Inside the new look Goole Hub

East Riding of Yorkshire Council has provided further details about the proposed £17 million transformation of East Riding Leisure Goole into the Goole Hub, £3.372 million of which is being contributed by Goole Town Deal.

Following a consultation with residents, customers, local sports clubs and organisations and other interested parties, many of the issues and ideas raised have now been included in the revised proposals. The proposals will be submitted for planning approval by the council’s design partners on the project, Wilmott Dixon.

The main changes to the original proposals will see the Sports Hall retained and a Health Suite added. Goole Library and Customer Service Centre will relocate to the Hub. There will be a more visible central core and café area, and the new Learner Pool will be located at the front, with Tag Active and Play at the rear. The venue will also offer a new sensory area.

On the first floor, the gym space has been re-designed and will be vastly improved, and there will be an enhanced fitness offer, with all fitness facilities on the same floor. The first floor will also include a new attractive atrium space. The new facility will benefit from a state of the art six-lane bowling alley providing fun, excitement and enjoyment for the whole family. Goole Museum will remain in its Carlisle Street location.

A planning application is in the process of being submitted. If approved, work would start on site in January, 2024, with completion planned for summer, 2025.

Councillor Nick Coultish, portfolio holder for culture, leisure and tourism, said : “This proposed scheme is very exciting for Goole and will provide a wonderful new facility for the town, and for our East Riding Leisure members. We recognise the inconvenience that will be caused by the lengthy closure of East Riding Leisure Goole, but we promise that the wait will be worth it.

“A whole range of alternative arrangements will be in place during the closure period, and we continue to work hard to ensure the best possible alternatives can be made available. We will also communicate with residents and customers throughout the process.”

On behalf of Goole Town Deal Board, its Chair Phil Jones said: “We’re delighted to see these exciting proposals for East Riding Leisure Goole, which will transform the venue into a modern leisure hub, with a state-of-the-art gym, swimming pool, bowling alley and more to attract new user groups.

“We see each of the projects that have been allocated a share of the Goole Town Deal funding as individual pieces of a jigsaw puzzle that will come together to have a transformative effect on the town. We consider the Goole Hub an important ‘anchor’ destination, which, alongside the other seven Goole Town Deal-funded projects, will help to boost footfall in the town centre and enhance the local economy.”

During the construction period and the closure of the Centre, it is intended that gym provision and group exercise classes will move to the Goole College site, subject to planning permission being granted for that site. A group exercise and health programme will be developed and implemented during the closure.

East Riding Leisure Goole core and corporate members will see reductions in their membership fees – details will be announced to members in due course. For those Goole members who remain with East Riding Leisure during the closure period, discounted membership will continue for six months after the venue reopens.

The 14 resident clubs and groups based at the Centre will be offered advice and support and funding for any additional costs needed to relocate. In several cases, alternative locations have already been agreed during the closure period. Other East Riding Leisure Centres (and other providers) have been approached to see if they can also offer temporary facilities.

School swimming lessons will be delivered through a condensed programme in 2023/24 and any school which cannot be accommodated has been offered relocation to other East Riding Leisure centres. A new school swimming programme will be created for the reopening in 2025.

General swimming will continue until the closure of the centre and thereafter the council is looking at providing bus services from the centre to other local providers during the closure.

There will also be a programme of community activity delivered to complement the group exercise programme, and other activity offered from the temporary College site.

The planning application will include provision in the future for a squash court, but there is currently no funding available for that facility.

Councillor Coultish added : “Please follow our social media channels and the local media for progress on this exciting project to bring amazing new facilities to Goole.”