IMPORTANT MEETING IN STORE TONIGHT

There's an important meeting tonight about major plans to build two new supermarkets in Brigg. It's an open meeting of Brigg Town Council, at the Angel Suite, off Market Place, and Brigg Blog followers are very welcome to attend.
Town Clerk Jeanette Woollard (pictured) said: "Proceedings will commence at 7.15pm tonight with a period of public question time, and representatives of both Tesco and Lidl will be in attendance at the meeting to answer questions from the floor, following which the formal meeting will be convened."
For the benefit of new readers, Tesco plans to build a much bigger store than its current one. To do so it is taking over the riverside site occupied by Lidl, which, in turn, wants to create a brand new store off Atherton Way, close to the roundabout on the A18.
Tesco's plans, with full supporting documents, are open to public gaze through North Lincolnshire Council's planning website. However, there were delays (not caused by the council) in getting Lidl's application officially lodged (now done). And it was only this morning that Brigg Town Council got all the necessary information passed on by council planners.
It has been suggested the Lidl and Tesco applications might be considered together, as there is clearly common ground (literally!) between them. However, as Lidl's details have only been received today, the Town Clerk will be recommending to councillors that their usual practice is followed: late applications remain "on the table" until the next meeting before the formal response is determined. This will allow time for members of the public to make their views known before a formal response from the Town Council is determined.
It should be noted that Brigg Town Council is the first stage in the democratic process used to determine planning applications. It can make comments and/or recommendations, but the actual power to decide things rests with North Lincolnshire Council.
A spokesman for North Lincolnshire Council says the Lidl application is now online (on the council's planning portal), while site notices for the Tesco application are being posted today (January 5). "So comments will need to be submitted within 21 days of the notice going up."
As Brigg Blog has reported previously, some small businesses in the town are affording customers the opportunity to sign a petition against Tesco's development. Latest information sent to us says: "A great many signatures have been collected from people worried about the effect a twice-the-size Tesco would have on our community."
Meanwhile, Tesco is promising a greater range of goods and services and many new jobs - part-time and full-time - at its new development.
For the benefit of those who might not have been to the Angel Suite before for evening meetings, access is via the Rotunda (conservatory-like building) at the back - NOT through the glass doors on Market Place. There is a car park at the rear of the Angel. The meeting will be in the main part of the suite (the former ballroom) which is up the stairs. There is a lift for those with mobility issues.
Rest assured, Brigg Blog will be attending - notebook and camera in hand. So if you can't make it, or don't want to pop along, you can follow the debate through our reports. This is clearly a very important issue for the town.