woolpack has now informed us that it will be reopening at 11am on Saturday, July 4.

BRIGG FARMERS' MARKET RETURNING THIS WEEKEND

Brigg Farmers' Market will be making a very welcome return this Saturday - June 27.
The monthly shopping attraction - established 20 years ago - has been suspended for a couple of months because of the Coronavirus emergency.
Thankfully, North Lincolnshire Council - the organiser of local markets - is re-introducing the farmers' event this weekend, with social distancing measures in place.
A wide range of produce and goods will be on sale from stalls adjoining those forming the Saturday general market.
Trading hours will be 9am to mid-afternoon.
Our advice to arrive early, bag a space and take advantage of the council's free car parking concession.
Many Brigg businesses will benefit from the additional footfall generated by the farmers' market.
Banners have already been placed on railings alongside the A18 to promote the event.

BRIGG BLOG'S HANDS-ON SOLUTION TO GET CRICKET GOING AGAIN

Three weeks after Brigg Blog last posted about  Brigg, Broughton and Hibaldstow club cricketers, there's still no imminent sign of a ball being bowled or a run scored.
The 2020 season - due to open in April - is still a non-starter as the halfway point for fixtures draws near.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has now bowled recreational cricket something of a googly by declaring the cricket ball to be a natural vector of disease; potentially, anyway.
That appears to be the view of government advisers on Coronavirus.
There's concern about fielders touching the ball - frequently - throughout the match and then passing it to team-mates. The ball, that is.
No-one disagrees that people's health is paramount.
So Brigg Blog proposes a simple solution: Suspend one of the laws of the game and make all the fielders, including the bowlers, wear thin surgical-type gloves. End of problem.
With that measure in hand, can recreational cricketers  across the UK start playing again next Saturday?
Cricket's national governing organisation is hoping the government will permit a restart early in early July.
Pictured: Cricket being enjoyed in glorious weather at Brigg Recreation Ground in a previous season... a normal one.

'GREAT NEWS' AS BRIGG PUBS GET GO AHEAD TO REOPEN

It's "great news" that Brigg pubs and bars will be permitted by the government to reopen on Saturday, July 4 if they wish. And as a result that evening is going to be a memorable one!
"Great news" was the immediate reaction from two of them - the Market Place's Woolpack and Brigg Town Football Club which has a licensed bar at the Hawthorns.
The Woolpack and Wrawby Street's Black Bull have refurbished their beer garden facilities during lockdown.
The Woolie has already said it will be back serving on the 4th.
Brigg Servicemen's Club will be reopening at noon on Thursday, July 9. Please note.
More opening dates/times to follow on Brigg Blog.
Allowing bars and restaurants to open for the first time since late March comes with the clear instruction that social distancing must be observed.
The new yardstick - if we can use an imperial term in a metric age - is 'one metre plus' rather than two metres.
Customers visiting sit-down eateries and pubs/bars will also be required to give their names and contact details so they can be traced if this proves necessary during the virus emergency which is not yet over.
That's clearly a new task facing businesses and one that will take up staff time.
How this will be 'policed' and the penalty for non-compliance seems unclear at the moment.
In addition to pubs, bars, clubs and restaurants, the following will be allowed back on July 4: Hairdressers, museums, B&Bs, libraries, hotels, churches.
Still remaining in lockdown after that date will be soft play centres, nail bars, swimming pools, dance studios and indoor gyms.

BRIGG RESCUE PERIOD COMING TO THE END OF THE LINE

We gather that the Brigg railway line's use as an important but temporary diversionary route is coming to the end of the line.
For more than a week our tracks have been used to carry thousands of tonnes of important freight, including power station biomass, following a landslip in Scunthorpe that closed the normal route used by these trains.
The steel town problem has now been resolved, meaning that normal service can be resumed.
More than 40 trains were scheduled to run along the Brigg line between Sunday and yesterday (Wednesday) following many others which used the Brigg line last week.
The emergency has again demonstrated the Brigg line's vital importance as a back up for other routes in times of need.
It has also shown that the decision to invest in the new barrier crossing on Bigby Road, to replace the old wooden gates, was a wise one with the replacement being carried out in March.
Pictured: Empty biomass wagons from Drax power station running through Brigg during the diversionary period when our line came to the rescue.

