TWINKLING LIGHTS WOULD MAKE CHRISTMAS IN BRIGG EVEN BRIGHTER

Brigg Christmas lights 2013

Twinkling Christmas lights may be added to Brigg town centre illuminations for the 2014 festive season.
Brigg Town Council, which provides the lights, is thinking about replacing traditional bulbs with modern LED varieties. And they offer the ability for different coloured lights to run in sequence, giving a twinkling effect.
Anchor points to those buildings carrying the illuminations are also in need of investment, prior to the annual stress test which must be undertaken to comply with health and safety regulations.
The cost of refurbishment has yet to be established and approved but the Town Council does not want to wait too long before resolving the matter.
It is hoped to recoup the expenditure in equipment over several years by massive savings in the Christmas period electricity bill, as LED lights use considerably less "juice" and are also  longer lasting.
Members of the Brigg Town Council Property and Services Committee, meeting on Wednesday night in the Angel Suite Lounge, held what Town Clerk Jeanette Woollard described as "a broad discussion." She will now come back to councillors with costings.
Mrs Woollard said the update would offer an opportunity to put more lights up in the town centre, particularly in the Market Place.
One option might be to "garland" the balcony on the front of the Angel building.
Coun Ann Eardley hoped LED lighting would enable better illuminations on the town centre Christmas tree "which didn't look very effective this year."

BRILLIANT TALK ON THE HISTORY OF BRIGG FAIR BY TOM GLOSSOP

Maureen Glossop, Brian Denison (BASH committee) and Tom Glossop (Speaker)

The February meeting of Brigg Amateur Social Historians (BASH)  had a packed house to hear Tom Glossop's popular talk on The History of Brigg Fair, writes Josie Webb.
He told of how a charter was laid down in 1204, by King John, to allow Brigg to hold a weekly market and a four-day fair in July. (This was later changed, due to use of the Gregorian calendar, in the 1700s to August 5th). 
In the late 1800s the Romany Gypsies started to come to the fair to trade horses. Sheep were also sold at this fair. Traditionally, most of the selling of horses was done outside The White Horse pub in Wrawby Street, but this changed in the 1970s when it was moved to the old cattle market, off Cary Lane. 
By the 1980s the fair had virtually died out, but in the 1990s a local group of people, headed by Tom Glossop, brought it back again. Its peak was the 800th anniversary in 2004 when many thousands of people visited. 
After this the fair started to decline again, although the gypsies do still come to trade their horses and wares in Station Road. Tom, who is a Freeman of Brigg, ended his talk by singing the famous folk song Brigg Fair.
This was a brilliant evening, rounded off with a raffle and light supper.

TEXT AND PICTURE KINDLY SUPPLIED BY PHIL ALLEN, BASH COMMITTEE

HOW BRIGG AND GOOLE MP ANDREW PERCY VOTED ON THE SMOKING BAN

Brigg and Goole MP Andrew Percy asked people in our area to take part in a poll on the issue of whether Parliament should work towards banning smoking in cars whenever children are present. He wanted to gauge local views before making his mind up.
Parliament voted in favour of the ban by a considerable margin this week and our MP announced in a Twitter message: "Having listened to residents' poll, and concerns on enforcing a ban on smoking in cars with kids, I will oppose the idea when we vote."
But he added: "Smoking in front of kids is stupid; the concern is the ban cannot be enforced."
Andrew did vote in favour of plain packaging for all cigarette packets.
The detail of how it's going to work will be outlined later.  
When publicised this topic we pledged to inform Brigg Blog followers how our MP decided to vote on our behalf. 

BRIGG MARTIAL ARTS CENTRE GETS GO-AHEAD

Planning permission to erect an extension at  Cherry Tree Farm, Mill Lane, Brigg, has been granted by North Lincolnshire Council. 
So has permission to change the use of a business unit  into a martial arts school at 22 Island Carr Road, off Bridge Street, Brigg.

NEW HOUSE PLANNED IN BRIGG - AMENDED APPLICATION

Amendments to planning permission to erect a detached house and detached garage block is being sought for land to the rear of  41 Bigby High Road, Brigg, following a previously approved scheme from 2011. 
At a meeting held in the Angel Suite, Brigg, on Wednesday night, Brigg Town Council's Planning and Environment Committee considered this application and raised no objections.
It now progresses to North Lincolnshire Council for a final decision to be made.

IDEAL TIME TO DISCUSS BIG WIND TURBINE PLANNED FOR BRIGG AREA?

There was a howling gale blowing outside on Wednesday night as Brigg Town Council's Planning and Environment Committee met in the warmth of the Angel Suite Lounge to consider planning applications currently going through the system at the North Lincolnshire unitary authority.
Our Town Council is consulted about applications in neighbouring authorities but North Lincolnshire planners clearly feel the proposed 78m tall wind turbine being proposed near the River Ancholme in Cadney is too far from Brigg to be included.
In any case, Brigg Town Councillors voiced no real concerns about this application. "It's a long, long way from us," suggested Coun Ben Nobbs, who was chairing the meeting. 
He reported that a great deal of information about the turbine plan had been made public as part of the application.
Noting the wild weather outside at the time of the discussion, Coun Jenny Bell said: "They would have switched it off now - it's that windy!"
North Lincolnshire Council will consider whether to grant permission for this application.

UPDATE ON CIVIL WEDDING CEREMONIES IN BRIGG - A NEW DEVELOPMENT

The Angel Suite set out for a formal function

Karen Deeley - manager of the Angel Suite community venue in Brigg - revealed more about civil wedding ceremonies that are about to be introduced in the town. It came in her report  to Town Councillors who are members of  the Property and Services Committee. The full report follows here....

BY KAREN DEELEY

Over the last few weeks we have number of gatherings for private individuals and clubs.

We have also in the diary bookings for the Wedding Fayre on 2nd March and the Duck Egg theatre group is having a performance here of Leave Hitler to Me, Lad, and we have a large Scouts' conference in April, too.
We also have a new regular monthly booking from the WI set up by the National Federation to enhance their two other meetings already held at smaller premises.
I reported to you in my last report, that discussions had been opened with North Lincolnshire Council regarding the possible use of the newly refurbished Buttercross for civil wedding ceremonies. I can now report that this is now in place and that the people of Brigg are now able to make use of this super service, we will now be able to tie in to our package making it a great option for local clients. The first wedding is to be on 10th of May with a further booking for September already taken too.
Hopefully through linking Brigg Town Council and NLC in using both venues concurrently and providing the local community with a place within the boundary of Brigg to have their Civil Ceremony and a follow it on with celebrations, will be a huge benefit to the public who at have not been able have a civil wedding within the boundary of Brigg prior to this, as there were no licensed premises for weddings.
Looking to the future, if all of us associated with Brigg Town Council share what The Angel Suite can offer to local people by word of mouth, regularly advertising and sharing our services on the internet and other media, this will generate further interest in the venue and bookings will grow. 
Getting support from the community and raising awareness through social media is proving the most popular; we reach lots of people this way giving them the opportunity to join in events and activities being held at the Angel Suite.