This blog contains Brigg News articles and features, all published by James Martin - a local Brigg resident and journalism student with the London School of Journalism.
Wheelchair-bound man on Kings Avenue almost killed in explosions
On the evening of Sunday 29th October 2006, at precisely 7:15pm GMT, Myself, my mother, and my wheelchair-bound father, were walking back home along Kings Avenue, Brigg. As we got closer to Kings Avenue, we saw that fireworks were being lit in the Kings Avenue/Bigby High Road Playing area. As we got closer, it looked like the fireworks were being targeted at peoples property. As we got closer, a firework shot straight passed us, and passed my wheelchair-bound father by about two meters - before exploding in somebody's driveway, next to a parked car. We then quickly hurried up back home, quite shocked and shaken - as the firework could have easily hit us. As we began to walk again, we saw approximately 20 youths in the playing area, and heard one of them shout "sorry". We did not respond - we continued to briskly walk back home, what we didn't realize is, we was about to risk our life by walking on Kings Avenue. As we got close to home, one of the youths lighted a firework, and then through it over the perimeter fence of the playing area - aiming it so it landed in my fathers wheelchair. It missed, and ended up less than a meter away from us on the street. I had a split second to tip my dad out of his wheelchair, so he wasn't sitting directly in front of the firework. Then, there was an almighty bang, and I could feel a gush of heat rushing up my leg - burning the back of my ankle, and I saw my mother get thrown against a stone wall, and bang her head. It was horrific. After checking to see if my family was still alive, and not fatally injured, I could here the youths who were responsible laughing at us, and finding it amusing. This comes just days after I published a report - warning people about the hazards of fireworks, and how to stay safe. On the left is an image of the playing area where the incident took place. I am just grateful that my family got through such a terrible incident - but some people might not be as lucky. Some people may be seriously burned, permanently blinded, or even killed. As lots of people have done, we have now locked our letterbox at night to prevent fireworks being posted through the letterbox.
We are not going to accuse or speculate, but we believe that this attack was carried out by the same group of youths who have driven their car on the footpaths to try and run over my father when he uses his walking-sticks. The group have also tried to steal my fathers electric mobility scooter, which he heavily depends upon. These youths are sick and have a very corrupt and twisted mind, to do such a thing to a physically disabled man who is unable to defend himself. These youths will not get away with the crimes they have committed.
By James Martin
Dated: 29th October 2006
Note: A podcast, or videocast - will be available on this issue within the next 48 hours
For years the footpaths behind Brigg library, and the Boots Chemists have been in a terrible condition and nothing yet has been done about it - despite the problem appearing in local press, such as on Brigglife.co.uk. This is very hazardous to people who have not got good vision, and to disabled people.... and, it's also an 'eyesore' too. Below is an article which I did a while ago looking at this problem, there is also two pictures below - but since these were took, last year, the problem has got a lot worse...
In Brigg behind the £stretcher store, near the Library on Old Courts Road, the state of the ground is terrible. Recently an old frail man had an accident on this ground, by tripping over a piece of concrete on the ground, from which a bollard broke off. The ground there is usually flooded and there are deep drops and potholes which you can’t always see. Lots of people use this ground as it is the footpath from the Old Courts car park to the main town centre. Walking around Brigg you encounter lots of areas where the pavement is uneven and all of this is just an accident waiting to happen. If the owners of this land got sued it would cost them more having to pay out compensation than what it would do to have this land repaired.
Why not leave some comments below, and tell us what you think about this "mess"... Has this caused you any trouble before? Have you ever tripped up here? Please leave some comments on this matter - and it may help to get the message across to North Lincs Council
Over the past few months, we have been speaking to people who were at the Brigg Summer Fair earlier this year, and to say the very least, there has been mixed opinions on how the fair went - and if it was as good as last year or not. All of this discussion now comes as we get closer to the Christmas Light Switch on, which is not "highly anticipated" this year - due to what people have seen previous years. People are now starting to wonder just how good this years Christmas Market and Light Switch on will be....
We will be having more information about the Christmas Market and Light Switch On nearer the time... Plus, invitations to the Brigg Light Switch On have already been sent out to some selected individuals on the MySpace.com website.
Below is the news report which was published soon after this years summer fair. The report was also assessed by the London School of Journalism.
On Saturday 5th August the 802nd annual Brigg Summer Fair went ahead, after nearly being lost again this year due to the lack of volunteers to help organise the popular event. The day proved to be a success with the fine weather, and the mixture of in-town entertainment which took place. The Horse Fair organised by the gypsies also took place after the local council found them a suitable site. Families enjoyed the pleasant atmosphere along with the entertainment which included fairground rides, audio presentations, craft stalls, bands and dancers. The pet show once again took place in the Millennium Green and proved to be successful with many people bringing exotic pets including snakes and spiders. Children who had dogs could also win small prizes for categories such as “The dog with the loudest bark”. Local councillor and businessman, Nigel Sherwood, donated a push bike for somebody to win at the fair. However this year at the summer fair we unfortunately missed out on the classical vehicle display, but we are told that it will hopefully be back next year. Maureen Glossop, the town mayor, congratulated the ‘Brigg Upgraded Summer Society’ committee for all of their hard work which they had put in to make the summer fair a success once again. She stressed that there were only four people on this hard working committee, and they are looking for more people to join in and help them with next years fair. Many people at the fair said how they wanted to see a singer performing live next year at the event, which always takes place on the 5th August.