BRIGG ORDERS NOW PLACED

Orders have now been placed for new public benches to be installed in Brigg, with delivery expected towards the end of next month.
Judging by the number of existing public seats being used across the town yesterday afternoon - in glorious weather - the additions will be welcomed.
There will be a couple of benches on Wrawby Road - one on the corner of Eastfield Road and the other near to the Sir John Nelthorpe Lower School boundary.
Two more will be at the entrance to Chapel Court near the car park.
Our recent report about plans to install a big 240-litre bin on East Park, near the Tintab shelter, proved timely.
The picture above - taken yesterday - illustrates how this smaller bin struggles  to cope with fast food takeway boxes.
Other big 240-litre bins are earmarked for the riverside near the doctors' surgery and on the riverside near B&M's loading bay.
One is also destined for the river path near Fun Forest, and another 240-litre bin will be sited on the Millennium Green.
The new 110-litre bin planned on Woodbine Park will be placed at the entrance to the youth shelter.
Davy Memorial Playing Field will be receiving 110-litre bins for its  Bigby Road and Kings Avenue entrances - relocated from East Park and the Millennium Green.
We now learn that the cigarette bins planned to be sited outside some town centre pubs will be of the free-standing kind.

BRIGG SURVIVOR OF NOTE FROM VICTORIAN ERA NEEDS COSTLY REPAIR

A Brigg survivor from the Victorian era, which has been in constant use for more than 150 years, now needs repair.
Several appeals for grants to fund work on the organ at St John's Church have been made, with Brigg Town Council among those approached for assistance.
The instrument was made in 1868 and its 'pedal department' was added in 1938.
That's what's is now causing problems, having deteriorated to such an extent that some notes are slow to sound or do not sound at all.
The intention is to convert the 'pedal department' from pneumatic to electro-pneumatic.
This church organ is regarded as one of the very best in the area.
But Brigg's parish church does not have the means to undertake the repairs required.
The Town Council considered the grant application during its June meeting, held recently.
Coun Rob Waltham suggested the council should set aside £1,000 to be awarded if the church was able to raise the remainder of the money required.
The organ's use extends beyond accompanying hymns during services; it can be used for various other events held in the church. It could also be used to give tuition and as part of the Music & Drama Festival.
The council's suggested contribution is thought to be approximately one-fifth of the likely repair cost.

BIGGER & BETTER BINS FOR BRIGG

A list of likely Brigg locations for big new litter bins has been drawn up by the Town Council.
Proposals include providing large 240-litre bins near the Old River Ancholme, at East Park near the Tintab Shelter and on the Millennium Green, Elwes Street.
Smaller 110-litre bins are proposed for the Davy Memorial playing field and on Woodbine Park.
The council's June meeting heard of discarded fast food boxes being an issue on East Park, with a larger litter bin suggested.
There was reference to litter bins being within a fenced off area at the Davy field.
Brigg Blog later took these pictures and found the entry gate shut to the public because of the Coronavirus emergency
Litter has proved a problem elsewhere on this field. A dog waste bin has been filled... with bottles!
Existing litter bins on the Old Courts Road car park are regarded as being in a bad state.
Provision of the new bins will be discussed in detail at next month's meeting.

BRIGG APPEALS GO TO NATIONAL PLANNING INSPECTORATE

The refusal of two Brigg planning applications by North Lincolnshire Council has resulted in appeals being lodged in an effort to get the local authority's decisions overturned.
The result of one has been announced, while the other inquiry is pending.
The national Planning Inspectorate upheld the council's decision to refuse permission for a two-storey rear extension at 8 Woodbine Avenue.
The inspector appointed concluded that the proposed development would have an adverse effect on the living conditions of the occupants of 7 Woodbine Avenue with regard to light.
Another appeal has been lodged after North Lincolnshire Council refused to grant outline permission to erect a dwelling on land adjacent to 56 Bigby High Road.
The inspector appointed to the case will consider statements from the appelant and the local authority. The inspector's decision is awaited.
Brigg Town Council's Planning & Environment Committee was updated about the progress of both appeals during its latest meeting.
The committee had only one pending planning application to consider and raised no objection to the current bungalow at 11 Eastfield Road, Brigg, being demolished and replaced with a new dwelling.
North Lincolnshire Council planners will now make the final decision.

