HANDS UP WHO'D LIKE TO SEE A MCDONALD'S OR SUBWAY IN BRIGG?

Rumours about McDonald's opening an outlet in Brigg stretch back for well over a decade but have never proved to hold any substance.
The rumour-mill's sales turn, from time to time, after the fast food giant has announced plans to create new jobs in the UK and/or expand the number of outlets.
There are national media stories at the moment suggesting 5,000 additional McDonald's posts by the end of next year.
It would be seen by many as a very welcome development if Brigg could one day attract a McDonald's franchise or perhaps a Subway.
Having a McD's and Subway in your town centre, along with a Costa outlet, is seen as a benchmark  by many business analysts and even some local authorities.
So one out of three for Brigg, which does now have a Costa, on Wrawby Street.
Finding suitable local locations for a McDonald's or a Subway wouldn't seem difficult. The closer to the A18, the better? But you do find such outlets in many pedestrianised town centres.
The first rumours to do the rounds about McDonald's in Brigg, many years ago, pointed to the old lorry wash site at the top of Atherton Way, near the roundabout. 
You can tick that off your list, though, as it's now occupied by the new Lidl store!

BRIGG SUPPLIES FINALLY GET THROUGH TO RESTOCK SHELVES

In the Brigg equivalent of the Relief of Mafeking, a consignment of  Perlenbacher lager has finally reached our Lidl store.
Probably the best-selling bottled beer in Brigg, it has been absent from the shelves for days and folk have been returning home disappointed and empty-handed.
It's an excellent German brew and very reasonably priced. "Perly B" comes highly recommended.
These days you can buy it by the bottle in Lidl, rather than having to shell out for a full pack.
Many Brigg people will have seen the current Lidl advert on TV, featuring a group of diners who enjoy a meal in a pub/restaurant and are asked to pay what they think the food and drink is worth. They are amazed by the low price of the red wine. It's a shame none of the actors called for a pint of "Perly B."

BRIGG SHOPPING REQUESTS

Brigg Blog has mentioned before that it would be a good idea for someone from North Lincolnshire Council to take a pot of paint and draw a couple of white lines on the lay-bay opposite the old Post Office, in Bigby Street, to create defined short-stay parking bays.
Since we last posted on this topic we've seen sundry examples of vehicles being parked in the middle, removing a useful parking spot or two for some would-be shopper(s), depending on the length of car they drive.
The council has bays painted on the side of the slip road immediately in front of Hewson House, but not a few yards away, on Bigby Street.
Secondly,  by way of warning, watch your trolley when parking on the eastern edge of the Lidl car park.
You may not realise there's a slope and could turn round to see your shopping heading off back towards the store entrance. 

WATCH OUT FOR THIS BIG BRIGG POTHOLE

We’ve dipped a wheel in this large pothole near Spring’s Parade, Brigg, and would like to warn other drivers so they can avoid doing likewise.

It’s not a public highway so North Lincolnshire Council cannot be called upon to take action.

But it could get wider and deeper, only increasing the possibility of damaging a tyre – or worse.

Approaching drivers might  spot it during daylight hours. But it’s a different story once the sun has gone down over the yardarm.

So be warned. And pass on the alert to friends and family.

The location is close to the entrance to the former Lidl store (now closed).

This is a much-used route by car-driving shoppers and also lorries which park up in the evenings.

BLOOMING GOOD TURNOUT OF SUNDAY SHOPPERS IN BRIGG

It was very busy in the Lidl store on Atherton Way, Brigg, this afternoon.

Great shopper attention was being paid to an array of flowers/bulbs on a stand just outside the entrance.

It really is proving a very successful location for Lidl since the move from the old riverside premises near Spring's Parade.

BRIGG WATER SHORTAGE EXPLAINED

Routine maintenance work is being undertaken on the River Ancholme. That's why the level of the river in Brigg is much lower than usual. Here are views taken from the towpath near the former Lidl store and from Candley Beck Bridge on Cadney Road.

'BOMB-LIKE' ITEM SPOTTED IN BRIGG

Our attention was drawn to this strange sight in the Old River Ancholme, close to the former Lidl store. Viewed from the towpath, it looks like the business end of a WW2 bomb.  
However, having studied the odd sighting at close quarters, using Adobe Photoshop software, we think it's a partly decomposed traffic cone. So there's no need to scramble   the Army bomb squad.
The long submerged item has surfaced from the murky depths due to  the river has been lowered for maintenance.