Anybody wanting to volunteer to help out with organising the fair should telephone Sarah Angell on 01652 659091 or email her at sarahangell4@aol.com
.....This was the article from this years Summer Fair (2006), but compare it with last years... from 2005.... and you will see that this year, the fair has clearly been more organised - but has it attracted as many people? Below is the report which was done after the Brigg Summer Fair 2005 - after I had a meeting with the town clerk, and the mayor....
BRIGG EVENTS, IS IT JUST ANOTHER BORING DAY? By James Martin
On the 11th August 2005, just after we had the Summer Fair, I had a meeting with the town clerk to discuss more events in Brigg, as well as the improvements which should be done to the Christmas fair. In the meeting was myself, the town clerk and the town mayor. When it was the Brigg Summer Fair, I spoke to members of the public who all told me of how boring the Christmas fair was, and how boring the town is compared to other towns in Lincolnshire. Brigg does not have many events or “in town” entertainment compared with other towns. I have done a petition and so far collected a high amount of signatures from people, who want to bring more events into Brigg. The Christmas Fair is now branded as boring, and this is because it’s the same people who switch it on most years, and the items which are at the light switch on, only appeal to the youngest of children. Each year less and less people attend the light switch on in Brigg, and now lots of people who I spoke to have commented on it by saying that they don’t ever want to attend again. I also spoke with Brigg Town council about bringing a radio station into Brigg. On there behalf I have now contacted, VikingFM, Galaxy105 and LincsFM, to see if they could come to Brigg for the light switch on. We need more entertainment in the town, and a high amount of the members of public have commented on it saying “Brigg is a dying town”. I strongly urge committees in Brigg to pull together to organise more events, they don’t have to be as big as the Horse Fair – but there should be something which will entertain everybody, all ages. The summer fair this year went okay, considering that we only had a few weeks to plan it – we hope that next year it will be even bigger and better. This year a program for the Summer Fair was released which indicated that the fair would not finish until at least 9pm. However, everything was all over with and gone by 7:15pm. This was disappointing to the people who I spoke to, who were coming into Brigg to attend the disco between 7 and 9, which never took place. There was also a major mix up with the Market Stall layout on the day, and shop owners were complaining about it. For example, a stall selling meet was placed directly outside of a butchers, and a card stall placed directly outside of a card shop. It should have been different and the meet stall should have been outside of the card shop and the card stall should have been outside the butchers. There are now talks being held to avoid this problem in the future, and a numbering system may be brought into force, where stall holders will be asked what they are selling, and then allocated a stall number, which would be located away from a related shop. To conclude, various people and committees around Brigg are now talking about bringing more events into Brigg and talking on how to improve the Christmas Fair.
“Don’t let the fun and culture of Brigg die” – James Martin
Also this year, before the Brigg Summer Fair of 2006 took place, I produced this small news package.....
If the above video window does not display within the next 30 seconds...Click Here
So, decide for youself.... Leave some comments.... What do you think the future of Brigg Fair holds? Planning for the Brigg Summer Fair 2007 has already started!
Please leave your comments/ideas - and opinions.....
In Britain, the time of the year has come... On the run up to the 5th November, every year, fireworks start to appear in the shops - for people to celebrate "Bonfire Night" on the 5th November. This is when many people, and towns - have a large bonfire and a firework display, to celebrate the failure of the gunpowder plot in which Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London, on the evening of the 5th November 1605.
The night is closely associated with the rhyme "Remember, remember the fifth of November, Gunpowder Treason and Plot, I see no reason why gunpowder treason should ever be forgot." The day isn't an official holiday - and you will not get time off work to celebrate 'bonfire night' - but many people now go to see the firework displays, or host their own displays, simply for enetertainment.
In Brigg, shops have now been selling fireworks for a few weeks - and even though, traditionally, people do not start their firework display or bonfires until the night of the 5th of November...Youths and teenagers have been unable to wait, and every night for the past few weeks has seen fireworks been let off. The unfortunate thing is...youths and teenagers have been causing trouble with the fireworks, by launching them at peoples property, for example, houses and cars. A few years ago, there was an incident in Brigg, where a lit firework was put through somebodys letterbox...and thankfully, nobody was killed. Lots of debate has been taking place across the country, with people wanting fireworks to not go on sale until just a few days before, and only to be sold to mature over 18's. People don't realise that a firework can also be called a 'bomb' or a 'missile' depending on how it is abused - however, to sum it all up, it is categoriesed as explosives. In previous years, people have had their homes, their cars - and even themselves set on fire - by careless teenagers with fireworks, who are only interested in "blowing things up". I once witnessed dustbins on the Sir John Nelthorpe School site being blown up by fireworks...and, anybody who witnesses any such crime, danger or hazard caused by youths, are asked to phone the police immaediately.
