PART TWO: BRIGG BLOG'S REVIEW OF THE YEAR 2020 - AUGUST TO DECEMBER

August to December 2020 in Brigg was dominated by the Coronavirus emergency, but the Horse Fair was among annual events which did proceed. The long-awaited Aldi store opened on Bridge Street, while a proposed new school for the town received the go ahead from planners. North Lincolnshire Council also received applications to create a new licensed bar in the Market Place and to site 70 new homes on Island Carr.
Click on the highlighted link in the text to read our original post about each topic.

AUGUST
The national ban imposed on cricket was finally lifted... and Brigg, Broughton and Hibaldstow cricketers started their 2020 season by taking part in a specially arranged tournament throughout August - five fixtures apiece.
Brigg Town Football Club launched a new children's play area (with equipment) which soon became very popular - admission being free to all.
Brigg Horse Fair 2020 went ahead, despite calls from the authorities for it to be cancelled during the virus emergency. Police kept a watching brief on the Station Road site.
The historic Dying Gladiator pub - with social distancing measures in place - reopened and had a new bar manager at the helm.
Popular local landlord Mark Burns moved from the Exchange to the Britannia Inn, beginning his new role by providing a free barbecue.
Brigg Town Football Club kicked off the new season by securing a trophy.
Moving with the times perhaps, a Brigg retailer shut up shop on Springs Parade and switched to working from home.
Brigg's Gemma Chelton became 'The Face of Fashion' in support of Lindsey Lodge Hospice.
Plans to develop the former Sherwood's cycle shop site on Bridge Street might possibly include the provision of a coffee shop as well as new town housing, we revealed... subject to planning permission being granted for demolition of the existing buildings (decision still awaited at the end of 2020).


SEPTEMBER
Seventy new homes were proposed for a site on Island Carr by well-known local firm Keyo.
The Stagecoach bus service linking Brigg and Barton was withdrawn. However, a new dial-a-ride mini-bus service called JustGo was launched, with backing from North Lincolnshire Council.
A Brigg business gained a Trip Advisor award and was named among the world's top 10 per cent in its field.
The new Aldi store opened on Bridge Street on September 24 - immediately proving popular with shoppers from Brigg and well beyond.
New Town Clerk, Kerry McGrath, took up her duties with Brigg Town Council, following Dinah Lilley's retirement.
An immediately popular new slide was installed by North Lincolnshire Council on the Davy Memorial playing field to replace a life-expired one removed some months earlier on safety grounds. It was followed later in the year by new football goalposts funded by the town authority.


OCTOBER
A Brigg food outlet and one of the town's pubs received 'al fresco' additions after North Lincolnshire Council granted them special pavement licences.
Exciting plans to transform former bank premises in the Market Place into a new licensed bar (with apartments and offices above) generated major interest.
A Brigg pub offered free lunch boxes to needy children over the half-term holiday.
The Brigg Poppy 10K charity run went ahead but with competitors completing the course at different times to ensure social distancing before reporting their times to the organisers.
Brigg's landmark Angel 'community hub' building was officially reopened by North Lincolnshire Council after extensive internal improvements.


NOVEMBER
Lockdown 2.0 - at the beginning of the month - saw sit-down restaurant meals ruled out again, and various sporting fixtures were put on hold for a month.
There had to be changes on Remembrance Sunday, with no parade or church service, but wreaths were still laid at the Monument. Brigg Town Council asked the public not to spectate and instead posted 'live streaming' of the ceremony online.
Having suspended publication for some months during the emergency period, the Brigg Matters community magazine returned with a Winter edition in a new handy-sized format, which was well received.
The Town Council agreed to refurbish the Tintab shelter on East Park and to consider whether plaques remembering the man who donated this structure to the town decades ago might be put on view.
New Christmas lights provided by the Town Council were switched on by the Mayor, Coun Sharon Riggall. But because of the virus emergency, there was no mass gathering in the Market Place, nor accompanying festive fair from the Lions with indoor and outdoor stalls.


DECEMBER
A new 'Indie' Market - launched by local traders - proved successful, and plans to create a new school in Brigg, on Wrawby Road, were granted permission.
Former Town Mayor Coun Ann Eardley completed half-a-century's service as a community volunteer.
Brigg Town FC returned to action following another lockdown spell, and took part in a local derby, while North Lincolnshire Council put the former Brigg Youth Centre buildings up for sale on the property market.
Brigg Servicemen's Club reached the 100th anniversary of its foundation but suitable celebrations to mark this milestone must wait until the virus emergency passes.
A prime town centre site was snapped up at auction for well above its guide price.
The Christmas period saw four new anti-crime CCTV cameras in use for the first time.

Brigg Town FC sold out their Boxing Day home game several hours before kick-off but lost to Skegness before a 150-strong crowd (Brigg fans only permitted).

PICTURED: Brigg Horse Fair 2020; staff inside the new Aldi store - picture from the company; the former HSBC bank which is earmarked to be turned into a licensed bar with apartments and office space (application still to be decided by North Lincolnshire Council).