INFLUX OF ANGLERS IN BRIGG

We spotted half-a-dozen anglers, rods in hand, heading through Brigg Market Place towards the River Ancholme on Sunday morning.
We also observed them in the car park of the Exchange Coach House Inn.
Had they spotted our recent post about the large pike caught near the former Lidl store and decide to give Brigg a try?
Anglers used to come to town in large numbers from industrial centres like Sheffield during the late 19th century, through to the mid-20th.
The majority did so by train. Not that you can do that any longer on a Sunday. But trains do still run from Sheffield to Brigg on Saturdays.

NOVEMBER BRIGG FARMERS' MARKET WILL DRAW SHOPPERS TO TOWN

The Lincolnshire Poacher cheese stall at a  previous November farmers' market in Brigg

This Saturday (November 22) sees the monthly Brigg Farmers' Market, from 9am to 3pm in the town centre.

There should be more parking spaces about near the former Lidl store than has been the case for recent farmers' markets, which always attract big attendances of locals and visitors.
Now an important date for your diary, mobile phone or tablet...
The Christmas Brigg Farmers' Market will be held on Saturday, December 20, from 9am.
Unless the weather is particularly bad, this should draw a huge number of folk from across the district, all stocking up for the festive season or perhaps looking to snap up a culinary stocking-filler or two.

BRIGG LIGHTS PROBLEM RESOLVED

This picture from Ken Harrison was taken on the Spring's Parade car park in Brigg - near the old Lidl store - quite recently. 

Regular Brigg Blog followers will recall several previous posts echoing councillors' concerns about the lack of light in this part of town, after dark.

We are pleased to report that a visit we made made to this location a few days ago showed effective lighting in place once again. 

Then God said: "Let there be light," and there was light (Genesis 1:3).

LORRIES AND THE MAIN BRIGG CAR PARK

Brigg folk passing the town's main Old Courts Road car park the other night have been surprised to see two very large car transporters (fully loaded) and two more empty ones, all positioned near the back of the police station. There was also a high-sided lorry parked up some yards away.
We can't say whether they might have wished to use the former Lidl car park, had it not  been cordoned off. But this demonstrated there's no height barrier in place at the entrance to the Old Courts Road car park. You'd couldn't have one near the main A18 traffic lights as delivery lorries need to get through to Wilko's, the Servicemen's Club and the rear of premises on Wrawby Street.
However, is it worth the authorities considering a height barrier at the intersection between Old Courts Road and the entrance to the car park? 
Or perhaps there's a deal in place, or being considered, for overnight lorry parking.
This could bring in some money for the council and as long as the lorries did not arrive until early evening and departed before 8am would not occupy spaces needed by shoppers in cars.
Just a thought....

PARKING WATCH ON BRIGG FARMERS' MARKET DAY

Brigg Blog will be interested to see the car parking situation for the monthly farmers' market this coming Saturday.
Tesco having cordoned off the former Lidl car park, scores of potential free parking spaces won't be available (no criticism intended - it's their land).
There should still be sufficient parking to meet demand in the main Old Courts Road site off the A18 Barnard Avenue, but drivers will have to be patient, motoring round to find a spot rather than be spoilt for choice.
We'd also like to suggest motorists park carefully within the clearly marked bays provided. Otherwise it's very easy to take up two spaces if your car or 4 x 4 is on the large size.  And this will mean someone else can't get a space.
Remember: You can park FREE all day on Saturdays - courtesy of North Lincolnshire Council - without having to pay or get a ticket from the machine to display in your windscreen. 
We've been through the Brigg Blog archive and above is a picture of a previous September farmers' market.

BRIGG CIDER FESTIVAL TODAY AND TOMORROW

Brigg Cider Festival opens today (Friday September 5) and concludes tomorrow, Saturday.

This is Brigg District Lions' third cider event and the venue is Atherton Way, next to the new Lidl store, just off the A18.  Opening hours are 7pm to 11pm on both days.  

Below is a list of ciders expected to be on offer.   

This year the event will be held in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support and the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance.  

