PICTURES SHOWING THE CHANGES MADE INSIDE BRIGG'S ANGEL LANDMARK

Changes have been made to the landmark Angel building in Brigg town centre - the Market Place 'hub' offering, and giving access to, a wide range of public services.
It reopened on Friday, with a wall plaque erected to mark the conclusion of an investment programme by North Lincolnshire Council, which owns and operates the building.
Brigg Blog was invited down to meet councillors and officials, and given a guided tour of the three floors and the basement - all of which have a new look and features.
Several tour groups were formed to comply with social distancing requirements, our own 'bubble' including Couns Carl and Nigel Sherwood (Brigg & Wolds Ward representatives) and Chris Darlington, Freeman of Brigg and well-known community volunteer.
 

 

The first change most local folk will encounter is a new front entrance from the Market Place - immediately to the right of the glass doors leading into the Cafe Courtyard (pictured here).
Staff on the reception desk beyond provide over-the-counter advice and there are also touch screens people can use to obtain information about services and what's on offer locally to visitors. Sanitising these screens is undertaken after use. 

 

This also applies in the well-stocked library where, in addition to books, on-screen access is available.

 

Brigg Heritage Centre remains in its familiar location, as does the Angel Suite (converted in the early 1990s from the old Angel Hotel ballroom). However, the Suite has been given a make over, including new 'decor' and measures to improve the acoustics.

Falling into the 'hard of hearing' category, we can confirm that's it's now much easier to grasp what's being said in this big room, even if the people with whom you are talking are wearing masks!
The Angel Suite's lounge bar, in the basement, has been replaced by a new fully-equipped community kitchen - already in use for baking, we noted, with freshly-made buns on the counter.
 

The Suite is still available for hire by local families, groups and businesses. However, bookings are now being taken by North Lincolnshire Council, instead of the Town Council. Inquiries can be made through the reception desk at the front of the building or online.
 

 

Brigg Town Council has relocated to the top floor, where it has a new office overlooking the Market Place. The wooden sculpture of a horse, made some years ago to reflect the town gaining fair and market charter status in the 13th century, has been moved upstairs, together with boards listing our Town Mayors since 1974 when the town authority was created.
Through North Lincolnshire Council, meeting rooms of various sizes are available in the Angel for use by groups, societies and local businesses.

The historic building is now set up for the future. 

 

Local Members of Parliament Holly Mumby-Croft (Scunthorpe) and Andrew Percy (Brigg & Goole) are seen here following Friday's reopening ceremony with a £500,000 'Keeping You Safe & Well' cheque from HM Government as the Angel refurbishment project was completed. The community hub forms part of North Lincolnshire Council’s £5m community investment programme. 

 

 

Standing behind the MPs in this close-up view is Coun Helen Rowson, of the Burton Upon Stather & Winterton Ward, who was among a number of representatives from other areas invited to the opening ceremony. We chatted with two of the others - Couns Trevor Foster and Neil Poole, whose Ridge Ward includes Scawby, Hibaldstow and Howsham.

Andrew Percy MP at the Angel on Friday with Couns Nigel and Carl Sherwood and Coun Rob Waltham (right).

Andrew Percy, the Brigg & Goole MP, taking a look at some of the children's books on show.

A close-up of one of the Angel's screens showing what to visit in North Lincolnshire - very useful for visitors to the town.

Coun Rob Waltham, left, with Couns Carl and Nigel Sherwood and Andrew Percy MP beside a new sign at the front of the Angel which shows some of the services available within.

Holly Mumby-Croft, Scunthorpe's MP, being one of the guests invited to the Angel reopening prompted us to take this picture of her in the Market Place on Friday. As well as the steel town, her constituency covers rural communities including Broughton, Scawby and Hibaldstow. She is a former pupil of Sir John Nelthorpe School, Brigg, and represented the Appleby & Broughton Ward on North Lincolnshire Council for some years until gained a seat in the House of Commons. We gather she follows Brigg Blog!

Coun Rob Waltham in happy mood at the conclusion of the Angel's reopening on Friday.