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Goole’s ambitious Town Investment Plan is a weighty evidence-based document that sets out clear objectives for the town, which are aimed at:
In 2026, Goole will be 200 years old and it would be wonderful to celebrate that milestone with a real sense of optimism for the future by using Town Deal funding to build on the town’s rich heritage and the economic investment that’s already taking place. We want Goole to be reinvigorated; a town fit for the 21st century.
The Goole Town Deal Board is the driving force behind the programme and comprises representatives of a broad cross-section of public, private and voluntary sector organisations with a shared commitment to regenerating Goole and growing its economy. The Board is responsible for ensuring that the strategic vision for the town is clear and capable of achieving its objectives within the timescales specified by the Government’s Town Deal funding offer.
The eight projects set out in the Town Investment Plan include a £4 million Property Activation Fund to encourage property owners, developers and tenants to carry out improvements to buildings in the town centre and bring empty or under-used sites back into use.
The regeneration of the town’s Victoria Pleasure Ground sports stadium will secure its future and ensure that it’s a focal point for the town. An investment of £4.6 million, which includes support from the Football Foundation, will fund the development of a new, full-size, artificial 3G pitch, compact athletics offer and state-of-the-art, two-storey pavilion, providing modern, well equipped changing facilities and a café. There will also be a 160-seat conference and hospitality suite capable of hosting sporting and corporate events, wedding celebrations and other social gatherings. The new layout will also significantly increase on-site parking.
A £3.8 million investment in Goole’s historic Market Hall will transform it into a vibrant food hall and events venue at the heart of the town centre, offering flexible accommodation for local creative and craft businesses. Working in close conjunction with Junction Goole, this will enhance and develop the town’s cultural sector.
A Public Realm project will refresh and enhance the way that the town centre looks and feels, with high quality lighting, soft landscaping and seating, whilst also encouraging walking and cycling.
East Riding Leisure Goole will be transformed into a modern leisure hub, with a state-of-the-art gym, swimming pool, bowling alley and more to attract new user groups.
Based within Goole Library on Carlisle Street in the town centre, Opportunity Goole provides local people with access to information about Goole Town Deal and workforce development, helping local people to gain the knowledge and skills they need to secure employment and ensuring that employers can recruit local people with the skillset that they’re looking for. Opportunity Goole offers free support to both local residents and to businesses/employers. The team can be contacted by email.
To support Goole’s growth and an anticipated increase in the number of visitors to the town centre, £2.4 million will be invested in the creation of an enhanced transport hub and arrival/departure experience at Goole Station and in providing a regular transport link between key employment sites in Goole and nearby Howden.
Working with the Environment Agency, the Town Deal programme will create a Greenway Corridor along Goole’s Dutch River to enable pedestrians and cyclists to enjoy the great outdoors.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government made some early funding allocations to towns involved in the Town Deal process, which had to be spent by a strict deadline. Goole was given £750,000 and this was used to carry out urgent repairs to the leaking roof at the Market Hall, helping to halt its decline, and install energy efficient floodlighting at the Victoria Pleasure Ground.
The Board had originally planned to provide Old Goole with improved broadband capability using Town Deal funding but Open Reach agreed to fund it instead. This meant that the Board’s objective has been achieved but the money that would have been spent on it could be allocated to other projects.
The delivery phase of the programme began early in 2023 and the many organisations involved in the various projects that will be delivered with Goole Town Deal funding will be identifying opportunities for local people, business owners and other stakeholders to be involved and informed every step of the way.
There will be plenty of opportunity for local people to help shape key aspects of each of the projects as they develop through a series of community engagement events and activities.