Entry costs £2, glasses £1 (refundable) and cider £1.80 per half token.  

The event is run, and staffed, by member of Brigg District Lions, all of whom are volunteers.  Plans have been underway over a number of months.  

The Lions see this as both a fundraising and community event.  
PLEASE SUPPORT THIS WORTH EVENT - BRIGG BLOG WILL BE VISITING TOMORROW, SATURDAY. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

BRIGG DISTRICT LIONS CLUB – 2014 CIDER LIST

NO	PRODUCER	NAME	DESCRIPTION	COUNTY	ABV
1	THATCHERS	CHEDDAR VALLEY MEDIUM			6.0%
2	ABRAHALLS	SLACK ALICE			4.6%
3	BOTTLE KICKING	RAMBLER			6.0%
4	BROAKOAK	MOONSHINE			7.5%
5	BROAKOAK	PHEASANT PLUCKER			4.5%
6	BURNARDS	MONTY'S DOUBLE			6.0%
7	GWYNT Y DDRAIG	DOG DANCER			6.5%
8	HOGANS	HAZY DAISY			3.9%
9	LILLEY'S CIDER BARN	CRAZY GOAT			6.8%
10	LILLEY'S CIDER BARN	APPLES & PEARS			5.2%
11	MOLES	LEMON & LIME			4.0%
12	MOLES	BLACK RAT PERRY			6.0%
13	MR WHITEHEADS	DEVILS DEVICE			8.4%
14	ORCHARD PIG	PHILOSOPHER			6.0%
15	SCRUMPY WASP	AMNESIA			7.2%
16	SNAIL BANK	TUMBLEDOWN APPLE SWEET			5.2%
17	SNAIL BANK	TUMBLEDOWN DRY			5.2%
18	WESTONS	OLD ROSIE			7.3%
19	WESTONS	WYLD WOOD ORGANIC			6.0%

BRIGG 60 PARKING SPACES DOWN BUT IT'S ONLY TEMPORARY

There are about 60 fewer car parking spaces available in Brigg town centre at present. 
This is since the concrete barricade (pictured above) went up to stop drivers using the former Lidl store car park. It's a temporary measure but one that is bound to impact on the town. 
Many of us made regular use of the free car parking available in the months following Lidl's move to new premises on Atherton Way, which left the old store standing idle - awaiting sale or lease by Tesco, which acquired the site.
This has been an unexpected bonus for Brigg - a large, unlimited stay car park. Meaning, we've never had it so good, in terms of available spaces. Until now...
The result  the temporary closure is having on Brigg  is there for all to see. The main Old Courts Road car park is noticeably fuller than it has been - even on days of the week when the town is not at its busiest. It's also much more difficult to get parked in the small, free car park near Spring's Parade.
The crunch comes on Thursdays and Saturdays (general market days). But there will be even more pressure for parking spaces  during the August farmers' market. 
Farmers' market Saturday, as we all know, is the busiest day of the month in terms of shoppers and visitors to the town centre.
The unavailability of the old Lidl store parking spaces also means the 20+ lorry drivers used to parking there overnight have had to go elsewhere, meaning less money going into the local economy, Tesco's tills included. 
It should be stressed that Tesco has every right to do what it wishes with its land. We hope that the lease or possibly sale of the former Lidl store is concluded in the near future and that the currently barricaded car park soon reopens, following improvements.
Meanwhile, drivers visiting Brigg town centre, who have been spoilt for choice in terms of available parking for many months, may now have to look a little harder for a vacant space.
Most will try the Old Courts Road car park instead (now offering free parking all Saturday - not just two hours). 
What we  hope is that no-one will be put off coming to enjoy visiting Brigg town centre.

FLY-POSTERS UNDER FIRE IN BRIGG

Those responsible for fly-posting in Brigg to advertise an event in Scunthorpe have come under fire from Coun Ann Eardley.
At Monday night's Brigg Town Council meeting in the Angel Suite she expressed her annoyance at posters being plastered over the disused former Lidl store and on the fronts of other  properties in the town.
She wanted to know whether North Lincolnshire Council was taking action to remove the posters and seeking to trace those responsible.
Coun Carl Sherwood said the matter would be looked at by the authority.

