BRIGG PILOT PROJECT PROVES TO BE A CUT ABOVE

A pilot project in Brigg has been declared a success.
Rather than North Lincolnshire Council cutting grass on some public land, the task was 'devolved' to Brigg Town Council which assigned a contractor to keep things looking neat and tidy.
Both authorities have now expressed satisfaction - with the extensive area of public open space on York Road coming in for praise.
Freed from the expense of cutting the grass, North Lincolnshire Council made a sizeable payment to the Town Council.
The town authority's latest 'virtual' meeting was joined by Andy Tait, principal neighbourhoods officer at North Lincolnshire Council, who explained that things had gone well.
Town councillors agreed, with Coun Penny Smith saying York Road's cutting had been a great success.
This joint authority agreement will continue in 2021 and 2022, then be reviewed.
During their recent meeting, held online, town representatives were asked to "consider any further services that can be devolved to Brigg Town Council" although no decisions have been made as yet.
Suggestions included grass cutting at Woodbine Park and in the cemetery, and litter collection and bin emptying at various locations.
Ongo, the local social landlord, has responsibility for cutting and tending some other grassy areas in Brigg, near its managed properties.
Coun Rob Waltham suggested Ongo should be invited to join a future Town Council meeting to discuss its 'cutting regime.'
York Road Field, as locals know it, has been a grassy area in the centre of a sizeable housing development for decades, but this was not the original intention.
Humberside County Council earmarked land off York Road as the site for a new junior/primary school in the late 1970s.
This remained in the land allocation blueprint when North Lincolnshire Council was created in 1996 to succeed Humberside as the local education authority.
However, the replacement for the school on Glebe Road (built in the late 1920s) was eventually constructed on the other side of town, off Atherton Way.
No 'change of use' has followed for York Road's grassy site and it continues to be used for dog exercising and occasional games of football and cricket by local youngsters.
When a new site for relocated allotments on Grammar School Road became necessary, Brigg Blog wondered whether York Road field might become a possibility. However, part of Woodbine Park (near South View Avenue) was set aside.
The spadework for this project is under way, although the plots have yet to be marked out. Brigg Town Council will administer these allotments.
PICTURED: York Road Field and Coun Penny Smith who expressed positive comments about the grass cutting.