Thursday, December 27, 2012

COMMUNITY RIGHT TO BUY ASSETS IN BRIGG AREA - DRAFT ONE

Brigg Millennium Green - pictured by Ken Harrison.

The first draft of a list of notable buildings/structures and community facilities in the Brigg area has been drawn up.
The Asset List has been put together by town councillors in the light of the new Community Right to Buy scheme introduced by the Government.
This is only a draft and is likely to be amended.
When the list was distributed at the Town Council's December meeting, comments suggested that assets in Horkstow and Scawby might be reconsidered.
Not because they were unworthy of inclusion, but because they are well outside Brigg.
Coun Ben Nobbs explained that places like Ancholme Leisure Centre were close to the town and used by Brigg people.
However, he felt that Horkstow was too distant.
Among the 30 on the draft asset list, circulated this month, are:

  • Brigg Millennium Green, Elwes Street
  • Brigg Railway Station
  • Brigg Recreation Ground
  • The Angel
  • The Buttercross
  • The Exchange Coach House
  • Ancholme Mews
  • The Pump, Grammar School Road

Out-of-town assets include Horkstow Bridge, Scawby Pinfold, Wrawby Mill and Barnetby Top Gallows.

3 comments:

Ken Harrison said...

I think more clarity is needed....is it being suggested that the community can acquire the 'ownership' of such facilities?
If so, such assets are already owned by some body.
If it is suggesting that the community, with the aim of exploiting and improving an asset's usage/appeal can take control and manage a facility, then I can't see NLC's been over-keen to relinquish the control of the LC and the Angel.
It has potential of working with Brigg rail station and the Millennium Green, but Brigg TC's list appears somewhat disjointed...
For example, as as as the pump in Lower Grammar Sch Rd, they appear to have forgotten there is another on County Bridge...and while talking about County Brigg, it wasn't long ago that Brigg TC were saying what a great asset County Bridge was, yet it's not in the inventory.
And how about the RIVER - no mention what-so-ever. Yet the Ancholme offers many positively potential assets.
In addition, one needs to add to list the intellectual asset of Brigg's history - from the known buried Bronze Age plankway to the town's connection to such aspects as the Gunpowder Plot, nearby Roman & Anglo-Saxon sites and such like

Ken Harrison said...

I think Brigg TC has got a little confused about the 'Community Right to Buy'.
The document proposes that the community has the right to buy and take control of a local facility that is threatened with closure - such as a local post-office.
However, Brigg TC have included on their Asset list such buildings as the Angel and the Buttercross.
I accept that Brigg rail station and the water-pumps maybe included, but the Council's list includes notable buildings, such as the Glanford Leisure Centre - which are neither in threat of closure, or are neglected.
Their list, for example, perhaps should include the NLC's 'house'on the edge of the Old Courts' car-park, near the police station.
Perhaps the building could be put to better use (rather than its present storage facility) by a local community group? For example, could it become a community-led youth centre for local teenagers, a drop-in centre for pensioners, a headquarters for scouts?
The Council's Asset List of notable buildings is both skewing and somewhat confusing the aim of the, 'Right to Buy' proposals.

Ken Harrison said...

It seems that the Kirton-in-Lindsey council have got the right idea.....their tracking the vacated RAF camp as an important asset to the town.