BRIGG POTHOLES AND CRACKS NEAR TESCO AND THE FORMER LIDL STORE

Take care after you have driven round the turning circle at the end of Cary Lane, Brigg, and headed off towards Spring’s Parade.

There are cracks and potholes in need of attention on the approach road, as these pictures show.

Whether the status of the road permits North Lincolnshire Council, as the highway authority, to take any action we aren’t sure. But a bit of filling-in would be welcome by way of temporary repair.

The location is just a few yards from Tesco but outside the store’s fenced-off boundary. 

The concrete road surface here takes quite a hammering from the high volume of shoppers’ cars and the many lorries which park up overnight in the former Lidl store parking area.

The location of the potholes and cracks means that a car driver can avoid them  if he/she is careful. If not, there’s a danger of dipping a wheel.

As time goes on we can only imagine things getting worse. Especially later in the year when snow and ice arrive. In the middle of heatwave we are sorry to reminder you of what's to come.

IS THE LIDL CAR PARK IN BRIGG BIG ENOUGH?

We are delighted to see the success of the new Lidl store in Brigg and to note the trend of increasing sales enjoyed by this company across the UK. 
But sometimes you wonder whether the car park, off Atherton Way, is big enough to hold all the customers' cars.  
If they did decide an extension is required, it seems possible on land a bit nearer to the River Ancholme.
When you near the entrance to the Lidl store, keep an eye out for the blue and white plaque given to the company by Brigg Town Council and fixed to the wall. For Lidl's new Brigg store won an annual award for best building development. 
It's a pleasant walk from Lidl, under the Ancholme Way bridge and along the Old River Ancholme towpath. We sometimes take that route to the town centre after parking up at Lidl and doing a bit of shopping in the store.
This, admittedly, contributes to the problem we mentioned earlier!

WHITE HART WALL IN BRIGG TO BE REFURBISHED

The brick wall near the White Hart pub in Brigg - leading down to the Old River Ancholme and close to the County Bridge -  will  be refurbished within the next year.
Coun Rob Waltham, a member of the Cabinet at North Lincolnshire Council, revealed the welcome news at this week's meeting of Brigg Town Council.
A long stretch of  wall opposite the former Lidl store has already been refurbished, as part of a scheme to make the riverside more attractive.
In recent weeks the rusting and leaking water main on the side of the bridge has been replaced with a brand new one - painted black - by Anglian Water.

COMMUNITY MEMORIAL GARDEN IS NOW PART OF BRIGG IN BLOOM

Brigg Town Council has agreed to include the Community Memorial Garden within its "Brigg in Bloom" budget which provides flowers for public spaces. 
The Property and Services Committee - meeting in the Angel Suite Lounge - took the decision to include the garden, which is near the Old River Ancholme towpath, close to the former Lidl store car park and the Ancholme Way bridge which carries the A18.
Supporting  investment in the garden, Coun Mike Campion said: "Certain people have put a lot of work into it and it needs to be kept looking nice. I think there has been a big improvement to that area."
There is a noticeboard at the garden dedicated to the late Josh Parkin - very well known in Brigg. We've included a picture of the noticeboard among these we took recently at the site.

LIDL STORE WINS MAJOR BRIGG AWARD

The award-winning Lidl store in Brigg

The new Lidl store in Brigg has collected the Town Council's best building accolade for  2013.
The Brigg Town Council Civic Award is presented in recognition of a feature or location in Brigg which is best considered to have improved the appearance of the town during the previous year.
At the latest meeting of Brigg Town Council it was decided to present the accolade to Lidl UK GmbH - the company's full title. 
Town Clerk Jeanette Woollard explained: "The award is made in recognition of the landscaping works undertaken alongside the development of its new store in Brigg, which has entirely transformed a previously derelict and unsightly location at the entrance to the Town.  
"In addition, the opportunity is also taken to recognise the company’s contribution towards the creation of the Brigg Memorial Garden, as well as improvements to the adjacent walkway leading to the river and beneath the bridge.  
"The Council was equally pleased to note that, since these works were completed, problems related to anti-social behaviour at this location have significantly diminished."
The presentation to Lidl will take place at the Town Mayor’s Civic Charity Banquet on Thursday 20th March in  the Angel Suite.

The walkway created along the River Ancholme towpath to the award-winning Lidl store in Brigg