MORE DECORATIVE ARCHES COMING TO BRIGG TOWN CENTRE'S SHOPPING AREA

Additional decorative arches are earmarked for the main shopping area in Brigg town centre.
Phase one metal arches were erected some months ago and now a list of others has been drawn up by the Town Council.
During the authority's June meeting, the following were discussed with a view to installation:
CONEY COURT: Only one arch is proposed - at the the Market Place entrance - near Molly's flower shop. There is not intended to be another at the Wilko store end of the alleyway - visible in the distance in the view above.
CHAPEL COURT: Adjacent to Newell's shop.
CRESSEY YARD: Next to the Isn't She Lovely fashion premises.

MORLEY'S YARD: Near the Oxfam Book Shop. Note the inclusion of the apostrophe. Pictured here as it looks today.
EXCHANGE PLACE/ANGEL CAR PARK: Designs yet to be drawn up.
Money for the second phase has been allocated in the council's current budget to fund the creation and installation of the arches once a final shortlist has been approved.
The arches - existing and proposed - point the way for shoppers and visitors between the main car parks and the town centre along alleyways and courtyards, many of which feature small businesses.
Most of the arches relate to footfall from the Old Courts Road car park, but phase two also recognises that some town centre visitors opt to leave their vehicles behind the Angel.

BRIGG LANDMARK ADDITION MAKES AN ENTRANCE

A new addition has been made to what many people see as the best-known building in Brigg.
A new front entrance door has been installed at the Angel in the Market Place.
A window and brickwork beneath have been removed to make way for glass doors.
This new main entry point has been positioned within the entrance but at 90 degrees to the Market Place so it is less visible from the paved area.
It is to the right on the above view - immediately behind the temporary barriers.

Planning permission was granted some months ago, and this also permitted various internal alterations to be undertaken, which are now well underway.
Once things return to normal after the Coronavirus emergency, the public will be using the new entry door to access the library, heritage centre and other services.
It will no longer be necessary to pass through the Cafe Courtyard eating area.
Brigg Town Council has relocated within the building, from the Angel Suite, taking offices at a higher level.

THREE MORE BRIGG SHOPS RETURN AFTER LOCKDOWN

Here's an illuminating example showing that Brigg is now seeing light at the end of the long Coronavirus emergency lockdown tunnel.
Lighting specialist Design Orchard has announced to shoppers: "We are back!"
Facing the town's main Old Courts Road car park, the shop is "open to all" on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, from 10am to 4pm.
At other times if the week, for the moment, it's appointments only.
We took the above picture late yesterday  morning.
Jaylaurs Sewing Studios, on Wrawby Street, will be reopening from 10am today (Monday).
School Court's Honey Bee shop - offering gifts for all occasions - will be back with us from Thursday morning (June 25).

NEW SHUTTLE TRAINS COULD SERVE BRIGG STATION EVERY TWO HOURS, RAIL GROUP SUGGESTS

A new two-hourly Brigg shuttle passenger train service is now being proposed to serve the town - running most days of the week.
It will make trips to London and other cities possible via connections at Retford, and also offer early morning direct trains to Grimsby and Cleethorpes. Sheffield will also be within easy reach.
Following the proposal announced very recently by North Lincolnshire Council to improve the passenger train service at Brigg station, we can today outline an alternative way to put our local railway line back on track after being restricted to a spasmodic Saturdays-only timetable for the past 27 years.
The aim of both plans is the same - to increase the number of trains picking up passengers in the town and extend the service beyond Saturdays when only three are currently timetabled towards Sheffield and three more head for Cleethorpes.

