Multi-million pound improvements to stimulate economic growth in town
Plans to deliver a major package of improvements in Goole will start to be implemented in the New Year.
In June 2021 Goole received confirmation that it had secured a £25m slice of the Government’s Town Deal funding, after submitting a Town Investment Plan setting out a programme for achieving economic growth.
Objectives include giving the town’s residents equal access to training and job opportunities, improving connectivity to and around the town, building a sense of pride in Goole and making its town centre a hub of activity.
The Town Investment Plan identified projects to help achieve these objectives. These include refurbishment of the Market Hall, a public realm scheme to enhance the town centre with high quality lighting and soft landscaping and creation of a better environment for pedestrians and cyclists.
There will be a 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 properties back into use.
Other plans involve refurbishment of East Riding Leisure Goole and regenerating the Victoria Pleasure Ground sports stadium.
The Environment Agency was already intending to reinforce flood defences along the Dutch River. But a contribution from the Town Deal funding means this work can now go ahead sooner than planned and will incorporate a ‘greenway’ corridor for pedestrians and cyclists.
Vice chair of Goole Town Deal Board, Phil Jones, said: “During the 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 some of this was used to carry out urgent repairs to the leaking roof at the Market Hall, as well as improvements at Oakhill Nature Reserve and both West and South Park.
“It was also used to provide new seating in the precinct, and new energy efficient floodlighting at the Victoria Pleasure Ground to reduce operating costs.
“It is anticipated the total amount of money invested in Goole will be far higher than the £25m Town Deal funding allocation because many of the partner organisations involved are providing match-funding towards the cost of the various projects.
“Plus, the improvements taking place will undoubtedly generate even more investment in the town.”
