COULD THE COUNTY BRIDGE IN BRIGG BE RESTORED FOR 200TH ANNIVERSARY?

The 200th anniversary of one of the best-known landmarks in Brigg is on the horizon.
The town centre's County Bridge was built in 1828 - its design being credited to the county (Lindsey) surveyor James Sandby Padley.
With seven years to go until the double centenary, some people might think it's a bit early to be mentioning this topic.
But Brigg Blog is doing just that today because we want to suggest that consideration is given by the authorities to restoring the top section of the bridge to its original condition.
It had stone balustrades until the 1950s when they were removed for safety reasons.
Decades of weathering and all that heavy traffic trundling along the A18 took its toll, resulting in metal railings being installed.
But the introduction of the M180 in the 1970s and the creation of the Ancholme Way Bridge and the Barnard Avenue inner by-pass two decades later removed the need for traffic to use the County Bridge.
So can a case now be made for fitting balustrades on both sides of the bridge, which has grade two listed status and is a main feature of the town's conservation area?
Such a project would not be cheap and require inclusion in North Lincolnshire Council's spending budget - perhaps being spread across several financial years.
But if the idea of bridge regeneration holds water as far as the local authority is concerned, there could be a grand opening ceremony in 2028, accompanied by celebratory events in the town - drawing people into Brigg to benefit local shops, pubs and other businesses.
An exhibition at Brigg Heritage Centre could explain the bridge's history, accompanied by photos taken in various decades.
The flower-related pump blessing ceremony now familiar in Brigg might be adopted to become a bridge blessing - taking place at the same location.
Might it also be possible to resurface the bridge with paving in keeping with the nearby pedestrian area?
Two years ago we celebrated the 200th anniversary of the Buttercross which, as a public building, has benefited from refurbishment by North Lincolnshire Council.
That should not be seen as setting a precedent, but the County Bridge has perhaps played an even more important role in Brigg ever since, in 1828, it replaced a much earlier structure over the Old River Ancholme which was described as being “perhaps without equal in the county for danger."
We should stress that some welcome improvements were made to the County Bridge 10 years ago when one of its walkways was reopened after being closed to the public for many years; replacement metal railings - in keeping with the conservation area - were also added.

PICTURED: Above - views of the County Bridge in the 1920s, the 1970s and more recently; below - Brigg & Wolds Ward representatives on North Lincolnshire Council, Coun Nigel Sherwood (nearest the camera), his brother Coun Carl Sherwood and Coun Rob Waltham on the bridge's reopened walkway in 2011.