NEW BRIGG STATION FOOTBRIDGE, WITHOUT RAMPS, GETS THE GREEN LIGHT

The Victorian footbridge at Brigg station is to be replaced by a new structure.

A new passenger footbridge for Brigg railway station has received the green light.
It is designed to replace the existing Victorian structure which has failed a structural assessment.
North Lincolnshire Council planners considered an application from Network Rail but have decided that local authority prior approval is NOT required in this case.
The council informed Network Rail: "The development may therefore be carried out in accordance with the details submitted with the application unless the local planning authority and the developer have agreed otherwise, in writing."
When the scheme went out to consultation, Brigg Town Council told North Lincolnshire planners that while welcoming the application for a new footbridge, it wished to raise concerns about "the lack of disabled access."
The proposed structure is described as a "steeped footbridge" and does not include ramps for use by wheelchairs and baby buggies/prams.
It seems the wording of a new piece of legislation ruled out objections about disabled access in this case.
Schedule 2 Part 18a of the Town & Country Planning (General Permitted) (England) Order 2015 suggests prior approval should be given by  a planning authority for bridges unless the following two "tests" are met:

• The development ought to be, and could reasonably be, carried out elsewhere on the land

AND

• The design/external appearance of the bridge would injure the amenity of the neighbourhood and is reasonably capable of modification to avoid such injury.

With that in mind, a report prepared by planning staff at North Lincolnshire Council points out the new  footbridge replaces the existing one and "cannot reasonably be located elsewhere on the platform." It then goes on to suggest "there are no reasons why the bridge should not be located in the same position as the existing structure."
Clearly, no-one who knows Brigg station, and its surrounds, could possibly argue that the new bridge would "injure the amenity of the neighbourhood" by its appearance - this being the second reason why objections might have been taken into consideration.
Recommending that prior approval is NOT required, the North Lincolnshire Council report concludes: "The design of the bridge is considered to be acceptable because of its symmetrical appearance, its unobtrusiveness and because it satisfies its functional purpose."
North Lincolnshire Council has now informed rail bosses accordingly.
Network Rail, in York, submitted an application for prior approval of the detailed plans and specifications for a new footbridge at Brigg railway station in accordance with Schedule 2 Part 18a of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015.
It would be interesting to know whether this is the first time the  Order has been used in respect of a railway footbridge without ramps. 
Given the date of the Order (this year) have we got a Brigg first on our hands here?
Sorry this report is a bit longer than your average Brigg Blog post. But once we'd built up a good head of steam, it took some time to apply the brakes.