The Environment Agency has shared the following update on its ongoing capital maintenance work on the Dutch River, near Goole, which forms part of the broader Dutch River Greenway project that has received funding from Goole Town Deal:

Reason for the work: The Environment Agency has identified the need to carry out capital maintenance work to renovate and repair flood defences along the left, or north, bank of the Dutch River, from the River Went outfall to its confluence with the River Ouse. This work will help to sustain the current standard of flood risk protection offered to the town of Goole and the surrounding villages by the existing defences, better protecting hundreds of residential properties and numerous businesses and helping to secure investment and economic growth for the local area. 

The work: The proposed remedial work involves topping up of low spots, crest widening and stabilisation and reinforcement of the slope at various locations along the length of the existing embankments. A typical cross section of the work is shown below.

In addition to the flood defence improvement work, the enhancement of the existing Greenway footpath and cycleway, which runs for almost five kilometres between Rawcliffe Bridge and Goole Docks, has been incorporated into the design of the scheme, and the improvements along Dutch Riverside have already been completed. 

Progress: In June 2025, the project received funding confirmation and gained all of the financial approvals needed to progress with the construction phase. Work began on site at the start of October, focusing on the downstream area at the end of the Dutch Riverside, near Goole Marina. Alongside this, the main compound area at Rawcliffe Bridge, which will be used during the wider work planned for 2026, has been levelled ready for office cabins and welfare facilities to be installed in the new year. 

On site near Goole Marina, fencing and accommodation for the early construction work was installed quickly over the first two weeks of October, with the end of the public footpath that links the Dutch Riverside to the Aire and Calder Navigation towpath re-routed through the wooded area next to the Breedon Concrete plant, following the line of yellow arrows in the image below. 

Since October 2025, progress on the embankment work has been steady, although a little slower than hoped, due to the inclement weather experienced since late Autumn. With the wet weather, extra efforts have been made to keep the site and access areas clean, and the footpath through the wooded area has had wood chipping spread along it to keep things cleaner and safer under foot. 

Winter shutdown: Shortly before the Christmas 2025, the site closed for the winter period but, for safety reasons, the site fencing was left in place. Contractors will return to site next week (week beginning Monday, 12 January) to complete some further tree removal work. The main work will resume as soon as conditions on site are favourable enough for them to successfully complete the required earthworks. 

Contact: If you require any more information about this project, please contact the project team by telephoning 03708 506 506 and asking for Dean Hamblin or Quentin Williams. Alternatively, you can email the team.