Everybody is advised to take extreme care and precaution during the months of Bonfire Night - and to make sure that they are not posing any risk to nearby property, and most importantly, themselves and others.
Safety information can be found by clicking on the below links...
For the last few months/years I have been talking about the trouble some of the skateboarders cause in the town... and I must stress, not all of them are the same.... and I am not out to destory peoples skateboarding fun... I am just trying enforce a little bit of order in the town - for the benefit of the other 98% of Brigg's population - who don't use skateboards. There has often been a problem with car parks being blocked, properties damaged, people injured and skateboards ramming into things (and people), but the problem seems to be slowly sorting itself out... possibly due to the declining interest in skateboards.
Early last year (in the summer of 2005), I released a strong report into the press - regarding the menaces on skateboards.... if you didn't read it, you will find it below.... complete with pictures.
So, For Now, Thankyou for reading...and Goodbye!
Below is the report from last year...
Immature youths creating obstructions in car parks (again)
I have written many articles about this in the past, yet nothing really seems to have been done about it. In Brigg today, and every other day there is some very stupid, uneducated imbeciles who can now be referred to as “delinquents”, for those of you who don’t know what that word means – it means a lawbreaker, usually a young offender. Who has acted antisocially and/or broken the law. This is classed as lawbreaking, when youths have removed rubbish out of dustbins and dumping grounds, so they can dump this unsightly mess on car parks etc. There is a skateboard park which has been specially built for these youths at the ‘Ancholme Leisure Centre’. These youths are on average, aged 15/16. I think this is quiet immature, because when I was that age, I was doing work placements for the ITN / ITV News – the worlds biggest news organisation, and I was focusing on a career in journalism – not a wooden board with little wheels. I suppose you could say, “Little wheels occupy little minds”. These really are “boys with toys”. It is always the same group of youths who create this hazardous mess around the town – and previously, a high amount of parking spaces in Lidl’s car park have been barricaded off, and the youths were ‘playing’ in there, before the authorities and store managers moved them on. Quite a lot of members of the public have been hurt when walking in the Market Place, or at least, nearly hurt, because of these childish youths ‘playing’ with skateboards there. When you fall off a skateboard, you send it shooting into a random direction. This is very dangerous when there are pieces of wood shooting all over the place. Also, cars have been damaged in car parks due to these youths ‘playing’ around with these ‘toys’. At the Sir John Nelthorpe School, there are signs up saying “Trespassers will be prosecuted” – and it clearly states that people are not allowed on the school’s campus when it is not school hours. However, these youths have smashed nearly every bench and every dustbin at the school, so they can create skateboard ramps. I will also clearly state – that I will report youths who are breaking the law by doing this – as I am a well-educated and sensible young adult who wants crime to stop. As a journalist, I am supposed to help prevent crime, and not try and promote it in any way. Also, these youths have made their immature hobby into a life threatening sport. They have created ramps, which they will run up on their skateboard, and take-off, flying above wood with 3 inch nails sticking out. (Pictured left) This could prove fatal in the quite likely event of an accident. My advice to these youths is simply to “grow up and act your age”. The trouble these youths cause in the town is absolutely hideous – its horrible to see and its making other residents suffer. People are now worried about taking their cars into the car parks now – worried that they will get damaged. The youths who like to ‘play’ with skateboards should go to the Ancholme Leisure Centre instead, their parents must be totally ashamed of them.
By James Martin Dated Summer 2005
------ Please feel free to leave your comments below :)
Here are some recent 'Brigg News' video reports....
New Properties to be built in Brigg This short 90 second news package looks at the new properties which are being built in the town, and how the town has grown over the past few years. We also go out into the street, and interview you, the residents of Brigg, to see what you think.
Dog Mess Report - How the dog mess on the streets could kill your dog within 48 hours This news report looks at the hazards of the dog mess on the streets, and how it can kill your dog within 48 hours. By watching this report, you will also learn about the deadly parvo virus. All dog owners should watch this report - regardless of where in the world they live
Vanessa Feltz Sketches Crudely drawn images of the UK television star, Vanessa Feltz, have been sketched out and placed around the town. A total of 8 images were spotted - and it is believed there has been a lot more placed around Brigg. This short report takes a look at one.
More 'Brigg News' Video reports will be coming online over the next few days/weeks.
My name is James Martin, I was born in Scunthorpe on the 29th December 1988. I attended the old Brigg County Primary School, The Sir John Nelthorpe School and the Grimbsy Institute of Further and Higher Education. Later I did a course with the London School of Journalism.
