Hello,

Firstly, thank you to everyone who has signed the petition so far.

I mentioned in a previous update that I had been contacted by Helen Hoult on behalf of the Town Deal Board. I replied today, the text is set out below.

This petition is about offering the opportunity for Goole residents to challenge what is being done to Goole if they don’t think the Town Deal plan is the right way forward. The more people who sign, the stronger the message. Please keep sharing the petition, and talking about the issues!

Text of email I sent to Helen Hoult, Town Deal Board, is set out below. Best wishes, Richard (G. Richard Coult)

Dear Helen,

Thank you for your email. It arrived on yet another evening when those of us who live around Victoria Pleasure Grounds were subjected to further intrusive noise due to football fans banging the stands and singing very loudly and very badly. It’s impossible to work at the rear of our houses, young children’s sleep is disturbed, ditto older children’s ability to study. It’s half term at the moment, but on school nights the impact on families with school age children must be considerable. I know I’m not the only person who has contacted GTC about this, but they do what seems to be normal practice for them these days - ignore anybody who does not offer unquestioning support for them, The last two letters I sent were by tracked recorded deliver. Still no response. 

When VPG was opened, it had fields on two sides, and the age of mass car ownership was decades away. Football fans behaved very differently to the way they do now. The VPG is fundamentally unsuited to the role the Town Deal plans for it - it is too close to homes, the roads are not up to the job. It is an enormous shame the previous plans were abandoned to create a one site sporting village with good access and plenty of space. 

I note that you intend to circulate comments and see what members say at the next Town Deal Board meeting. Based on experience and observation, I feel the most likely outcome of the 10th November meeting is that the TDB will minute something about noting concerns, ignore them, then cascade out further statements about how marvellous everything is using the Goole Times which seems little more than a propaganda sheet these days, and social media. If anybody disgrees on social media, they will either be blocked or a councillor will pop up, berate them and instruct them to “be positive”. 

I know I’m not the only person with the above views. However, I am open to being pleasantly surprised.

None of the above is directed towards you personally as a member of staff.

Thank you again for emailing me.

Best wishes,

Richard