Brigg Matters Issue 53 Winter 2018

Vehicles in the Pedestrian Zone
by Ken Harrison
One of the enduring, legitimate gripes that folks have
about Brigg town centre, is the inordinate volume of
traffic that uses the pedestrian zone. The unabated
process, it would appear, continues without proper
control and many of Brigg visitors claim that it's a bit of
free-for-all that has spilled over the limits of safety.
The source, but not necessarily the miscreant, of this
unacceptable state of affairs came into force after
Humberside CC imposed the new Brigg pedestrian and
one-way traffic regulations on 30 June 1 994. The
regulations banned all vehicular traffic, including riding
a bike, but allowed exceptions to the pervading order.
Supporting public notices that were issued at the time,
alerted shoppers that some exempt vehicles would still
be able to utilise the zone and such traffic could include;
emergency and medical vehicles, Royal Mail, cars used
for weddings and funerals and transport needing to
load/unload heavy items to premises where alternative
access was limited.
Disabled drivers were not automatically exempt from
the regulations. Drivers were warned to 'drive with
caution' without any limiting speed-limit being
expressed. Legally, the speed limit is an alarming 30mph.
Where regular exemption was required, a Glanford
Borough Council permit had to be displayed in the
vehicles to aid identification by the enforcement agency,
namely, Humberside Police in the guise of 'a police
officer in uniform or traffic wardens'.
The evolved flaws now seem to be that the world and
his wife are able to drive along Wrawby Street without
challenge, the town's CCTV system cannot be legally
used to validate traffic violations. There now appears to
be a game of ping-pong between North Lincs Council
and the police as to whom should enforce the
regulations and consider amendments to the 1 994
regulations and implementing enforcement.
Wearing the devil's advocate wig, the local authority
welcomes such events as Bike Nights and car rallies, but
this serves only to highlight the duplicity of
interpretations of the 1 994 regulations - someone needs
to amend the by-law to recognise such occasional usage.
Since 1 994, the contingent of police-controlled traffic
wardens, a time when parking was a criminal offence,
has been superseded by North Lincs Council's civil
parking enforcement officers. The understanding is that
civil parking attendants have jurisdiction over general
parking matters, but police still retain responsibility for
moving-traffic offences and obstruction.
Blue-badge holders are permitted to apply for a
permit, but a Local Link representative indicated that
such applications are severely scrutinised and assessed
by North Lincs and a medical team before approval.
May it be suggested that inter-disciplinary
coordination is required to resolve the issues of whom,
what, where and when vehicle movements and parking
are permitted in the pedestrian zone to eliminate both
the perception and actuality that the frequency and
volume of traffic along Wrawby Street, at times,
resembles a shipping lane on the Humber at high tide. A
common sense declaration is needed for this whole,
uneasy state; presently, an unacceptable practice that is
feeding from the trough of vagueness, lack of
enforcement and habit.
Methodist News
By Sylvia Thomas
Over many weeks we were busy knitting poppies to
commemorate the ending of WW1 and, from comments
received, the results of our work was much appreciated.
Both the large cross, plus a cascade of poppies was a
talking-point within and outside our church
congregation. Thank you to everyone who knitted, gave
money to buy wool, or helped in any way.
Two of our stalwart members, both well-known in
Brigg, have died in recent weeks. Anne Spolton had
worked tirelessly for both our church and Circuit for
many years, and was known in Brigg for her work with
other groups, especially Live Arts. In the summer of 201 7
she developed Motor Neurone Disease. Her faith glowed
bright even as MND took its course and all who cared for
her or visited her felt uplifted after spending time with
her. She was courageous throughout. A celebration
service took place on 1 2 October in a packed church and
we gave thanks for her life & witness. Alan Roberts
served as our church organist for 50 years and, except for
doing National Service, spent his whole life in Brigg.
Alan’s health had been steadily declining for a handful of
years, the last period being spent in Wrawby Hall. Alan’s
Commemoration Service was held on 25 October.
Looking ahead, we celebrate our Chapel Anniversary
on Sunday 2 December at 1 0.30am when the preacher
will be the Chairman of our District, Revd. Bruce
Thompson. Along with the choir of St. John’s, we are
presenting The Gift at the Angel Courtyard on 1 5
December at 6.30pm. This is a ticket-only event as
numbers are very limited. Free tickets will be available
from Mary Knaggs 01 652651 242 or from the Churches
Together shop, open on Thursdays & Saturdays from
1 0am-2pm.
We are busy making outfits and props for “Open the
Book”, a project that aims to take the Bible into Primary
schools in a visual way, telling the biblical story in
costume.
Wednesday Book Club on alternate weeks to the
ladies' Wednesday Group. We meet in the Coffee Lounge,
it would be great to see new members. The fellowship
groups and Thursday coffee morning continue. Details
can be found on Facebook or the notice sheet which is
updated & attached to the front door of our church.
Brigg Matters 35