FROM THE INDEPENDENT BRIGG LINE RAIL GROUP

The people on the Brigg line are realistic; they are not expecting a gold-plated service,  but they are expecting some form of improvement that can connect communities and, from the exchequer's point of view, put 'bums on seats' and cash in the till.
Our proposal is to run a 2-hourly Cleethorpes to Worksop shuttle service.
This would take 2 units, and the journey time between each destination is 1 hour and 30 minutes. Each unit could have a 15-minute 'stack' at either end.
The units we would use would be from Vivarail, the company transforming ex- London Underground stock into high quality but low maintenance diesel units. (See pictures here).
A small maintenance facility would be needed at Cleethorpes; this would not be a problem as these units currently work on the Bedford to Bletchley line and a similar situation has been met there.
The trains will be operated by a TransPennine Express crew, meaning a train heading towards Worksop could realistically leave Cleethorpes at just after 0530 in the morning; and with the service calling at Retford low-level and Worksop, it would mean customers in Brigg could be in places like London for, or before, 9am - and in Sheffield between 0730am to 8am.
The return working would also mean that customers travelling east would get to places like Grimsby Town and Cleethorpes between 08.30am - 9am.

STATIONS
Due to the fact that the present train service has run a 1 day-a-week operation since 1st October 1993, some of the stations and the surrounding areas are not 'up to purpose.'
Brigg station is in rather a poor state.
It has a non-ramp footbridge; this will either need to have these fitted or a lift.
Regrettably, the section between the station and the end of Station Road is in very poor condition and a request has gone in many times for a temporary footpath to be constructed so customers coming off the train don't have to walk through the mud on wet days.
Kirton in Lindsey station is not in bad condition. Like Brigg, it could do with real-time information on the platforms; the waiting shelter is around 40 years old; there are no designated parking spaces, despite the fact there is a railway car park; lighting in this area and on the approach road could be improved, as well as poster boards which have become life expired.

INFORMATION
The Brigg Line group, in partnership with the Gainsborough Rail & Bus Group,  produced a Brigg Line guide which became incredibly popular but was sadly discontinued. Copies could be found in libraries, social meeting places, town councils and main railway stations up and down the line.
Any future improvements to the service will require this to be published again, as a 'back to basics' campaign will have to be implemented and people will have to be told about their new train services and where they can travel to and from.
The Brigg Line group has a Facebook page, which comes under the Manchester Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/TMSLRG/

BRIGG TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB: START OF NEW SEASON ALREADY DELAYED

It's only June but a delayed start to Brigg Town Football Club's new season has already been confirmed as Coronavirus emergency restrictions on many team sports continue.
The Toolstation Northern Counties East League, in which the Zebras' first team play, is now envisaging a kick off in September but possibly as late as January 2021.
Games are normally played from early  August.
On a more positive note for fans, the football authorities say there will be NO 'behind closed doors' games at this level in the pyramid structure.
The FA recognises the importance to clubs of  revenue that is generated by bars and food outlets.
Brigg Town FC has a fine licensed clubhouse in which Pips Kitchen serves meals, snacks and beverages.
Picture of the Hawthorns by Neil Stapleton.

ELSHAM TO THE FORE WITH SAFE GOLF

Golf is one game in the Brigg area that is in full swing after non-contact outdoor sports were given the green light on the recent easing of some lockdown restrictions.
Initially as clubs opened for play, most courses were open for members only with a pre-booked tee-time also a requirement, writes Elsham Golf Club's Peter Thompson.
A strict set of rules has been drawn up by England Golf to keep everyone safe, sane and sanitised!
Elsham is one club working under the new guidelines.
As well as staying two metres apart, players are asked to be extra vigilant with hand hygiene, they cannot share equipment, only pick up their own ball and not remove green flags during play.
Bunker rakes are a thing of the past - at least for the moment...as are traditional handshakes at the end of a round!
David Rickman, the R&A's executive director of governance, said everyone in the sport is "conscious of the continued impact of the pandemic and that lives are still being lost".
He added however that golf has a "small part to play" in the nation's wellbeing.
He said: "We are fortunate that golf lends itself to social distancing, so by making a few relatively small changes to the rules and the environment in which we play, we can make it safe for golfers.”
At Elsham ‘two balls’ for members only were the system at the outset. This has now been altered to three balls and hopefully is set to change again to experimental four balls. Tournaments are only now being introduced but beyond regulations for the moment are  matches with other clubs. 3
Putting by general consent is a little more difficult. The flag must remain in the hole where there is an upside down 'flagstick cup' that enable the golfers to retrieve their balls without touching the flag.
Golf is a different game in a number of ways but thankfully less changed than many golfers envisaged while getting a longer lie in during lockdown.
Elsham captain Bob Adcock said:  “The latest estimate seems to be that the UK will be free of Covid-19 by 30th September, so social distancing and therefore the tee booking system will probably be with us for some time to come. When we set out to reopen we stressed it is crucial that the tee times are adhered to, as they have been since we reopened,
We have moved to a 'transitional stage', with the club looking to return to playing medal and club competitions as soon as possible.
Elsham is moving forward in a number of ways with a new practice area without the need to collect your own balls and the Club's new website will be up and running next month. Thanks to Colin Hopper our Head Greenkeeper and his staff the course is in magnificent condition after its enforced rest. Even in these challenging times Elsham is still looking to improve and continue to move forward. So we aim to ‘Play Safe, Stay Safe and Enjoy.’
Pictured: Holes on the greens with upside down 'flagstick cups' that enable the golfers to retrieve their balls without touching the flag.  Image from Peter Thompson.

