HAVE YOUR SAY

There's a chance to speak out in public about a proposal to replace the ambulance based in Brigg with two fast response vehicles (large cars), which has formed the topic of many conversations in the town since the Telegraph exclusively 'broke' the story.
Put a note on your calendar, in your diary, or on your email address book system to get along to the Angel Suite, off Market Place, on Monday, March 17 (approx 8pm).
For that's when Brigg's Annual Town Meeting will be held.
This is a special once-a-year event when members of the public are free to raise any topics of interest, and question councillors.
Brigg Town Council has already decided to invite the East Midlands Ambulance Service to attend. That's the organisation proposing the introduction of the fast response vehicles, which it says will lead to better patient care.
You may have seen yesterday's report in the Scunthorpe Telegraph, or read it on this website, headlined Ambulance loss could put lives at risk - claim.
That claim was made by Coun Tom Glossop - one of many councillors to express concerns.
Although the article was a half-pager, even that did not leave space for all our representatives' comments to be included.
So here are a few which did not make it into the paper.
Coun Roy Clarke explained how ill-health meant he sometimes needed an ambulance, and morphine injections administered.
This procedure, he explained, needed two staff to be present, but he understood the cars being proposed would be crewed by only one. "I am totally against that," he said.
Coun Edward Arnott was keen to discover the percentage of Brigg call-outs needing stretchers.
But Town Mayor Coun Michael Doherty, chairing the meeting in the Angel Suite, replied he could not answer the point 'as the town council was never consulted on that'.
One of North Lincolnshire Council's Brigg area representatives, Coun John Berry wondered where the nearest ambulance to Brigg might be based, if the one at Health Place was withdrawn.
"Possibly Scunthorpe, if there’s one available. Or maybe Grimsby," he suggested.
He thought the issue might well fall within the local government scrutiny system, under which North Lincolnshire Council had a right to be consulted on health matters.
On March 17 the Annual Town Meeting will follow immediately after the March meeting of the town council, which members of the public are very welcome to attend.

Pictured above are Brigg's three representatives on North Lincolnshire Council, who all contributed to the debate. Left to right: Coun Carl Sherwood, his brother Coun Nigel Sherwood, and Coun John Berry.

Did you know you can access scores of previous postings on Brigg Blog?
When you first visit the Blog you will see the words 'Nigel Fisher's Brigg Blog' in Blue, underneath the title to the Blog, and above the latest article posted.
Click on the words 'Nigel Fisher's Brigg Blog' and it will take you into the archive section, which has a search facility. You will also see the posts listed in date order on the right-hand side of the screen.