Friday, June 11, 2010

BASKET CASES?

By Andy Coleman
(Colemans on Queen Street, Brigg)

Since opening our restaurant some 18 months ago we make great efforts to keep our shop frontage clean, tidy and appealing by sweeping the footpath most days, picking up the vast quantities of sandwich packaging and sweet wrappers dropped by the kids having made their purchase at the corner shop, removing the numerous pizza boxes and pavement pizzas from our door on Saturday and Sunday mornings after the night before's revellers.
What I don't understand is the absolute determination the revellers of Brigg have with ensuring I do not have any hanging baskets outside. We are now on our 15th missing basket, not counting the ones we have swept up from the gutter and managed to replant. It seems each season I re-hang the brackets a bit higher to lessen the temptation, but to no avai. Still they get damaged or stolen. Ah, well, best get on and plant the new summer baskets.
Let's hope they get to the autumn before being 'rehomed'
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5 comments:

Ken Harrison said...

Yes, and we are assured that CCTV cameras aid the detection of crime.
There is one on the corner of Wrawby St/Queen St that seems to be nothing more than a white elephant.
Can someone in authority inform me what the camera has detected since its installation?
I've heard of many incidents in the area that good observation would have seen and consequently responded......but I've never heard of the camera actually responding to anything - it must be on permanent hibernation, or switched off!

12 June 2010 at 07:10
Jeanette Woollard said...

Hi Andy - perhaps you would be better with the baskets you can hire through the Town Council? They have a water reservoir in the base which ensures that the plants can draw on water at all times, and it also makes them extremely heavy for anyone to lift off the bracket. At £27.00 per basket, including watering, they are very good value for the businesses in Brigg. As I am not writing this from the Town Council Office I am not sure whther there are any left this year, but if you are interested I can check for you on Monday.The only extra cost is a 'one off' payment of £20 for the substantial bracket we provide (including installation) - unless the brackets are still in place from when Parkers ordered baskets for your building.

Jeanette Woollard
Cler, Brigg Town Council
Tel:01652 659402

12 June 2010 at 08:23
Ken Harrison said...

....Ah! Will Brigg TC's baskets be replaced, if nicked?

The underlying problem here is theft.

A secondary problem seems to be the lack of effectiveness of the CCTV camera, which is meant to both aid remote observation and improve the community's security,

Accepting that 15 baskets have been removed over a period of time, I'd be asking the question whether the CCTV team have actually observed any one of the incidents.

Replace 'baskets' with a 'fight' and it gets a bit scary.

12 June 2010 at 20:23
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13 June 2010 at 03:38
Andy Coleman said...

In response, thank you Mr Harrison my tongue in cheek rant was indeed refering to the unsocial behaviour the high street seems to suffer undefended during the evenings as well as the zero response to the CCTV facilities we have. Indeed my front doors were smashed in last November during the small hours with no Footage available. Thank you also Cllr. Woollard, whilst I applaud the positive business idea from the council to 'rent' these baskets the cost of nearly £200 is too much. I will make them myself for about £40 use the brackets I already have (just fixed a bit higher) it would however be appreciated if some mention were to be made in council chambers regarding the use of the CCTV cameras fitted in the street to see if better results could be acheived to support our business' as well as public safety.

15 June 2010 at 10:22

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