BID TO INCREASE BRIGG PASSENGER TRAIN SERVICES

Efforts are being made to establish a better passenger train service for Brigg - our town's railway station having been reduced to Saturday only trains way back in 1993.
Just three journeys to Cleethorpes and three to Sheffield are provided in the current timetable, with NONE operating from Sunday through to Friday.

FROM NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL

Connecting communities: £50,000 bid submitted to re-open train services between Barton and Gainsborough

North Lincolnshire Council has submitted a bid for £50,000 of Government cash to re-open and increase passenger train services along the Barton, Brigg and Gainsborough route.
The application to the Ideas Fund from the Department for Transport (DfT) Restoring Your Railway Programme is to fund a feasibility study into the benefits of improving the train services.
Currently the Brigg, Kirton and Gainsborough line only runs passenger services on Saturdays. The Barton line is hampered by a section which is freight only,  meaning passenger trains must take an indirect route.
No passenger trains currently run on a short spur of line between Ulceby Station and Brocklesby.
The bid has been submitted with support from North Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire Community Rail Partnership and with backing from the area’s MPs; Andrew Percy for Brigg and Goole, Holly Mumby-Croft for Scunthorpe and Martin Vickers for Cleethorpes.
Cllr Rob Waltham (Brigg & Wolds), Leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: “There is a real need for the train services between Barton, Brigg and Gainsborough to be improved as there is a gap in connectivity for these locations.
“Many of the villages nearby don’t have access to other forms of transport and an increase in rail services would provide that much-needed connection.
“We have been working with the area’s MPs and North Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire Community Rail Partnership to create a strong bid to the government highlighting the many economic benefits it would have for the area. The support from our MPs, Andrew, Holly and Martin, in backing this bid has been fantastic and we are grateful for it.
“This project will open up employment opportunities and support our visitor economy whilst also supporting ambitions for clean growth.”
Barry Coward, chair of the North Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire Community Rail Partnership, said: “I am delighted that North Lincolnshire Council has developed our idea for providing a regular train service at Kirton in Lindsey and Brigg into an application to the government for funding a feasibility study.
“As the local Community Rail Partnership we will be pleased to work in partnership with the council on this project.”
The feasibility study would investigate the transport benefits of an increased passenger service of:

• Increased rail services connecting towns and villages Increased opportunities for leisure travel opening up tourist locations (e.g. Thornton Abbey) and supporting our growth ambitions for the visitor economy.
• Increasing employment opportunities for local residents through increased travel to work options.
• Increasing housing growth through increased transport options to housing growth areas.
• Supporting the ambitions of TfN, Midlands Connect, Humber LEP and Greater Lincolnshire LEP around increased connectivity.
• Supporting North Lincolnshire Council’s ambitions as set out in Council Plan, Economic Growth Plan, Local Plan to support economic growth, increased connectivity, safety and wellbeing.
• Supporting local, regional and national ambitions for clean growth.
• Increasing use of public transport and reduced reliance on private car.
• Meeting community needs and aspirations as clearly articulated by the Community Rail Partnership.

The fund will provide 75 per cent of costs up to £50,000 of successful proposals to help fund transport and economic studies and create a business case. The council would invest the remaining 25 per cent.
PICTURED: A quality diesel unit making a rare appearance at Brigg station some years ago.

N.F. ADDS: Brigg Blog has already received another proposal to boost the Brigg Line. We will share that with you in a future post.