With construction work on the Dutch River Greenway project due to start in Spring 2025, a local consultation group has been formed to help shape the proposals.

The Dutch River flood defence and greenway corridor scheme is one of eight strategic projects to have been allocated a share of Goole’s Town Deal funding from the Government. It will see the existing 4.7-kilometre ‘greenway corridor’ between Goole and Rawcliffe Bridge enhanced, with the Goole Town Deal investment focusing on the Bridge Street end in Goole. The improved Greenway will run alongside and on top of the Dutch River flood defences. A ten-kilometre section of the flood defences, from Goole to the River Went, is due to be reinforced and refurbished by the Environment Agency.

As Goole has a high level of flood risk, the Environment Agency was already intending to reinforce flood defences along the Dutch River, but a contribution from Goole Town Deal has made it possible for this work to go ahead sooner than planned, and for the Greenway to be incorporated into the plans. The entire project, including the flood defence refurbishment and improvements to what will be known as the Dutch River Greenway, will cost in excess of £10 million and Goole Town Deal is contributing £3.1 million towards it.

The Environment Agency, working closely with the Goole Town Deal Board and other key partners, including East Riding of Yorkshire Council, the Canal and Rivers Trust and Associated British Ports, will be developing more detailed proposals for the Greenway Corridor over the coming months. 

Representatives of several local history, heritage and community organisations have been invited to join a consultation group. Among the organisations represented are Goole Civic Society, Goole 2026 Bicentenary Community Group, Castaway Music Theatre, Yorkshire Waterways Heritage Society, Boothferry Family and Local History Group and Goole Museum. Working together, they will have the opportunity to consider some initial design ideas developed by consultants Arup, which include the potential to include a ‘pocket park’, as well as ways to celebrate the river with installations by local artists; provide amenities such as picnic areas, seating and shelter; give people better access to the water’s edge, including designated areas for fishing; create habitat for wildlife and opportunities for natural play for families to enjoy.

Dean Hamblin, Senior Advisor in Flood and Coastal Risk Management at the Environment Agency, said: “We’re looking forward to working with our partners and other local organisations to come up with more detailed plans for the Dutch River Greenway, which can then be incorporated into our designs for the broader flood defence work. 

“We’re particularly excited by the idea of including a ‘pocket park’ close to the end of the road that runs alongside the Dutch River. However, this concept is still in its early stages and will be shaped by future discussions with the local consultation group and key stakeholders, particularly the Canal and River Trust, which owns much of the land where the Greenway will be enhanced.”

Explaining the Goole Town Deal Board’s decision to allocate funding to the project, its Chair, Phil Jones, said: “Goole’s flood defences provide critical protection for existing properties and infrastructure, which means that the prosperity of the town and its future development depend on them. They also have an economic, social and recreational function, providing green, active travel routes to improve connectivity with employment zones and surrounding settlements, as well as improving the health and wellbeing of local people. 

“The Environment Agency had already identified a need to refurbish the flood defences along the Dutch River and the Board saw this as a unique opportunity to deliver much broader benefits for the town by incorporating the Dutch River Greenway scheme. This project is very much about improving connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists, but also helping to connect people with nature, be more active and enjoy time outdoors. 

“It also presents an exciting opportunity to boost biodiversity and provide opportunities for recreation. It’s wonderful to have so many local voluntary and community groups and organisations involved in shaping the plans for the Greenway and I look forward to seeing their ideas, which will be shared publicly as they develop further.”

• Being prepared for flooding is very important, but it is possible to check the level of flood risk that you face; sign up to receive flood warnings about potential flooding in your area; and find information about how to prepare. Check if you are at flood risk by visiting https://www.gov.uk/check-long-term-flood-risk. To sign up to the Environment Agency’s flood warning service, visit https://www.gov.uk/sign-up-for-flood-warnings. Or, to access useful information about being prepared for flooding, go to https://www.gov.uk/prepare-for-flooding.