Early win for Goole Town Deal

Six initiatives in Goole have secured funding after the Goole Town Deal Board applied for £750,000 of accelerated funding from the Government’s Town Deal process.

The £750,000 has been made available for capital proposals capable of being delivered by 31 March, 2021 and to kick-start phased activity for the main Town Deal proposals due to be submitted in January 2021.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council will be overseeing its distribution as the accountable body for the Goole Town Deal Board.

The six proposals to receive initial funding are:

• Phase one repairs and maintenance works for the Goole Market Hall building
• Important repair works at Victoria Pleasure Ground
• Funding to support town centre activity in response to COVID-19
• A parks package of funding to increase the value of the town’s leisure attractions and encourage outdoor physical activities both in Goole and Old Goole
• Improvements to the new access route into Oakhill Nature Reserve
• Expansion of the Kickstart moped scheme which supports young people, through transport solutions, to access employment and training.

Councillor Victoria Aitken, East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s portfolio holder for economic development and inward investment, said: “I am hopeful that this first tranche of investment will act as a catalyst towards the Goole Town Investment Plan which could secure in excess of £25million of investment into Goole over the next five years, through the Government’s Towns Fund.

“We look forward to working alongside our Goole Town Deal Board partners and with the community of Goole to together create a catalyst for future inward investment into the area.”

Joseph Richardson, chairman of Goole’s Town Deal Board, said: “Board members and East Riding of Yorkshire Council have worked vigorously to develop these early plans for Goole which will hopefully enable us to secure the funding and start investing in the town.

“Our long-term aim is to reboot the town centre economy and deliver long-term investment. This early funding represents a good start and means we can progress on some key areas that will feature in our longer-term Investment Plan.”

Andrew Percy MP, said: “The Goole Town Deal Board considered the importance of recreation and leisure facilities, people’s health and wellbeing, and protecting Goole’s natural assets.

“The board recognises the scale of town centre works to be addressed and to support its regeneration and recovery and also wanted to support initiatives that connect people to learning and work opportunities.”

In July 2020, the Prime Minister announced that the Government would bring forward £5billion of capital investment projects which will support jobs and the economic recovery.

The Towns Fund is one of the central drivers of the Government’s ambition to building stronger and more resilient local economies and communities. The Government has offered the 101 towns invited to take part in the Town Deal process an early grant payment to accelerate capital investment that can be delivered this financial year.

Details of the initial £750,000 investment into Goole are:

• A figure of £190,000 towards phase one maintenance and repairs work for the Goole Market Hall building. This will be a first step towards securing its future at the heart of the town centre.

Goole Market Hall

Margaret Hicks Clarke, chair of Goole Civic Society, said: “This certainly puts us in good stead to realise what can be achieved in securing major investment from the Towns Fund when we submit the Town Investment Plan.

“The Civic Society is especially pleased that phase one of renovations to the Market Hall will be included in the board’s approved plans for this very welcome funding.”

• Victoria Pleasure Ground will benefit from £110,000 towards critical repair works. Sport offers huge physical and mental health benefits, supports social mobility and enables pathways to learning; all of which can improve the health and wellbeing of Goole’s residents. The Board anticipate this being phase one in preparation for more investment.
• £100,000 will be used to support town centre activity in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and indirectly support local business and the hospitality sector. It will include additional new seating areas and compacting bins in view of the increased ‘take-out’ packaging. It will also consider equipment for introducing outdoor market trading, to test and increase outdoor trading and support small business recovery and turnover.
• A parks package of £150,000 will add significant value to the town’s leisure offer and encourage outdoor physical activities. Plans will also increase accessibility and community cohesion through shared open spaces in both Goole and Old Goole.

Oak Hill Country Park

• Oakhill Nature Reserve will receive £150,000 to animate the route into the reserve. Interpretation boards will link industry with the natural landscape on Goole 36 and board walks are planned across the reed beds. The project will also consider distance markers and improved seating.
• The Kickstart moped loan scheme has been allocated £50,000 to provide affordable transport solutions to support young people with access to employment and training. The project, previously known as Wheels to Work, has successfully operated in Goole for a number of years and it has a waiting list. This funding will provide new mopeds and increase the fleet so that it can help more people.